Modernist Moment

On the Way to the Sky Train

Transforming the Self and Society: Reading Tiktala for a UNESCO Event

Cover of My All Ages Fairy Tale, Tiktala, illustrated by Laszlo Gal

In February 2013, I was invited Vincent Massey High School in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, by teacher-librarian Mona-Lynne Ayotte, to read from my all-ages fairy tale, Tiktala. My reading was a featured event in a school-wide celebration of both “I Love to Read” month and Vincent Massey’s ongoing participation in UNESCO.

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO is “a specialized agency of the United Nations whose goal is to add to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the UN Charter.” UNESCO named “Four Pillars of Education”: “Learning to Know,” “Learning to Do,” “Learning to Live Together,” and “Learning to Be”—to which the addition of a fifth pillar was suggested, namely “Learning to Transform.”

I had been brought in through our Manitoba Arts Council’s Artists in the Schools program (Arts Smart) to teach creative writing at Vincent Massey, when it occurred to my kind and enthusiastic host teacher, Mona-Lynne Ayotte, that Tiktala is an ideal book to share at a UNESCO event, given that one of its central themes is that of transformation.

Vincent Massey Newsletter

Prior to the event, Mona-Lynne created a superb newsletter that offered thoughtful write-ups on “Life changing books,” my anti-bullying novel, The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach, “If you could Change the World,” “The Making of Tiktala,” “Protecting Mother Earth,” and more.

I share here the full version of the speech I made (in condensed form) to the wonderfully attentive group of six hundred Grade 11 and 12 Vincent Massey students.

It began as a dream!

The making of Tiktala

On Podium with Mona-Lynne Ayotte

Presentation for Unesco Event at Vincent Massey

I am delighted to partake in your valuable, admirable UNESCO event. Thank you to Mona-Lynne Ayotte for her tremendous organizational work to bring this reading about, and to Vincent Massey teachers for making such an event happen.

Tiktala, my all-ages fairy tale, illustrated by the famous Canadian illustrator, László Gál, was a real heart’s project.

The story started as a dream and took five years from the beginning dream to the finished, published book. The original manuscript went from fifteen pages up to forty-two and back down to twelve and went through at least ten to fifteen rough drafts.

Along the way, a few people asked, “Are you still working on that story? Give it up!” But I persevered and kept going until I truly understood and had given form to the dream.

In the end, after all the challenges I’d faced, Tiktala was published in Toronto and New York. Tiktala was recipient of the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award, the Parents’ Choice Honor in the U.S., and was placed on a list of Notable Books in the Area of Social Studies. Now, the book is sold in paperback by Fitzhenry and Whiteside and has been translated to French with Scholastic.

The story strikes many chords with the UNESCO Pillars of Education. In regard to the “Learning to Live Together” pillar, the idea that children should be taught to understand other people’s reactions by looking at things from other points of view is central. In Tiktala, the central protagonist, an Inuit girl named Tiktala, is transformed into a seal specifically so that she will learn to view the world as a seal—the animal she wants to carve. Another central aspect of the “Learning to Live Together” pillar is the spirit of empathy, teaching youth to look at the world through the eyes of other ethnic groups as a way of avoiding violence or hatred.

In Tiktala, Tiktala’s spirit guide, a seal named Tulimak, hates all humans because her first pup was clubbed to death. When she is put in the position of guiding Tiktala—a human girl who has been transformed into a seal—she learns that not all humans are destructive. Because she sees through Tiktala’s eyes, she is able to drop her hatred of all humans. When she does so, she frees Tiktala to act with tremendous empathy, so that Tikala saves Tulimak’s second pup from a sealer.

Attentive Student Audience At Vincent Massey High School

UNESCO’s “Learning to Be” pillar places emphasis on the importance of imagination and creativity, and on giving art and poetry a greater place in education. That Vincent Massey High School would invite a writer to participate in their UNESCO event gives validation to the importance of artists and art in education. Tiktala is a book about the development of the artist through a journey that promotes empathy and understanding. The Inuit elder, Iguptak, who sends Tiktala on her journey, places high value indeed on the place of art in Tiktala’s education.

UNESCO’s “Learning to Know” pillar emphasizes concentration, memory skills, and the ability to think, all of which are part of listening to and analyzing stories. When we come together as a group, to listen to stories and to discuss them, we enhance our ability to know.

“Learning to Do” is another UNESCO theme that applies directly to Tiktala’s journey, in that she must “acquire necessary skills” in order to survive as a seal. She must learn how to fish, how to eat as a seal eats, how to sleep in the ocean, how to escape predators, and more. She acquires these skills, learning to do as a seal does, so that she can move on to her next level of creation—learning to create beautiful soapstone carvings of the seals she has come to know so well.

