Rabbit and Bear Paws puppets

Chad Solomon continues to promote his Rabbit and Bear Paws graphic novels in innovative ways. Now he has puppets of the main characters to put on shows at schools, libraries, and community events. And he's posting videos of them, as you can see here:

Rabbit and Bear Paws:  PawPrint Blog

For more on the subject, see Rabbit and Bear Paws on Laptops and Rabbit and Bear Paws in the Classroom.

Rabbit and Bear Paws on laptops

From a press release:

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws in the 21st century: One Laptop Per Child programLittle Spirit Bear Productions, publisher of the graphic novel series Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws, have licensed 10,000 graphic novel ebooks of volume one, “The Sugar Bush” (5000), and volume three, “True Hearts” (5000), to The Belinda Stronach Foundation, who is sponsoring the One Laptop Program in Canada for Aboriginal Youth ages 6-12.

Aboriginal youth is the fastest-growing population in Canada, but many do not have access to the tools they need to realize their full potential. The Little Spirit Bear Productions family is honoured to be a part of this amazing program.

For more information on the One Laptop Per Child program, please visit
http://www.tbsf.ca/aboriginal_youth-34.htmlAlso, Little Spirit Bear Productions has released the fourth volume in the series:Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws is a fresh and funny graphic novel series for the young and the young at heart. The series is based on the Seven Grandfathers of Respect, Bravery, Love, Honesty, Humility, Wisdom and Truth and is rapidly gaining enthusiastic fans for their vibrant and entertaining images of customary traditions and oral history.

In this NEW graphic novel called Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol 4: Tall Tale, Rabbit really does it this time, sticking both feet in his mouth by telling a tall tale. As Rabbit tells one tall tale after another to keep out of trouble, Rabbit's stories quickly pile up and so do the troubles of the village. Will Rabbit's tall tales be the downfall of the village, or will Rabbit realize that it takes a big person to walk the path of an honest person?

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol 4: Tall Tale is based on the Grandfather Honesty (Gwekwaadiziwin).Comment:  For more on the subject, see Rabbit and Bear Paws in the Classroom and TVOntario Features The Voyageurs.

Rabbit and Bear Paws in the classroom

Learning from cartoons:  Comic follows adventures of Ojibwa brothers

By Dave DaleNipissing University education students were laughing and having fun Monday as native author Chad Solomon demonstrated how cartoons can be used as a teaching tool.

Solomon, the grandson of traditional healer and justice activist Art Solomon, is the creator of the comic Rabbit and Bear Paws and Little Spirit Bear Productions, a multi-media company.Solomon's self-publishing advice:The students, many of them working as educational assistants already and completing various teaching-related certificates or diplomas, asked questions about how Solomon got his cartoons published and the amount of work it takes to create them.

He said it takes about three years to research, write and draw a cartoon book and recommended self-publishing as an option to get started.

"Do the stories, write your book," Solomon said, suggesting print-on-demand and online publishing alternatives while waiting for big publishing houses to take an interest.

"Start small and with the right spirit, it can grow into something larger," he said, describing how he started telling stories through art as a child, showing the students a simple figure his grandmother taught him to draw.Using comics in the classroom:His online production company provides a venue for students to learn life lessons and communication skills by developing their own cartoon strips.

Rabbit and Bear Paws puppets were circulated around the room, with Rabbit landing in the hands of Jarrod Shawanda, of Birch Island.

He's an educational assistant working toward a diploma and looks forward to a career in policing. Shawanda said using cartoons and art in the classroom helps students learn in a way that's more interesting than straight instruction, homework and tests.

"I've done this kind of stuff in the classroom and it's very engaging. It gets them to write and they're learning and they don't even know it."Comment:  I've met Solomon a couple times and talked to him online. I consider him a colleague if not a friend.

Although I wouldn't have thought of using puppets, I agree with his advice. Self-publish your comics and pitch them as educational and cultural tools.

For more on the subject, see TVOntario Features The Voyageurs and 3rd Rabbit and Bear Paws Collection. For more on the subject in general, see Comic Books Featuring Indians.

TVOntario features The Voyageurs

A message from Chad Solomon, creator of the Rabbit and Bear Paws comic strips and books:Hey Rob,

I would like to share news with you about our second graphic novel Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws: The Voyageurs (http://www.rabbitandbearpaws.com/gnovelv2_1.php) was featured on TVO.

On Wednesday [12/2/09] on the station TVO our second graphic novel (nominated as one of the BEST in graphic novels for kids in Canada) was featured on a program called Empire of the Word episode 2.

