Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak

Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak joins the three other books in the “First West Coast Board Book” series: Hello Humpback!, One Eagle Soaring and Sockeye Silver, Saltchuck Blue. While the previous titles dealt with the West Coast’s flora, fauna and topography, counting and colours, Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak’s subject matter focuses on the sounds of nature (with three exceptions) that can be heard on the West Coast. On the book’s combination of spreads and single pages, young readers/listeners can “hear” various sounds beyond those of the title, sounds such as PADDLES SWOOSH, CEDARS RUSTLE murmur, creak, and SEA LIONS ROAR. The three man-made sounds are those made by ice skates, hands clapping and a drums being beaten by a child. The closing spread features the cries created by nine birds and three animals.

Like the creative pair’s earlier board books, Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak also incorporates the art style of the Northwest Coast’s original peoples as well as the tactile element of some embossed surfaces. The latter feature means that young fingers can, for instance, touch the river’s waves or feel the raven’s tail feathers. Once again, the artwork is simply outstanding and calls for repeated visits by viewers. Though the board book format suggests a young toddler audience, the visual elements of Raven Squawk, Orca Squeak will appeal to older children.