More Students Listening to Tiktala at Vincent Massey

The Fifth Pillar, UNESCO’s “Learning to Transform” permeates Tiktala. Tiktala is not only transformed into a seal, in an outer transformation, but she is also undergoes an inner transformation—to care about the animal she wants to carve. In the UNESCO view, we transform ourselves and then can transform our society. Tiktala does precisely that—she transforms herself into a caring, spiritual, and creative carver whose journey has enriched her immeasurably, and then she shares her journey with her father, who has been depressed and adrift, and now the light comes into his eyes.

There are at least seven themes in Tiktala: The Hero Journey; The Development of the Artist; Revenge and Forgiveness; Environmental Awareness; Parent/Child Relationship; Transformation; and, Human Creativity vs. Destructiveness.

The book celebrates the indigenous spirituality and world view, with Iguptak, the wisest woman of the village as a shaman who sends Tiktala on a vision quest in which she is transformed into a seal by a spirit and is led forth on her journey by a seal spirit guide. Tiktala further celebrates the human connection to animals.

In Tiktala, we find the hero journey, as identified by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In the hero journey, the people of a realm are suffering in some way. The hero leaves home and enters the Otherworld where he or she faces a series of tests which he or she successfully completes. The hero returns home with the treasure that restores balance and saves the world. Hero stories, myths, and some fairy tales from all around the world have this pattern. Tiktala leaves home, faces test upon test as a seal, and returns home as a changed girl who brings with her transformative light.

Words Create Change

Tiktala is a story of the development of the artist and of learning to care about the thing you create. At the beginning of her journey, Tiktala doesn’t really care about seals. She has many reasons for wanting to be a great carver—fame, money to buy things, a wish for her father’s attention. This is often true when we set out on any career path! Only the experience of becoming an artist, a teacher, a carpenter, a parent, tells us what that career is all about. As Tiktala learns to care about her subject, the seals, she becomes a deeper artist capable of making great carvings. She no longer wants her father’s attention, but she wants to give something to him—the carving that reveals the beauty and meaning of her journey; she wants to represent the beauty of Tulimak and Aputi, her seal friends. In becoming empathetic and selfless, Tikala attains her dream of becoming a great carver.

Tiktala is available for purchase from numerous online booksellers, including McNally Robinson Booksellers, Amazon, and Chapters.

As well, I created a richly rewarding Teacher’s Guide to Tiktala, available through my Teachers Pay Teachers site, a great value for under four dollars.

Canadian National Anti-Bullying Day

Sam Waller, Museum Founder and Curator, 1895-1978

February 27th was Canada’s National Anti-Bullying Day. So many wonderful minds are at work to try to address the bullying that is so prevalent in our schools and elsewhere. Once again, I return to publishing student letters written to me from students at Scott Bateman School in The Pas, Manitoba, in response to my Artists in the Schools visit, and their reading of my anti-bullying novel, The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach. Students are eager to understand bullying, and to name their experiences, as these letters prove!

In today’s post, I include photos taken in the charming, informative local museum in the Pas.

Museum Photo, from “The Northland” by Bert Hoffman, 1920

November 13, 2012

Dear Margaret Shaw-Mackinnon,

Thank you for come to my school! It was cool. I like how you read us your book! My name is N. and I love to read. I read a lot ever day. I liked your book. It was awesome. I am 11 years old. My favorite sport is soccer. My favorite foods [are] pizza and tacos. Those are my favorite foods.

My favorite character is Munro. He is my favorite character. It must take a long time to write a book like that. How did you like The Pas? Was it awesome or not good? How many books did you bring to the The Pas? I read your whole book. It was the best I ever read in my life! I like how everyone confessed that they had a lie. Munro had lots of lies, like Jack hanging out in his dreams. How long did it take to make that awesome book?

I’ve never been bullied in my life. Do not bully anybody—just be yourself. Bullying is very bad. Stand up to bulling. Do not hide from bullying. Stand up. Bullying has no power.

Sincerely, N. V.

Museum Photo, Indian Days 1995

December 11, 2012

Dear N.,

A Policeman’s Jacket from Early 1900s, from Sam’s Collection

Thank you for your enthusiastic letter about my visit to Scott Bateman Middle School and about your experience with The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach. I’m glad you thought my book was awesome, and that my visit was cool! Your comment that my book was the best you’d ever read made my heart sing! It’s nice to know that you like soccer, pizza, and tacos!

