Books with author Nancy Van Laan

Illus. in full color. This story of how the Rainbow Crow lost his sweet voice and brilliant colors by bringing the gift of fire to the other woodland animals is "a Native American legend that will be a fine read-aloud because of the smooth text and songs with repetitive chants. The illustrations, done in a primitive style, create a true sense of the Pennsylvania Lenape Indians and their winters."--School Library Journal.

An illustrated children's book (Estimated ages 8-11). From back cover: "Here are twenty-five beautifully illustrated stories, songs, and poems from over twenty Native American tribes. Included are: a creation myth of the Lenape tribe called "The Earth on Turtle's Back", which tells how land was created. There's "Coyote and the Blackbirds", a hilarious story from the Pueblo about a conceited coyote who gets his comeuppance. "How Possum Got His Skinny Tale" is a Cherokee tale about a Possum who brags of his beautiful tail so much that the other animals steal it from him. Then there is "The Corn Song" from the Dine, which celebrates the food that is the tribe's staff of life. While some stories are funny and others are poetic, each is interesting and uniquly connected to its tribe through tradition, history and geography.

Celebrate earth's bounty and the inherent value of all living things with a lavish anthology of traditional Native American animal and nature lore, selected and retold especially for young children. Representing 20 tribes and every ethnological region, this definitive treasury includes "Raven, the Rainmaker," the Tlingit tale of a generous act that brought fresh water to the earth; "The Corn Song," from the Dine, which celebrates the blue grain that is the tribe's staff of life; and "Coyote and the Blackbirds," a hilarious Pueblo legend about a conceited coyote who gets his comeuppance. This rich reference tool also contains an introduction, appendix, map, and informative source notes. Nancy Van Laan's spirited retellings and Lisa Desimini's stunning multimedia artwork make this an ideal read-aloud and a must-have addition to folklore collections. A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection.

Little Baby Bobby, who lives on a hill, just can't seem to sit still. So it's inevitable that, in the blink of an eye, his baby buggy goes careening down that hill with his babysitter in frantic pursuit. Whizzing through the park, scattering street vendors' wares, crashing into a fire hydrant, there goes Baby Bobby, enjoying every minute of his wild buggy ride. A perfect read-aloud reminiscent of Nancy Van Laan's Possum Come a-Knockin', this rollicking, rhythmic text gathers momentum as Baby Bobby's buggy wends its way through the town. Laura Cornell's hilarious, overflowing illustrations perfectly capture the lighthearted joy of Bobby's raucous romp. A laugh-out-loud addition to any story hour! An award-winning author and best-selling illustrator team up to create an uproariously funny picture book about a baby whose buggy gets out of control.