Shingebiss: An Ojibwe Legend

by Nancy Van Laan, Betsy Bowen (Illustrator)

Shingebiss, a little merganser duck, can always find plenty to eat. In all seasons, the Great Lake is full of fish. But one cold year the lake freezes over, and Shingebiss has to find a way to fish through the thick ice. To do that, he must face the fierce Winter Maker. Gracefully told and illustrated with vigorous woodcuts, this ancient Ojibwe story captures all the power of winter and all the courage of a small being who refuses to see winter as his enemy. This sacred story shows that those who follow the ways of Shingebiss will always have plenty to eat, no matter how hard the great wind of Winter Maker blows.

Genres: Picture Books, Native American, Indigenous, Childrens, Folklore, Folk Tales

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Nancy Van Laan was born in Baton Rouge, La. Her father was a colonel in the US Air Force, and the family moved frequently as Van Laan was growing up. She began making up stories to pass the time on long car trips. Although Van Laan had a learning disability, she loved to read. She began drawing and writing poetry as a child and enjoyed illustrating her own stories. Van Laan also loved ballet and began taking lessons at the age of nine. By age seventeen, she had her own ballet company in Birmingham that performed on a weekly program broadcast on Alabama Educational TV (now Alabama Public Television). Van Laan’s dancing career ended after an injury she sustained as a student at Sullins College in Bristol, Va. After completing her AA degree at Sullins, she enrolled at the University of Alabama, earning her BA in radio and television in 1961.

Van Laan moved to New York after college. She worked briefly at an advertising company and then joined ABC-TV where she worked as a network censor from 1962 to 1966. Van Laan began writing at this time and also studied art. After her first two children were born, she resigned from ABC and began painting professionally, creating murals for schools and private clients. She earned an MFA in theater from Rutgers University in 1979 and wrote two plays which were performed regionally. Van Laan moved to eastern Pennsylvania where she taught English at a private boarding school from 1984 to 1989. She also taught creative writing at Rutgers from 1986 to 1989. Van Laan published her first book, The Big Fat Worm, in 1987. Two years later, she left teaching to write full time. Since then, Van Laan has published over two dozen books. One of these, Rainbow Crow, was featured on the PBS television series Reading Rainbow. Van Laan lives and writes in Doylestown, Pa.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have railed against cultural appropriation in indigenous children’s literature over the past 3 weeks as I’ve immersed myself in the genre. This book, although written and illustrated by non-indigenous creators, has met the standards of legitimacy. The reason why ? Van Laan credits her sources. She gave tobacco to an Elder at Grand Portage Chippewa Band. She also lists a comprehensive bibliography. Her research is clearly credited. She has not stolen this story for profit or personal gain like so many other authors and illustrators I’ve read recently. Plus I appreciate the gentle effort to educate and use Anishnaabemowin to tell the story.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing tale. I'm a sucker for wood-block prints, so of course I absolutely adored Betsy Bowen's illustrations. They aren't as crisp as the prints of someone like Mary Azarian, but they were perfectly suited to this folktale. The tale itself is a great story of perseverance and resourcefulness and I'm really glad I found this book.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little merganser duck, Shingebiss, endures and outwits Kabibona'kan, or Winter Maker, in this retelling of a traditional Ojibwe folktale. One of the few birds who does not fly south to escape the winter, Shingebiss stays at his wigwam on the shores of Lake Superior, braving the snow and cold of winter, and finding a way to keep fishing, even when that great lake finally freezes over completely. Enraged at the little duck's lack of fear, Kabibona'kan does everything he can to crush him, but our anatine hero is undeterred, eventually leading Winter Maker to declare that he shall bother him no more...

Published in 1997, Shingebiss: An Ojibwe Legend is the fourth picture book folktale retelling I have read from author Nancy Van Laan, following upon her The Magic Bean Tree: A Legend from Argentina , Rainbow Crow: A Lenape Tale , and Buffalo Dance: A Blackfoot Legend , and I think it is my favorite, so far! The story itself is entertaining, emphasizing courage and perseverance in the face of adversity, and giving an example to the human tellers and listeners, on how to survive in the depths of winter. The artwork from Betsy Bowen, done in reduction method woodcuts, is just beautiful! I always love woodcut illustrations, and these are particularly nice, with lovely a color palette and a wonderful folk-art feel that is entirely appropriate to the story being told. When I was growing up my family spent every summer in northern Michigan, and we would always visit the studio of Gwen Frostic, whose work I have always loved. Bowen's illustrations here reminded me, both in their subject and setting (on another of the Great Lakes) and medium, of Frostic's work, which was a happy reference. All in all, a charming book, one I would recommend to folklore enthusiasts young and old.

[Sharon McNeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in connection with Vidal Sundstol's The Ravens. I remembered Shingebiss being read to me as a child. The wood block illustrations in this edition are beautiful!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes place during winter at Lake Superior; a duck outwits Winter Maker to stay alive and find sustenance through harsh frigid conditions.

[Sarah]

My mother read this to me as a child. Planning to read again sometime as an adult.

[Andrea Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book brought back my culture in my life that was hidden due to colonisation. Thanks to resurgence I am enjoying this great find!!!

[Ann Marie Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Old Favorite

Charming story to be lost in children’s literature since I first heard it 68 years ago. I am so pleased to be able to share it with my grandchildren, and to help them figure out what attributes of Shingebiiss made him powerful.

[Annie]

Shingebiss: An Ojibwe Legend is about a duck who typically fishes for food in one pond. One winter the pond freezes over and he is unable to get food. This book teaches perseverance. I would have my students identify the main character and describe specific character traits that highlighted how he rose above poverty in the story.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice pictures.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting traditional Native American tale. I like the cultural value, glossary, pronunciation guide, and illustrations a lot.

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ojibwe/Chippewa story of the merganser duck "Shingebiss" and how he survives each winter. I love reading Ojibwe legends and the woodcarvings go well with the story. The font in this book is really hard to read, though.

[Jennifer]

This was mis-shelved so I was going to correct that but then it was a Native tale I'd never heard. Perseverance!