In response to your comment that “It must take a long time to write a book like that” I have to agree that it does. The first draft didn’t take that long, but all the rewrites, and getting it just right, took a long time! I enjoyed it all, because writing is what writers like to do.

Local Animals from Sam’s Collection

I did enjoy The Pas! I stayed in a cottage on Clearwater Lake, and I thought it was the most beautiful place. Also, I found that the teachers at Scott Bateman were really nice, and the students were great. I liked the Museum, and the movie theatre, and the tea shop. Yes, I enjoyed The Pas very much!

I’m so happy to know that you have never been bullied. You really understand about bullying now, that it’s bad and we must stand up to it.

Best wishes,
Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon

Home of the Swampy Cree, By Sam Waller, 1925

In Celebration of International Women’s Day

A Wall of Student Artwork at Henry G. Izaat School

In celebration of International Women’s Day (a day late), I post this latest instalment of student letters of advice to Echo. These students reach back in mythic time to bolster Echo’s spirits and to give her the confidence to believe in herself instead of pining away over Narcissus. While students project their insights toward a figure outside of themselves, in fact they are finding out about their own inner wisdom and resources for self-sufficiency.

Echo is a part of every person’s psyche. We all have the capacity to undervalue ourselves and overvalue others, even when they are negative towards us. Writing these letters helps students to strengthen their own ability to achieve self-love. For women around the world, the ability to live with independence and pride is essential to the well-being of humankind.

An Engaged Student’s Rendition of Echo in the Cave

Letter One

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I’m so sorry that you got so let down that you’re hiding in a cave wasting away. But you should really go out and have fun. You could meet people and go out. Just leave the cave soon. You could go on a train and leave to go somewhere and have a party. You could also find another guy.

Yours Truly, L.

Letter Two

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I’m sorry about what happened to you with Narcissus. He is not worth your love. He is handsome but not kind. But to move on, you might want to try making a friend to help you get through it. Believe me, your friends will make you feel a lot better! Think about what you love to do, like soccer or dancing. Try to join some kinds of club, because I promise, doing what you want to do for once will make you feel a lot more confident. Try to think about what you’re good at and try to realize that there are many things that you are good at. You are very good at many things. I guarantee it.

Yours Truly, I.

Letter Three

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

Echo, stop lurking and weeping in a cave. Go to your parents and get some friends. Don’t be fooled by looks. Narcissus is a handsome little demon. That’s all! He is MEAN!!

Find someone with a similar personality. That will most likely be the best choice. Now go and don’t just be a voice. Be a person. Have a happy life!

Yours Truly, C.

Letter Four

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

Hello Echo. I’m Ch. I read your story. So tragic. You deserve better. Even though he was beautiful, it matters what’s on the inside. You’re pretty and forgot what matters.

I suggest what you would love to do. You could become a model because of your beauty. A beauty pageant contestant and you could just let someone love you for you!

Yours Truly, Ch.

Letter Five

Vibrant Student Color Work of Adorable Baby Narcissus

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

Please leave your cave! Find someone who really loves you! You are so much better than you think! Please join civilization! Find a group where you belong. Let me tell you this: hiding is not a good solution! Live your life! Enjoy all the good things that will happen if you leave your cave. Please, oh please, listen!

Yours Truly, N.

Letter Six

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

You have to leave the cave and try to make friends outside or join a club. You always have to focus on yourself and not on Narcissus :). Don’t mind him. You just have to believe in yourself!

Yours Truly,  B.

Letter Seven

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

Don’t you feel so lonely in your caves? Stop swooning over Narcissus. Get out there more! Go back to your village. Find some friends. Join a club. Just make sure you don’t spend all your time wasting away in those dark, cold, lonely caves.

Yours Truly, M. 🙂

Letter Eight

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I’m so sorry to hear that you have been hiding in caves.

I will give you some advice. You should try to make some friends. Stay out of caves and you will have lots of friends. Be more proud and believe in you. Believe you can achieve.

Yours Truly, M.

Letter Nine

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I am so sorry that you hide in caves, hiding from the world. But it does not have to be that way. If you want to live your life right, by caring about yourself more. Tell yourself that you are beautiful. Say that you can do anything that you try to do. And you could go to a town and try to make friends by entering a dance group or a dance competition. Those are some ways to be happy.

Yours Truly, M.

