When a sick pelican lands in the forest, Yakari, a Sioux boy, and his animal friends try to take care of him--but the bird’s insatiable appetite and incessant sneezing cause problems for everyone. Soon, Yakari’s friends are demanding he make a choice: The pelican or them!
Yakari and the Stranger is absolutely adorable! The simple, though not simplistic, story is easy for young readers to follow while subtly teaching them about tolerance and understanding. The situation lends itself to comedy, with the humor being of the gentle slapstick school--falling off ponies, knocking over piles of sticks, bandaging the pelican’s beak shut, and the like.
Yakari is a delightful hero. He’s independent, intelligent, caring, and loyal. Though he has to ask for help in taking care of the sick bird, he accepts responsibility for the problems the situation is causing. The otters and beavers that make up the bulk of the supporting cast are playful and charming when not being kept awake by the pelican’s sneezing, and their annoyance with the stranger is understandable. Younger children will also sympathize with the lost, sick pelican even as they’re laughing at his difficulties.
The art reminds me of Disney’s Silly Symphonies animated shorts that were produced in the 1930s. Like Disney’s animators, Derib provides a rich background for his characters. The panel in which Yakari and his pony, Little Thunder, carry the pelican up the river and into the mountains is lovely. The shadowed trees in the foreground and the bend of the un-shadowed river serve as a frame that focuses the reader’s attention on the small figures trudging onward. The mix of shadow and light also give depth to the scene.
The anthropomorphized animals have a lean, flexible grace--especially the otters and beavers. They seem to be drawn with a low center of gravity, which gives them a sense of weight without bulk. Their body language is expressive, as evidenced on the page showing the otters fishing for food for the pelican. You can tell what each one of them is thinking from the way their bodies are positioned. Derib’s work here reminds me very much of Walt Kelly’s Pogo and Albert comic books of the 40s and 50s. Though Derib’s characters aren’t as cartoon-y looking, they have the same fluidity as Kelly’s.
I cannot recommend this book enough to parents of younger children--as well as to librarians of elementary schools and public libraries. If you know someone who’s enjoyed Owly, hand them Yakari and the Stranger. They’ll thank you for it.
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