Raven Returns the Water

by Anne Cameron, Nelle Olsen (Illustrator)

Raven Returns the Water tells of the time when the world's water disappeared. Raven went searching for it - and found it all in the belly of a giant frog!

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Barbara Anne Cameron (born August 20, 1938 in Nanaimo, British Columbia) is a Canadian novelist, poet, screenwriter and short story writer.

Cameron legally changed her name from her birth name, Barbara Cameron, to Cam Hubert and later changed her name from Cam Hubert to Anne Cameron. She has written under these names.

Much of her work is inspired by Northwest Coast First Nations' mythology and culture.

An out lesbian, Cameron lives in Tahsis, British Columbia. She has previously lived in Powell River and has spent most of her life on Vancouver Island.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[dianne b. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender and probably true, or at least prescient, story of when the water, all of the water, was gone. First there was less and less water, i guess like it is now in Bolivia and in South Africa, especially the very special city of Cape Town, South Africa.

Raven knew she had to do something. This is the story of what she did. I won't ruin the plot, but just to say that everyone - including the trees and seals and flowers and hummingbirds - was so thirsty, (almost dead!) because someone was selfish, and greedy and thought they should have ALL the water. Guess like it is now. A wise old Canadian tale.

"Raven knew force was not the answer. Raven knew fighting would not solve the problem. Even if Raven managed to beat the Frog and made her give back the water, there would come another day and Frog would again steal the water. Raven knew no matter how many times she beat Frog, unless Frog learned to respect the water, and share it, and live in harmony again, there would be no peace or security or safety, and there would be other times of drought."

First choice: Teach respect and true equality - and maybe even kindness!

Second choice: Drop off selfish, greedy unteachables on isolated, unnamed (& unmapped) atoll, way out of communication range. With a pile of money to play with, and eat.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Raven Returns the Water" is a Northwest folktale that tells of a time when the water disappeared. Raven searches and finds it in the belly of a frog!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful storytelling, an excellent lesson on being greedy, and a clear message that water is life.