In my next entry, readers will find more letters to Narcissus, that mythological fellow whose lack of empathy is remarkable…

Letters of Advice to Narcissus

Students at Henry G. Izaat Write Letters to Narcissus

To recap the pertinent aspect of the Echo and Narcissus myth to which these next student letters refer—the nymph Echo was one of the many who fell in love with Narcissus in his teen years. When Echo went to hug Narcissus, he rebuffed her, uttering the cruel pronouncement that he would rather die than let her touch him. He went on scorning and shaming others, until the god Nemesis answered a victim’s prayer and gave Narcissus a taste of his own medicine, causing Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection. After days of not eating or drinking, and of wailing and crying, Narcissus died and was transformed into a flower.

Students at Henry G. Izaat came up with these letters of advice for Narcissus that run the gamut from stern compassion to silliness to cheeky suggestions that Narcissus should get a grip. I hope you enjoy these charming epistles as much as I did!

Narcissus Admires his Reflection As Echo Pines Away,
as Coloured by Student Artist

Letter One

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

Stop bullying people! It’s not nice. People don’t like it. How would you feel if you got treated like that? Echo is hiding in a cave and doesn’t want to come out because of you. Good job. You ruined her life.
Yours Truly, C.

Letter Two

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

Please don’t waste your life at the edge of the pond. Some advice is [to] start carrying a mirror around so you can leave the pond and go to the village to meet some new friends. And the second step is to get rid of the reflections. Get a picture of yourself and put it in your pocket. Once you feel sad or lonely, pull it out until you feel better. Have fun in town and I hope my advice was good.

Yours Truly, C.

Letter Three

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

Why waste your time when you could be a butler until they find the Swiffer Sweeper and you end up in the basement with the broom and start singing that song that goes, “Who’s that lady? Who’s that sexy lady, who’s that lady.” Anyways, good luck at your modelling and think about others.

Yours Truly, M.

Letter Four

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

You don’t [have] to be mean or a bully. How you treated people is so not nice. Do you even say that when you’re talking to your mom? Don’t do that anymore. Now that you saw your reflection, you may understand why people act like that around you. They love you. You should be nicer and more lovable. You made Echo feel terrible. She’s thinking [she’ll] just hide in her cave for a long time, maybe even forever. You’re lucky people love you, but if you act mean to them, that love goes away. On the other hand, if you’re nice and kind, you will gain a lot of friends, so don’t be mean. Be kind, nice, and positive. Write back.

Yours Truly, N.

More Pleasing Student Colour Work of Narcissus by the Pool

Letter Five

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

You need to get a grip on your life. You have been crying over your own reflection. You should learn from your crying over yourself and not being able to hug yourself. Imagine how Echo felt when you said you would rather die before she would touch you. She gave up her powers for you. You should apologize to her. Also, dry off. Eat some food and have some water.

Yours Truly, C.

Letter Six

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

Stop being so beautiful. Get some plastic surgery to get ugly. Then put an L on your forehead and stop being so mean. Look in the mirror. You look ugly to me.

Yours Truly, Y.

Letter Seven

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

Hi Narcissus. Some advice is to stop being so mean and selfish to others. Treat them the way you want to be treated. If you don’t want to talk to them, just politely ask them to stop. If you didn’t want Echo to hug you, you could have said something nicer than I would rather die than touch you. If you made some friends, then you wouldn’t feel so lonely and then you could love yourself again in self-love, not because you are beautiful. Then people would really love you and there wouldn’t be so much hate. You should take some class to help you be nicer and actually love yourself.

Yours Truly, S.

Letter Eight

Mr. Narcissus,
c/o 1 Watery Pool,
Ancient Greece

Dear Mr. Narcissus,

Stop. Loving. Yourself. You have much more to life than looking at yourself. And find a little lady that you love! You should be in a pageant! There, you can show off your “BEAUTIFUL” inner and outer self. You would win every time!

You could also take up a sport or a hobby. Get your mind off of that pretty face of yours and try and help some other people. You could give to charities or other organizations.

Yours Truly, K.

A Student Artist Colours the Transformed Narcissus

My next post ups the ante further as more students encourage Echo to believe in herself–a perfect entry for International Women’s Day!

Letters of Advice to Echo

Henry G. Izaat Students Writing Advice to Echo

The famous twin sister advice columnists, Pauline Phillips of “Dear Abby” and Eppie Lederer of “Ask Ann Landers,” would no doubt have agreed that the following student letters of advice to Echo are full of admirable common sense—with a welcome pinch of tongue-in-cheek thrown into the mix. Student art works are so pleasing too. Enjoy!

Poor Echo, Illustration Color Work by Student Artist

Letter One

Ms. Echo
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I feel sorry for you! So here is some advice: I think you should just forget about Narcissus and go do what you love. Maybe you should join an art club or a group of friends. Learn to love yourself!