The program is about literacy and features the Honourable James T. Battleman, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and how he learned to read from comic books that he found at the local garbage dump. At the end of the program Battleman is being read to by an First Nations youth from a northern community. The last 3 minutes of the program is where our graphic novel is featured.

Meegwetch,
ChadComment:  I wasn't sure what TVO was, but according to Wikipedia:TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO (call signs: CICA, CICE, CICO), is a publicly-funded, educational English language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is a crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario.For more on the subject, see Comic Books Featuring Indians.

3rd Rabbit and Bear Paws collection

From another Little Spirit Bear Productions press release:

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol. 3: True Hearts!What does love mean to you? Is love the feelings you have for your parents, family, friends and all beings? Or is it something more? What Rabbit loves to do the most is play pranks with his brother Bear Paws on family and friends. Rabbit is the best at playing pranks on others--until he meets his equal in a young girl called Strawberry. Is this a new kind of love?

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol. 3: True Hearts! is based on the Grandfather Love (Zaagidwin), one of the Seven Grandfathers (respect, bravery, love, honesty, humility, wisdom and truth) of the Anishinabek Teachings.Comment:  For more on the series, see 2nd Rabbit and Bear Paws Collection and Rascally Rabbit and Bear Paws.

Voyageurs nominated for C4K Award

Comics for Kids Award NomineesThe Comics for Kids Award / Prix de Bandes Dessinées pour Enfants recognizes creators who have produced works which capture the attention and fascination of young readers, and help to create a passion for life-long reading. Works considered for this award are comic books and graphic novels by Canadian creators that are targeted at readers 14 and under.Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol 2: The VoyageursRabbit and Bear Paws join the Voyageurs to take the Furs from Lake of the Woods to Montreal and experience all the trials and tribulations of being a Voyageur. Our young heroes face the life of a voyageur with bravery, as they are confronted by thieves and dangers around every river bend.

Rabbit and Bear Paws is set in 18th Century colonized North America and follows the stories of two mischievous Ojibwa brothers as they play pranks and have amazing adventures using a traditional Ojibwa medicine (spirit powder) that transforms them into animals for a short time.

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol 2: The Voyageurs is based on the Grandfather Bravery (Aakdehewin), one of the Seven Grandfathers of the Anishinabek Teachings.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Rascally Rabbit and Bear Paws and The Best Indian Comics.

2nd Rabbit and Bear Paws collection

From another Little Spirit Bear Productions press release:Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol. 2: The Voyageurs!Our two mischievous heroes are up to their games again in this NEW comical adventure. Rabbit and Bear Paws join the Voyageurs to take the Furs from Lake of the Woods to Montreal and experience all the trials and tribulations of being a Voyageur. Our young heroes face the life of a voyageur with bravery, as they are confronted by thieves and dangers around every river bend.

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol. 2: The Voyageurs is based on the Grandfather Bravery (Aakdehewin), One of the Seven Grandfathers of the Anishinabek Teachings.

Rabbit and Bear Paws is set in 18th-century colonized North America and follows the stories of two mischievous Ojibwa brothers as they play pranks and have amazing adventures using a traditional Ojibwa medicine (spirit powder) that transforms them into animals for a short time.

Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws Vol. 2 is a compilation of all 60 comic strips of the story line “The Voyageurs.” Book Two contains 60 comic strips, jam packed onto 30 pages of comical adventures that will tickle the heart. 8 1/2" x 11" of giant belly laughs!Comment:  I read these strips every month online. Belly laughs? No. Tickling of the heart? Maybe. The strips are more cute than funny.

Here's a video on The Voyageurs that shows an animated scene. For more on the series, see Rascally Rabbit and Bear Paws.

Rabbit and Bear Paws helps readers

From a Little Spirit Bear Productions press release:

Rabbit and Bear Paws in Club AmickRabbit and Bear Paws have partnered with Club Amick staff in helping to provide Club Amick readers with literacy tools and initiatives. Club Amick is a book club that encourages children in Ontario’s remote First Nation communities to read.

Chad Solomon, one of the creators of Rabbit and Bear Paws, has already shared with Club Amick members how to draw the positive Native characters and the ideas behind the comical adventures of the mischievous heroes, Rabbit and Bear Paws. ... This Fall, Chad will be giving all-day art workshops to Club Amick readers living in communities located in Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and will be continuing to partner in upcoming Club Amick initiatives.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Rascally Rabbit and Bear Paws.