Clamshell Boy Book

Cohlene, Terri. Clamshell Boy. (1990). Target Audience: 5-11 years old. The hero in this folktale is called Clamshell boy. The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest, along a cape near Vancouver Island, home to the Makah tribe. The illustrations are indigenous of the area reflecting the cool blue waters and the forever green surroundings. The artwork is simplistic excepting the tribal designs in the clothing, the baskets, and the canoes. The women of the tribe are collecting clams along the beach while their daughters are playing together in the warmth of the sun. When it is time to return to their village, one daughter, named Salmonberry, pleads, "but the sun still hovers over the water, let us stay a bit longer." Salmonberry's mother reminds her that the feared giant Basket Woman would be wandering the shore soon, looking for children to satisfy her large appetite. Salmonberry didn't believe there was such a woman, she had certainly never seen her. She was pleased when her mother relented and said she must be home before the sun sleeps. Salmonberry and her friends soon learned that they should have listened to their elders. The giant Basket Woman does appear along the shore and tricks them into getting inside her wide basket so she can get them home faster. Salmonberry is the first to notice that they are not traveling in the direction of their village, but it is too late, they are captive inside the basket. When the girls do not return home before the sun went to sleep, Salmonberry's mother ventures into the forest searching for them, fearing the worst. When she realized her search was hopeless she began to cry. Her tears fell onto an open clamshell and a life form was gradually brought forth. It grew immediately from a baby into a handsome young boy. Called from the spirit of the shell, Clamshell boy introduces himself to the grief stricken mother. He asks why she is crying. She mournfully explains what she believes has happened to the girls. He takes her safely back to the village where he convinces the chief that his spirit is strong and he can rescue the children. The chief gives him a canoe to begin his search. The boy eventually finds the evil Basket Woman and this time he tricks her. He flatters her and she leans over a cliff to view herself in the reflection of the water below. Clamshell boy encourages her to lean over just enough that her weight makes part of the cliff break off, sending her to her death below. He then follows her path back to her home in the woods and finds the girls tied up to the walls. Everyone is jubilant upon their return to the village and Clamshell boy is recognized as their hero at their celebration of potlatch. I like this story because there is a lesson to be learned and the illustrations show the beauty of a simple life. I think children could also probably relate to times when they didn't listen to their parents and learned a lesson the hard way.