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Table of Contents
About The Book
In this Native American tale, a wise grandmother explains the meaning of death, or the Great Change, to her questioning granddaughter. While going through their daily tasks in the Native way, taking from Mother Earth only what is needed and returning what is not used so as to replenish her, nine-year-old Wanba asks, “Why do fish have to die? Why does anything have to die? Why did Grandpa have to die?” Grandmother explains that just as a caterpillar “dies” only to become a beautiful butterfly, there is no “death” in the Circle of Life—only the Great Change.
This is a story of passing on tradition, culture, and wisdom to the next generation. It is a moving tale for everyone—child and adult—who wonders about what lies beyond this life.
About The Illustrator
Carol Grigg, using earthy, desert-colored pastels, attempts to capture a sense of unity with nature in her work. This internationally recognized painter is known for her trademark Native American horse and ride, which to her symbolizes the Mother Earth that we are all compelled to ride. Her style is inspired by her own Native American Indian heritage. Her prints are sold in fine art galleries across the United States.
Product Details
- Publisher: Beyond Words (March 21, 2023)
- Length: 32 pages
- ISBN13: 9781582709024
- Ages: 6 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
A gentle and sensitive story about mortality and the interconnectedness of generations and of life-forms that provides a nondoctrinal, reassuring response to a child's questions about the necessity of death. Grigg's watercolors are spare, with washes of brilliant color (cheering a potentially somber subject) against pure white pages. The characters are not romanticized, but the overall effect is delicate and impressionistic.
– —Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle Grades 3–6, School Library Journal
This wistful text, based on a Native American tale, ponders the meaning of life and death—reaching the sensible if daunting conclusion that one is impossible without the other.…Delicate pastel watercolors capture the story's essence on gossamer wings with a pleasing combination of sophistication and childish impressibility.
– —Publisher's Weekly
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Great Change Fixed Layout eBook 9781582709024
- Author Photo (jpg): Gabriel "White Deer of Autumn" Horn Photograph by Cynthia Vandehoef(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit