What if all the beasts were gone?

“What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected.” Chief Seattle

Click on photo for live eagle's nest cam: 3 eaglets hatched 3/31/12. If you're lucky, you'll see mom too.

I recently read a small gem of a children’s book, The Boy Who Flew with Eagles, by Ben Woodward which contains a powerful reminder of Chief Seattle’s message.  Only ten chapters long, The Boy Who Flew With Eagles is a simple tale, packed with wisdom.

Kidnapped by a mother eagle whose eaglets are starving, the young boy learns he is to become their next meal.

“Eagles don’t eat humans, they eat fish,” says Naa’ki. The eagle tells him that his people have taken all the fish and she must travel farther each day to find food. Her babies are in danger of starving. Quick thinking and resourceful, Naa’ki offers to make nets to catch small fish in the streams. “If you eat me, you will get one meal, but if you let me work, you will get many meals.”

The mother eagle decides to let him try and Naa’ki lives, for a time, with the eagles. The baby eaglets grow strong with the fish Naa’ki catches and as they start to receive flying lessons, the young boy develops a passion for learning to fly.

High above his former world, Naa’ki gets a new outlook on the ways of man and nature. He learns that the earth has enough provision for all creatures if shared, a concept that goes radically against ‘plundering the earth for profit’ mindset. A powerful message about the concept of stewardship and sharing is delivered through this gentle, non-preachy and entertaining story.

I won’t reveal any more of the story, so you may discover it for yourself.

In addition to being a well told tale, this is one of the most beautifully formatted ebooks I’ve seen yet. The book cover and each chapter title is enhanced by the striking charcoal drawings of Laura Leikona. Professionally done, this is an exceptional gem from an independently published author.

I highly recommend sharing this book with your children or grandchildren.

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