How Raven Got His Crooked Nose

Barbara Jacko Atwater is a retired teacher, village administrator, and author of Walter's Story, about her great uncle Walter Johnson who was a respected Dena'ina elder. Before passing away at the age of ninety-three, her uncle left Barbara and her son, Ethan, fables and folklore of their Native American ancestors, including the story of Chulyen the raven. She hopes to carry forward the traditional stories of the Dena' ina people and share their history just as her great uncle did for their family. Barbara currently lives in Soldotna, Alaska. Growing up in Alaska, Ethan Jacko Atwater engaged with his community at an early age and worked as a camp counselor and interned with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. He is currently attending college and is passionate about educating children on Dena'ina folklore. Mindy Dwyer is a prolific children's book author and illustrator, with over a dozen books published in print. She is the recipient of "Not Just For Kids Anymore Award" from the Children's Book Council, a National Parenting Publication Award, and a Young Readers Choice Award. She loves the magic and make-believe places that fairy tales offer, that they "give us permission to hold onto a childhood promise that 'anything is possible and we were put on this earth to take part in adventure.'" She now lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she continues to dream big and wonderful stories.

"One of the best books I have read all year! A wonderful trickster tale, set as a morality tale for children in the most clever, dramatic way. Just perfect illustrations in tandem with the authors' tribute to their family's storytelling traditions, and to a language with less than 100 who still speak it today. I was so intrigued, I've done further research on Chulyen the Raven, as I've mostly read trickster tales from elsewhere. Said the raven to me: Read some more!". --Carl Lennertz, Children's Book Council Bulletin