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Rainbow Crow
When the weather changes and the ever-falling snow threatens to engulf all the animals, it is Crow who flies up to receive the gift of fire from the Great Sky Spirit.
32 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 1989
4 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Van Laan
44 books19 followersNancy 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 30, 2024
Native American Heritage Month: book number 5.
A Lenape (originating in Pennsylvania) legend about how the rainbow colored crow got black feathers and a hoarse voice.
When the animals of the forest began to be covered by deep snow, the rainbow crow flew to the Great Sky God for help. Crow was given fire to melt the snow. He saved his animal friends. The fire and smoke changed him, but with it came blessings of protection.
The illustrations are colorful and vibrant. The author’s note at the beginning of the book with historical information was very much appreciated.
A Lenape (originating in Pennsylvania) legend about how the rainbow colored crow got black feathers and a hoarse voice.
When the animals of the forest began to be covered by deep snow, the rainbow crow flew to the Great Sky God for help. Crow was given fire to melt the snow. He saved his animal friends. The fire and smoke changed him, but with it came blessings of protection.
The illustrations are colorful and vibrant. The author’s note at the beginning of the book with historical information was very much appreciated.
November 13, 2020
I wanted to love this origin story, because I love crows, but I think it lost something in the retelling. Van Laan says she received permission from the official Lenape storyteller, Will Thompson, to retell this story in book form, and I'm happy that it happened. Thompson is probably a charismatic storyteller. This story probably comes alive when read aloud; in print, I found it to be a bit flat, and the art did nothing for me. I liked the "folk art" style and colored pencil medium, but I was really disappointed that most of the trees/flowers/birds depicted in the story are not actual trees/flowers/birds that you would find in the Lenape region.
In the end, the Great Spirit reassures Crow that his feathers still hold all the colors of the rainbow, and they show when he is in the sun, and that made me wonder if Crow is actually a grackle. Crows have a subtle iridescence, but grackles are REALLY rainbows when they are in the sun.
In the end, the Great Spirit reassures Crow that his feathers still hold all the colors of the rainbow, and they show when he is in the sun, and that made me wonder if Crow is actually a grackle. Crows have a subtle iridescence, but grackles are REALLY rainbows when they are in the sun.
July 9, 2024
There just arent enough books about crows. This was one of those children's books I used to collect and subsequently lost. Gorgeous matching of prose and images to a Native American legend. I wish I still had my copy.
July 16, 2019
This is a great retelling of a Lenape story that I hadn't heard before. I really liked that the author got permission from the official Lenape tribe Rainbow Crow storyteller for this particular tale. The illustrations are gorgeous, too.
March 10, 2017
Highly engaging. Simplistic yet charming art and a nice picture book that gets kids ready for chapter books.
July 4, 2017
A beautiful retelling of a Native American legend on how Crow came to be with his black iridescent colors and this harsh crowing voice.
This particular edition started off on an introduction who the Lenape are as this is one of their stories. It gives historical and cultural information on them before then going to provide some interesting facts about crows so children have a background of both. What I find funny is that one of the given crow facts states crows belong to the same family as ravens but then the author makes the comment that Crow and Raven are the same when they are clearly not (in most cases I would count down for this incorrect information but since of the story itself I will give it its full due).
The illustrations are so beautiful in this book with the bright colors, the realistic animals and the attention to detail. There is nothing missing for the reader who just may want to skim through the pages first. And what really caught my eye is there is a two-page spread of Crow sitting in the tree at the beginning of the story and also at the end but the changes to him can be seen.
The story is a bit lengthy so not perfect for very young children but older children may enjoy the story. The reading is clear and easy while giving the reader a chance to learn about the animal characters of the Lenape such as sly Coyote. The one that intrigues me is why, though, do they think that Raccoon would end up following his tail?
And finally the book ends with some questions for children to answer about the book and the idea of making a mobile based off of characters in the book if parents so wish. Altogether a wonderful book that will warm children with a very important message that our losses to sacrifice may not be actual losses upon looking at them from another viewpoint.
This particular edition started off on an introduction who the Lenape are as this is one of their stories. It gives historical and cultural information on them before then going to provide some interesting facts about crows so children have a background of both. What I find funny is that one of the given crow facts states crows belong to the same family as ravens but then the author makes the comment that Crow and Raven are the same when they are clearly not (in most cases I would count down for this incorrect information but since of the story itself I will give it its full due).
