Ancient Thunder
Ancient Thunder is a children's fantasy picture book by the Canadian artist and writer Leo Yerxa, simultaneously published in Canada and the United States in 2006. It won the 2006 Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration and the 2008 Saskatchewan Willow Award for picture books. Ancient Thunder was both illustrated and written by Leo Yerxa.
| Author | Leo Yerxa |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Leo Yerxa |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Groundwood Books |
Publication date | 3 August 2006 |
Summary
This book describes the relationship of horses and First Nation's cultures with a single poem and illustrations using water-colour artwork. Only few lines of text per page contrast with painted images associated with native culture.
Concept and development
Yerxa was interested by the native people while he watched them ride across the Great Plains in the movie when he was a child, their traditional clothing and the running creatures inspired Yerxa to write this book. He used handmade water-colour paper and made it look like leather.
Awards
| Literary awards | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Governor General's Literary Awards | 2006 | Won |
| First Nation Communities Read | 2007 | Won |
| The Willow Awards | 2008 | Won |
| Anskohk Aboriginal Children's Book of the Year Award | 2007 | Nominated |
| Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award | 2007 | Nominated |
External links
- The 2008 Willow Awards
- First Nation Communities Read at the Canadian Children's Book Centre
- Past GG – Leo Yerxa at Canada Council for the Arts
- Ancient Thunder at IndieBound
- Book review: "(Re)presenting Cultures" by Suzanne James in Canadian Literature: A Quarterly of Criticism and Review, Autumn 2007, pg. 188–189
- Children's Book Review:Ancient Thunder in Publishers Weekly