Morning on the Lake

Remarkably rendered in Reczuch’s watercolors are details such as the liquid reflection on the lake, the grandfather’s wool plaid jacket, and the loon’s sleek feathered back. If readers feel a shiver down their spines while reading these pages, it will be because this tale is informed by an awe of nature, the chill of dark trees, and the spiritualism inherent in finding an eagle feather.

From the first words of Morning on the Lake, it's evident the author has an abundance of love and respect for the force of nature in all its magnificence. And, as we follow the young native protagonist and his grandfather, the call of the wild sounds ever more clear. Early one morning, the boy and his grandfather set off in their canoe and are rewarded with a rare glimpse of a family of loons. Later that day, they climb to the top of a hill and have an encounter with a bald eagle. And in the still night, the boy comes face to face with a pack of wolves. In this boy's traditional world, nature is given very human qualities which can set the heart a-thumping as well as soothe the spirit. Karen Reczuch's tranquil illustrations lovingly portray the relationship between man and his surroundings.—Children's Book News