The illustrations are so beautiful in this book with the bright colors, the realistic animals and the attention to detail. There is nothing missing for the reader who just may want to skim through the pages first. And what really caught my eye is there is a two-page spread of Crow sitting in the tree at the beginning of the story and also at the end but the changes to him can be seen.
The story is a bit lengthy so not perfect for very young children but older children may enjoy the story. The reading is clear and easy while giving the reader a chance to learn about the animal characters of the Lenape such as sly Coyote. The one that intrigues me is why, though, do they think that Raccoon would end up following his tail?
And finally the book ends with some questions for children to answer about the book and the idea of making a mobile based off of characters in the book if parents so wish. Altogether a wonderful book that will warm children with a very important message that our losses to sacrifice may not be actual losses upon looking at them from another viewpoint.
November 3, 2022
So I was planning on using this with my class to teach both summarization and about the Lenape. I cannot use it in class in my unit on the Lenape because it is NOT a Lenape story.
I have multiple sources telling me that the story is a hoax, that it is potentially derived from a Cherokee story and then mislabeled. To quote the Nanticoke and Lenape Confederation Learning Center and Museum concerning this book, "And, to retell their inventions as though they are tribal traditions is to do violence to the very culture they claim to celebrate." Having read this and other native voices, I cannot in good conscience bring this book into my classroom. When it comes to native stories, we are sticking to native authors from now on. My students really loved When the Shadbush Blooms. I recommend that.
I have multiple sources telling me that the story is a hoax, that it is potentially derived from a Cherokee story and then mislabeled. To quote the Nanticoke and Lenape Confederation Learning Center and Museum concerning this book, "And, to retell their inventions as though they are tribal traditions is to do violence to the very culture they claim to celebrate." Having read this and other native voices, I cannot in good conscience bring this book into my classroom. When it comes to native stories, we are sticking to native authors from now on. My students really loved When the Shadbush Blooms. I recommend that.
October 18, 2013
A beautiful retelling of Native American mythos. The juvenile section of the library is a treasure trove of such books.
June 19, 2024
Author Nancy Van Laan and illustrator Beatriz Vidal retell a traditional Native American story in this lovely picture book, describing an idyllic early time before man entered the scene, in which the animals lived a happy and comfortable life in a world that was always warm. When the first snow came, the animals soon grew concerned at its dangers, and determined to send an emissary to the Great Sky Spirit. Only Crow, at that time a gorgeously-colored bird with a sweet voice, made for a suitable emissary, and off he flew, returning with the gift of fire. But in the process of bringing this life-saving blessing to the animals of earth, his coat was burnt a sooty black, and his once sweet voice hoarsened to a croak...
Having enjoyed other titles by both Van Laan and Vidal, who subsequently collaborated on a number of other picture books— The Legend of El Dorado , Buffalo Dance: A Blackfoot Legend , The Magic Bean Tree: A Legend from Argentina —and having recently read a collection of Lenape folklore (John Bierhorst's The White Deer and Other Stories Told by the Lenape ), I sought out Rainbow Crow with some anticipation. I was not disappointed, finding the story engrossing and ultimately poignant, and the artwork simply charming. I appreciated the message about sacrifice here, but also about the beauty to be found in so many different kinds of ways—a lesson Crow learns when the Great Sky Spirit shows him he does not need to be rainbow-colored to be beautiful. As for the visuals, they were just lovely! The color palette used by Vidal was gorgeous, the animal figures expressive and endearing—a real treat!
All this being said, I do have some questions about the provenance of this tale. Apparently Van Laan heard a Lenape storyteller, one Bill "Whippoorwhill" Thompson, telling the story some decades ago, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and received permission from him to retell it. John Bierhorst however, the folklorist who collected the tales in The White Deer and Other Stories Told by the Lenape , and who wrote Mythology of the Lenape , lists it as a tale of "uncertain origin," indicating it might in fact be a Cherokee tale. I am not sure where the truth lies, but have cataloged this as both Lenape and Cherokee folklore. In any case, I would still recommend this one to young folklore lovers, as it is clear it is a folktale, despite the confusion around cultural source, and is well worth seeking out in its own right, as an engaging story.
Having enjoyed other titles by both Van Laan and Vidal, who subsequently collaborated on a number of other picture books— The Legend of El Dorado , Buffalo Dance: A Blackfoot Legend , The Magic Bean Tree: A Legend from Argentina —and having recently read a collection of Lenape folklore (John Bierhorst's The White Deer and Other Stories Told by the Lenape ), I sought out Rainbow Crow with some anticipation. I was not disappointed, finding the story engrossing and ultimately poignant, and the artwork simply charming. I appreciated the message about sacrifice here, but also about the beauty to be found in so many different kinds of ways—a lesson Crow learns when the Great Sky Spirit shows him he does not need to be rainbow-colored to be beautiful. As for the visuals, they were just lovely! The color palette used by Vidal was gorgeous, the animal figures expressive and endearing—a real treat!
