Indigenous artist and storyteller Andrea Fritz tells the tale of a wood duck and a crow who turn a mistake into an opportunity for friendship and growth.

Qwiwilh the wood duck is preparing to nest in his favorite tree when Q'uleeq'e' the crow invites him to play in the tall branches. They jump higher and higher up the tree until they accidentally break the branches and come crashing down into the stream below. After a daring rescue, Qwiwilh sadly realizes his nesting spot is gone, and Q'uleeq'e' decides to make things right for her new friend.

In this original story set in Coast Salish Traditional Territory, author and artist Andrea Fritz uses Indigenous storytelling techniques and art to share the culture and language of the Hul’q’umi’num’-speaking Peoples. This is the second book in the Coast Salish Tales, following Otter Doesn't Know.

Key Selling Points

• Q'uleeq'e' the crow tries to make up for her mistake in this story about finding friendship and new beginnings through challenging experiences.
• The text includes names and words in Hul'q'umi'num', an Indigenous language spoken on and around Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
• The illustrations follow the Coast Salish art tradition of combining four basic shapes in both positive and negative spaces.
• The book also includes a glossary and pronunciation guide, an introduction to the Coast Salish traditional art style and a brief discussion of cultural appropriation.
• Author/illustrator Andrea Fritz studied with Kwakwa_ka_'wakw artist and master carver Victor Newman. She shares Coast Salish stories, both traditional ones learned orally and new ones created from modern experience, with school children throughout British Columbia.