Prairie Born

by David Bouchard

In the follow-up to the 1994 bestseller, If You're Not from the Prairie, award-winning author David Bouchard has teamed up with well-known artist Peter Shostak to once again explore in verse and image the prairie experience that is so cherished in the memories of countless North Americans. Both in text and image, focuses on the passing of the seasons and their effect on the people and the landscape. This is a book that will stir warm memories for all those prairie born scattered across the continent.

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Canadian Métis author and literacy advocate David Bouchard has produced more than fifty books for readers of all ages, including two guides on reading for parents and educators.

An erstwhile teacher and school principal, he is particularly concerned with Aboriginal-related issues and is a sought-after speaker for conference keynotes and school presentations and on topics of reading, literacy and aboriginal well-being.

David Bouchard's books have won numerous awards, including a Special Mention for Non-Fiction in the 2010 Bologna Ragazzi Awards for The Drum Calls Softly, a Gold Medal in the 2008 Moonbeam Award for I am Raven, the 2004 Governor General's Award for The Song Within My Heart, the 1999 Red Cedar Award for The Great Race and the 1997 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Voices from the Wild. An Aboriginal Carol was included in the 2008 White Ravens Catalogue.

In April 2009, Bouchard was named as a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as an author of children’s books and an advocate who has championed the cause of reading and writing, and who has shared his pride as a member of the Métis community through his stories."

David lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife Vicki and their daughter Victoria.

-taken from the author's website

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Only had a couple of minutes, which is not enough to squint down on that tiny text. At least in paperback it's just too small. Bouchard's earlier prairie book is much better imo. June 2021

[Johannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Social Studies - Prairies unit. Cool poem, great things to chat about and beautiful pictures. Could be neat to have kids add to the poem with their own illustration. Some of the language is a little tough for kiddos.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

the story of a young boy and his memor of the praire and how its seasons and days affected his life.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful. Written for elementary children, but the prose and pictures are outstanding. Anyone who grew up on the prairies of our country would love this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found at a library sale, this gathering of poems forms a story of a Canadian prairie childhood is told by a well-known Métis (a person of mixed American Indian and Euro-American ancestry in primarily Western Canada) writer/teacher/lecturer. The poems with a nostalgic refrain take readers through a year of season's including hard work and play. Illustrations by Peter Shostak, an award-winning Canadian artist beautifully show the allure of the huge expanses one sees in the prairie.