All this being said, I do have some questions about the provenance of this tale. Apparently Van Laan heard a Lenape storyteller, one Bill "Whippoorwhill" Thompson, telling the story some decades ago, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and received permission from him to retell it. John Bierhorst however, the folklorist who collected the tales in The White Deer and Other Stories Told by the Lenape , and who wrote Mythology of the Lenape , lists it as a tale of "uncertain origin," indicating it might in fact be a Cherokee tale. I am not sure where the truth lies, but have cataloged this as both Lenape and Cherokee folklore. In any case, I would still recommend this one to young folklore lovers, as it is clear it is a folktale, despite the confusion around cultural source, and is well worth seeking out in its own right, as an engaging story.
October 18, 2023
I really enjoyed the message behind this story! The story is about the world's first snow falling and the animals disappearing beneath it. Rainbow Crow is the brave one that steps up and agrees to talk to the Sky Spirit asking it to stop the snow. The Sky Spirit then makes Rainbow Crow aware of different gifts, eventually giving him fire to take back to help the animals stay warm. However, this gift changes Rainbow Crow's life forever and teaches him a valuable lesson. This story originates from a Native American legend. The story contains some facts about this legend in the beginning along with a definition of crows. This story could be used in a classroom to have students identify the theme or lesson taught within the story. The students could also research different Native American legends and compare it to this one, using a research project format or a graphic organizer. Overall, I would recommend reading this book and seeing if you can find the message within it!
March 19, 2024
From the Nantipoke and Lenape Confederation website about this book:
"The crow has no significant role in Lenape culture, and certainly is not a symbol of Lenape People as implied in this story. . . Many of the references in this story are not related to Lenape Culture and belief. In conclusion, once again, perpetuating this story as “Lenape” is misleading and demeaning our traditional stories. There is no shortage of true Lenape and Nanticoke stories that accurately portray our history, life, culture, and beliefs that can be told, and shared, these stories are important to our people, cherished pieces of our culture that everyone can not only learn from, but appreciate for their lessons."
Like a reviewer below mentioned, I'm gonna stick with Own Voices books for Native stories. Nancy Van Laan appears to have colonized this tale and not done her research.
"The crow has no significant role in Lenape culture, and certainly is not a symbol of Lenape People as implied in this story. . . Many of the references in this story are not related to Lenape Culture and belief. In conclusion, once again, perpetuating this story as “Lenape” is misleading and demeaning our traditional stories. There is no shortage of true Lenape and Nanticoke stories that accurately portray our history, life, culture, and beliefs that can be told, and shared, these stories are important to our people, cherished pieces of our culture that everyone can not only learn from, but appreciate for their lessons."
Like a reviewer below mentioned, I'm gonna stick with Own Voices books for Native stories. Nancy Van Laan appears to have colonized this tale and not done her research.
October 29, 2024
My reaction to the book: I loved being able to read this book, the message in the story was wonderful, and I believe everyone should take the time to read it and understand it.
The illustrations in the story were just as beautiful as the storyline itself. The illustrations are so lifelike but also in a children's book its amazing.
I would use this book in any grade level, pre-k and up, because all children should be allowed to hear this message.
I would use this book in the classroom by having a read-aloud, and the students could then do centers and retell the story, and write what they might have learned in the story (before we discuss the moral). I could do a center before the students hear the story and just look at the book and make predictions of what we might read.
The illustrations in the story were just as beautiful as the storyline itself. The illustrations are so lifelike but also in a children's book its amazing.
I would use this book in any grade level, pre-k and up, because all children should be allowed to hear this message.
I would use this book in the classroom by having a read-aloud, and the students could then do centers and retell the story, and write what they might have learned in the story (before we discuss the moral). I could do a center before the students hear the story and just look at the book and make predictions of what we might read.
October 18, 2025
This is a beautiful folk tale about how a rainbow crow. The crow must find a way to save the animals from a winter storm that would bury all of them. He must travel to the Great Sky Spirit to save his friends. The illustrations are colorful and simple. I would use this in a first or second grade classroom because it is a good introduction to moral lessons and folk literature. An activity that could be used in the classroom is to use pictures to for the students to put the story in the correct sequence of events. This helps students understand what happened to the rainbow crow at the end and why.
