Wolverine and Little Thunder: An Eel Fishing Story

Alan Syliboy is a Mi’kmaq artist with a flair for colourful illustrations and storytelling. Syliboy’s artwork and storytelling techniques combine an interesting and effective mix of traditional and contemporary styles. This was true for his book The Thundermaker and is true also for his latest offering, Wolverine and Little Thunder: An Eel Fishing Story.

In Wolverine and Little Thunder, the two title characters work together in a bond of friendship. Wolverine is strong and fierce and is described as a “super athlete”. Living with his mother and father in an isolated location far from other people, Little Thunder has no human playmates. He does, however, have many animal friends. Wolverine is his best friend of all. Their favourite shared activity is to go eel fishing. One day they spear such an enormous eel that their lives are in danger. Indeed, the eel is described as being so big that it is able to turn the tables on whoever hunts it. With Little Thunder sitting fearfully in the canoe, Wolverine engages in a titanic struggle for supremacy.

Syliboy’s mixed media illustrations include paint on canvas and computer generation. They are vibrantly colourful and busy—tending in places even to being cluttered. However, this adds to the energy of the book and the depth of the struggle between Wolverine and the giant eel.

Throughout Wolverine and Little Thunder, the joy and value of friendship is skillfully embedded within an energetic tale. Young readers will benefit from the book’s message while simultaneously gaining exposure to an exciting Indigenous creator.