Taan's Moons: A Haida Moon Story is a fascinating art-based picture book developed by Alison Gear (poetry) and Kiki van der Heiden and the student artists of Haida Gwaii. During a three month art project involving Kindergarten (some mixed Grade 1/2) classes of all six elementary schools on Haida Gwaii, BC, the author and artist worked together to create this 48-page book about the Bear's Moons. In Haida language taan refers to the bear. The Haida people have a unique way of recording time according to the way the bear follows the seasons or months of the year. This particular method identifies 13 moons each relating to the habits of the bear. Alison Gear, a local writer and an early learning coordinator for this school district, wrote a rhyming poem describing thirteen moons as seen through the eyes of Bear (Taan). Together with artist Kiki van der Heiden, the writer and students designed the illustrations using felt to explain what activities bears did during the passing of the moons. Some of the moons illustrated include the Food Gathering Moon, Cedar Bark Weaving Moon, and Bear Hibernate Moon. At the back of the book, the publisher lists the names of each child who participated in this engaging project. Haida language keepers assisted the students with the names for each moon in Skidegate Haida and Old Massett Haida. The book is a welcome addition to the various time-keeping methods used by First Nations to document the changing seasons. Highly recommended.