February 25, 2021
This is a retelling of a Native American legend that has been passed down from generation to generation. It has a very Just So Stories feel to it. I very much enjoyed introducing my children to this Native American gem.
April 17, 2023
This is a retelling of a Native American story from the Lenape about why crows are not colorful and do not have beautiful bird song. Recently having a giant flock of crows on my property this story was very charming to me. The cause for crows not being colorful centers around snow and fire and occurred prior to humans being on earth.
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September 27, 2022I thought this book was a very creative way to share how and why crows are only black rather than multi colored like so many other animals. I would use this in an upper elementary class and have possibly come up with their own stories as to why animals look certain ways.
July 18, 2017
Used as a supplemental trade book for teaching world myths and folktales
February 6, 2020
Just loved this beautiful story. Must reads for all.
July 13, 2020
Why is the crow black?
November 16, 2020
This was a beautiful, fascinating Indigenous Peoples story. Highly recommended.
Q2020 book.
Q2020 book.
November 27, 2021
We really loved this story of the crow
December 13, 2023
been loving reading this book since i was a kid. nostalgic to read it again today, and it still holds up.
January 15, 2025
I loved this Lenape tale of Rainbow Crow. I've always loved crows and ravens and think this legend is absolutely delightful.
April 25, 2018
This is a beautiful Lenape story of how fire came down to earth. When winter weather threatens the lives an existence of the forest animals the Rainbow Crow offers to go to the Great Sky Spirit to ask him to stop the snow. Rainbow Crow makes the journey and is given fire which he brings down to Earth to save his friends. However, on his way back the fire singes his feathers making them black and he looses his singing voice. His vocalizations are now reduced to a simple "caw caw caw". This Lenape legend is a moving tale of selflessness and service.
July 20, 2014
This may be a children's book, but its tale is so compelling and
wonderful, that it should appeal to any caring adult as well. The book
is based on a story told by many of the First Nations, and covers the
legend of how Crows (and Ravens) became the way they are.
Anyone who has looked carefully at the behaviour of these birds will
realise they are intelligent, caring, and social animals, much like
wolves, and indeed humans. This book builds on that and leaves the
reader with a wonderful feeling at its conclusion.
The prose is elegant and flows smoothly. The illustrations are
wonderful and will definitely capture the imagination of most children.
It's a real shame I had not discovered this book when my son was first
learning to read; it would surely have been one of his favourites.
June 24, 2009
Gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Argentinian artist Beatriz Vidal. Lenape legend about Rainbow Crow,who was the most beautiful bird on Earth, is sent by the animals of the earth to the Great Sky Spirit to ask him to stop the snow that was covering the earth. The Great Sky Spirit gives the Rainbow Crow fire to warm the animals, but on the way down the crows voice became hoarse and his beautiful color are covered in soot. He saves the day, but goes to cry about the loss of his beautiful voice and feathers. The Great Sky Spirit hears him and tells him not to worry and that he has all the colors of the rainbow reflected in his feathers. Recommended for ages 4-7.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
The first reason I love this book is that it is a Lenape story. The second reason is that I always knew that crows were rainbow birds. And finally, I love this book because it has a wonderful ending.
January 9, 2014
Using the legend from the Lenape Indian tribe, the author tells the story of the crow who bravely rescues forest animals from the snow storm that promised to bury them.
Before their death, the crow flies above the sky to ask the Great Spirit for help.
Providing the crow with a stick of fire, at great sacrifice, the crow carried the stick of fire to the earth, and in saving the animals, the crow developed brightly colored rainbow feathers.
Before their death, the crow flies above the sky to ask the Great Spirit for help.
Providing the crow with a stick of fire, at great sacrifice, the crow carried the stick of fire to the earth, and in saving the animals, the crow developed brightly colored rainbow feathers.
Read
September 14, 2015Rainbow Crow is about a beautiful crow who flies up to The Great Spirit to have him stop the snow, but The Great Spirit cannot stop the snow. Instead, he gives the Rainbow Crow a stick with fire to melt the snow to keep his friends safe. When Rainbow Crow brings the fire to the ground, his rainbow was gone and he was just a black crow.
This story could be used in primary classrooms when teaching students about other cultures and how other cultures believe in different things than we do.
This story could be used in primary classrooms when teaching students about other cultures and how other cultures believe in different things than we do.
March 12, 2013
I came across this little known tale while researching crows. It reminds me of the stories I heard growing up, stories that stand up well with retelling, relate to observations of nature, and carry a clear but not overbearing message.
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