Salmon's Journey: And More Northwest Coast Stories

By Robert James Challenger

This fourth collection of short stories written by Robert James (Jim) Challenger combines the timeless appeal of Aesop's fables with the oral storytelling traditions of First Nations and other cultures. Each story stimulates conversation about the moral woven within.

Go along on Salmon's journey. Learn how Hermit Crab found a new home. Discover why Halibut always looks up. Find out why we should be kind to Snake. Eagle's Spirit shows us how our life's energy lives on forever. As appealing to parents and teachers as they are to children, Challenger's stories are a wonderful way to convey values of respect, cooperation and kindness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heritage House
• Release date: Mar 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781926613239

Robert James Challenger

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Robert James (Jim) Challenger has spent his life absorbing the stories and imagery of the Pacific Northwest coast. Jim is an accomplished artist known for his original style that captures the shape and movement of wild creatures in their natural settings. His unique illustrations and beach-stone-and-glass carvings are prized by collectors around the world. In addition to being an artist, Jim is the author of six books for children inspired by oral storytelling traditions and local legends of the Pacific Northwest. Through his stories and designs, Jim reveals a magical world of birds, fish, and mammals who share lessons from nature about the art of living well. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Book preview

Salmon’s Journey

and More Northwest Coast Stories

Learning From Nature and the World Around Us

Robert James Challenger

This book is dedicated to my Mom,

Jean Challenger,

who has put feet to the words,

Life is what you make it.

Contents

Salmon’s Journey

Red Snapper’s Colour

Hermit Crab’s Home

Why Halibut Looks Up

Clam’s Shell

Kokanee’s Sparkle

Robin’s Red Feathers

Starfish Becomes a Shining Light

Coyote’s Friend

Porcupine’s Lesson

Sea Otter’s Favour

Snow Bear’s Mistake

Seagull Saves the Day

How Dragonfly Flies

Grasshopper’s Strength

Flowers for Honeybee

Being Kind to Snake

Wolf Learns to Fish

Eagle’s Spirit

Why Jellyfish Never Stops

Fir Tree’s Seed

Salmon’s Journey

The little creek was bright with fish swimming through the shallows and searching for a place to lay their eggs. It was fall, and Sockeye Salmon had returned to the very stretch of creek where she was born. It had been a long journey, full of adventures.

In the first year, Sockeye Salmon emerged from her egg beneath the gravel and made her way to the surface. For the first while she hid in the shallow waters along the stream bank to stay away from the bigger fish and the birds. When she was a few months old, she and all the other newborns began their journey down the river towards the sea. It was spring, and as the sun shone brightly, Sockeye Salmon’s color became shining silver.

She stayed together with the others in a large school, for she knew that they would be safer if they kept together. Drawn by instinct she began a long journey out into the deep ocean. At first, she ate the little shrimp and plankton that drifted in the currents. As she grew, she began to feast on the herring and anchovies. Sockeye Salmon became larger and stronger every day. She practised swimming and became one of the fastest in her school.

That was a good thing, because she had some close calls. Once she was chased by Sea Lion and another time by Orca. Both times she just managed to escape their snapping jaws.

One day she felt the urge to turn around and start back towards her birthplace. As she swam closer to the river she started to smell