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.

Andrea Fritz is a Coast Salish artist and storyteller from the Lyackson First Nation of the Hul’q'umi’num'-speaking Peoples on the West Coast of Canada. She studied West Coast Native art with Victor Newman, a Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw master artist. Andrea strives to express her People’s history and all our futures using her art and stories. She focuses on animals and places of the West Coast and our intricate relationships with them. Andrea works in the mediums of acrylic on canvas and wood, serigraph, vector art and multimedia. She has had numerous gallery shows of her work and participates in community-based art pieces. Andrea lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Andrea Fritz's profile page

“Told in deference to a traditional Coast Salish tale, and utilizing the artistic style of those First Nations people, the story of wood duck, crow, and squirrel offers readers a story that focuses on friendship, cooperation, and coping with loss. The inclusion of Salish vocabulary is a plus because it lends authenticity to the tale while simultaneously honoring its sources.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“The tale is intentionally moralistic and repetitive; it would make a great read aloud…This book is especially suited for school libraries in the Pacific Northwest or any collection expanding its Indigenous collections.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

“Shares Indigenous storytelling and ways of learning with young readers of all backgrounds. [Fritz’s] work, using traditional art and storytelling, brings forward her Coast Salish culture and knowledge. Highly recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials