The Windigo's Return: A North Woods Story

by Douglas Wood, Greg Couch (Illustrator)

As the People of the North Woods begin to disappear, one by one, the villagers remain in fear of the terrible Windigo, until a young girl outsmarts him, but the Windigo vows to return each year in the form of a mosquito, in an Ojibwe legend. By the author of Old Turtle.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Composer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."


Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real, traditional Ojibwa story of long ago when people started disappearing from a village. The people were afraid and decided to set a trap. Thanks to a young girl, they trapped what was taking their people and got rid of it. However, in a very apropos ending for MN classrooms, the Windigo they trapped and destroyed comes back every summer to nibble on them some more....

This is an excellent early to middle elementary read-to-me book for the classroom as the suspense builds and children get really involved, especially due to the wonderful illustrations that set the tone. It is also a great conversation starter as students can make inferences as you read and it takes a little conversation for students to realize what the ending is trying to say. Also of note is this can be a MN Native American book which fulfills several MN social studies and ELA standards. I feel this book is most suited to second grade in a read-to-me setting, though many students would be able to read this themselves. The beauty of this book is how much it makes students talk to each other and spurs the imagination.

This is a traditional story truly told by the Ojibwa to explain something in every day life, so it sits in the traditional literature category, though it certainly could also go in the category of Multi-cultural as well. I feel it is respectful to present this story only after the first freeze, as that is the traditional practice of this native American group.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An explanation for mosquitos-- I always new they were a reincarnated demon seeking revenge.

[Danielle Vetter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Level: 3.0
Guided Reading Level: 4.8

This story is an Ojibwe tale about a monster who cannot be defeated. A young girl comes up with a plan to defeat the monster, but she eventually learns that her plan did not completely kill the monster.

The genre of this book is multicultural because it shares an Ojibwe tale about the existence of misquotes. This tale was passed down through the ancient oral traditions of northern Native American cultures.

Writing Trait:
Presentation- The author and illustrator used amazing presentation to enhance the meaning and tone of the book. In particular, the pictures boost the frightening theme that the text creates. Each picture is dark and contains sinister elements, aiding in the mysterious and eerie tone of the story. The text is often included in the unnerving pictures, which reduces white space and creates a dramatic aura.

Classroom Integration/Mentor Text:
This text would be perfect for a 5th grade reading/writing unit on tales. The class can read the book together, focusing on the aspects of what makes this book a tale. Students can then use this book as a mentor text for creating their own tales. The use of pictures and word choice are great examples for students to base their tales off of. Students can then share their tales with the class and compare them to the mentor text.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made the the mistake of reading this before bed. The pictures and content was a little scary for my 5 year old. The ending was good, and eased him, and he was even laughing about it the next day.

[Jack Whitebread · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combines stylized art with what the author says is a version of the traditional story of the menacing Windigo. It offers glimpses of traditional Ojibwe life and the response of the people to the problem that lurks in their woods is creative and intriguing. As with some other stories of this type, a traditional mythical or supernatural explanation is offered for a natural phenomenon as well.

[Michaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and I like the little twist at the end and how the Windigo came back. I mean, they had the right idea to burn the windigo. They just forgot the salt...;) (yes, I picked this up because I recognized it as a monster from Supernatural...)

[Lynna · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Skunk Lake 1998 signed

[LS Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out as part of my research on werewolf style legends and tales. It is an entertaining retelling of a Native legend about the Windigo.