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French Titles

		Le capteur de rêves Michel Noël Illustrations: Daniela Zékina Montréal: Hurtubise HMH, 2002. 76 p. (Collection Plus) ISBN 2894286031 Ages 8 to 10
Le capteur de rêves Source

When dreams and reality are combined, the time of legends and tales is born. Once upon a time, in an Anishinabe community (part of the larger Algonquin family), a spider was quietly spinning its web on the roof of the tent of two midwives, Nékokum and Mendesh. One day, it jumped to the ground and turned into a spider woman. This magic woman revealed her powers to the two midwives and offered them an amazing gift: a dream catcher in the shape of a spider web. This mysterious object had the power to trap children's nightmares and replace them with sweet dreams. Nékokum and Mendesh decided to share this formidable discovery with all the members of the tribe, and proposed that every child receive a dream catcher at birth.

Michel Noël has written a very beautiful story, in which an Aboriginal myth is recounted and explained with great sensitivity. Daniela Zékina's charming pencil drawings reveal the fragile beauty of these people and enhance the text. The book also includes questions and activities that allow the reader to evaluate levels of understanding and knowledge of Aboriginal customs.

–DSH