The Boy Who Loved Morning
by Shannon K. Jacobs
illustrated by Michael Hays
Little, Brown and Company 1993
Each day Boy wakes early to greet morning with a sing on his flute. When he plays, the morning seems to respond with a golden smile. As the day of his naming ceremony nears, Boy rises earlier and earlier to practice, all the while imagining names for himself. In time he discovers that he can call forth the dawn whenever he wishes. Eager to impress the tribe with his power, Boy arranges to play his flute on the night of his ceremony. But when the midnight sky is broken by streaks of sunlight, Boy's world is thrown out of balance. Only after he has learned the difference between honoring morning and changing it to suit his own pride can Boy find the perfect name for himself.
The culmination of the author's and artist's lifelong interest in and respect for Native American culture, this picture book offers strikingly dramatic and colorful images as well as a timeless message.
