Raven and River

by Nancy White Carlstrom, Jon Van Zyle (Illustrator)

As the Raven calls the sleeping Arctic animals to wake for spring, one by one they appear, but the River remains still, until it finally begins to move, stretching and cracking and coming to life once more.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Animals, Childrens, Birds, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Nancy White Carlstrom has written more than 50 books for children, including the Jesse Bear series with illustrator Bruce Degan.

Born the daughter of steel mill worker William J. and Eva (Lawrence) White, Nancy White Carlstrom was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1948. She practiced writing poetry, enjoyed reading books like Little Women, and wanted to become a children’s book author at an early age. Carlstrom worked in the children’s department of her local library in Washington during her high school years. She graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, majoring in Elementary Education and earning her B.A. in 1970, also studying at Harvard Extension School and Radcliffe from 1974 to 1976. In September of 1974, she married David R. Carlstrom, later a pilot and a marketing director at Fairbanks International Airport. They had two children—Jesse and Joshua.

She draws inspiration from her 18 years living in Alaska, volunteer experiences in Africa and Haiti, and raising her two sons.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author uses poetry to describe the Spring thaw of an Alaskan river. I think kids will appreciate the rhyming words chosen to give voice to the animals: rawk, chit, thum, yowl. They may also enjoy inventing their own animal sounds after reading this poem.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic telling of the awakening of the river after an Alaskan winter through animal voices. Illustrations are absolutely gorgeous!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

poetry- verse, onomatopoeia, inference, personification

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated. I am not sure what child may appreciate this picture book however. Even in Fairbanks.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet poem about spring breakup with gorgeous illustrations.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quiet and lovely.

[Bonnie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlstrom, N.W. (Author) & Van Zyle, J. (Illustrator). (1997). Raven and River. Boston, Massachusetts: Little, Brown and Company. Unp. Ages 3 and up.

This charming and lyrical book accompanied by bold paintings create a fill for the Alaskan landscape and animals. Raven calls to the river and it answers with a joyful call of the coming springtime. The tone of the rhymes and pictures create a smooth flow that mirrors the river.

Related Activity: Interactive reading with students (Students say the repeating verses).

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Animals awaking to the thaw of the river in a snowy Alaska landscape. Gorgeous illustrations of both the animals and the landscape. I loved it. Logan liked the illustrations, but the text was too poetic for him. He's much more of a fan of snappy dialog than of rhythm and rhyme.

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.
Perhaps a little overly poetic for kids under five....

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of winters awakenning along with Alaska's animals. All are anxious for spring to arrive. Beautiful pictures.

[Kat (Lost in Neverland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely childrens' book. Very poetic and the illustrations were beautiful. I was born in Alaska so I could really connect to the nature and meaning.

[Kiddo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not unlike Bear Snores On in it's fun repetitive rhythm. More realistic, but still some anthropomorphizing.

[Amanda Connelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

No plot at all. Good for alliteration

[T &T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and poetic both in the text and illustrations.