Believe in yourself! Know that there is more to you than what Narcissus says. You’re beautiful and you already have lots of potential! So what are you waiting for? Get out of that cave and live your life the way you should!

Yours Truly, A.W.

Letter Two

Ms. Echo
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I think that you should go back to your village and find someone else and eat instead of wasting away.

True love isn’t about looks. It’s about what’s on the inside.

Yours Truly, D.

Letter Three

Ms. Echo
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I’m so sad to hear that you are hiding in caves. You are so beautiful and kind. You just need confidence. Some people think Narcissus is really mean. I think you let him control you too much. You shouldn’t let Narcissus control you. You are your own person. I think that you should go to the town and meet some people and make friends. You need to be confident.

Yours Truly, S.J.

Letter Four

Ms. Echo
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

I wish you weren’t hiding in a cave!!! We could be best friends or you could have met new friends. You could play hockey, or go into acting. Do anything to get your mind off of Narcissus.

All you’ve got to do is believe.

Yours Truly, T.

More Fine Student Color Work

Letter Five

Ms. Echo
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

How come you always hide away in your cave? Go outside and find yourself a hobby you’ll enjoy! I’m sure you’ll find a great friend! You should really take a look in the mirror. You are really beautiful.

You are a sweet and kind girl with a loving heart. You had sympathy for Narcissus when he drowned. I hope you find true love again!

Yours Truly, M.

Letter Six

Ms. Echo
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

Echo! Come on, get out of that cave. Go outside. Meet some nice friends. Meet a guy that loves you for you, not like how Narcissus treated you. That was just mean and rude. And even though you got cursed to echo everybody, it doesn’t matter because it is not your fault. Go join some clubs, like dancing, hockey, rhythmic gymnastics. Eat! There is more than a million people in the world. That means that there will be a perfect match for you and that guy. Think of the positives, not the negatives.

Yours Truly, S.T.

Letter Seven

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

Hello! I’m C. and I’m here to give some advice. Stop trying! He’s not meant for you! You’re B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. He will most likely change you! I’m sure anyone would like you. They’ll date you. But he’s selfish and only cares about himself.

Well, BYE-BYE.

Yours Truly, C.

Letter Eight

Ms. Echo,
c/o 1 Echoey Cave
Ancient Greece

Dear Ms. Echo,

You have a great voice! You should be an auction person or you can be a news reporter. I feel bad that your heart got broken. You don’t have to hide in your cave. Go out and find a new man. It doesn’t matter about looks. It’s what’s inside the heart.

Yours Truly, B.

Narcissus as a Flower, More Fine Student Color Work

Now you’ve read some letters of advice to Echo, watch for the upcoming letters of advice to that narcissistic Narcissus!

The Age-Old Problem of Unrequited Love

Available in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Love is a concept and state of being with which we humans have no end of difficulty. Navigating the waters of relationships can be nerve-wracking, to say the least. Crushes are a feature of school life (and life ever after) that create endless drama. Students are intensely sensitive as to whether or not they are being accepted by their peers—and they feel romantic yearnings throughout their schooldays. Within the relationship dramas that evolve, feelings can be hurt and callous behavior can amount to bullying. Difficulties in love plague us throughout life…and how much better to be able to enter into a consideration of problems and solutions early on.

In the next series of posts, I share with readers some wise, humorous, creative student letters of advice to the lovelorn from my recent Artists in the Schools visit to four Grade Six classrooms in Winnipeg’s Henry G. Izaat school. I found these letters so thoroughly entertaining, as did the students, and I felt hope for the human condition as one after another student brought lively insight to bear on the age-old problem of unrequited love. Readers of all ages will find lively messages that delight and instruct.

During this artist visit, I led the wonderfully imaginative and responsive students through a set of activities that turned students’ usual Valentine’s Day focus away from the romantic idealization of the other to an emphasis on self-love. As I reminded students, in order to truly love another, we have to love ourselves! To immerse students in the concepts, I introduced them to Ovid’s two thousand year old book, The Metamorphoses of Ovid (translated by Mary M. Innes, England, Penguin Books Ltd., 1955), in particular to the tale of Narcissus and Echo, a tale of teenage love gone wrong.

Baby Narcissus Adored by All

To recap the story for readers, the baby, Narcissus (born to the river god Cephisus and the nymph Liriope) was so beautiful that everyone around him fell in love with him.

When Narcissus was in his mid-teens, a young nymph named Echo was one of the many who fell in love with him. Her problem was that she had been cursed by Juno into always repeating the words of others. She followed Narcissus and wished to tell him of her love, but she had to wait until he spoke words she could imitate. Narcissus heard her echoing his words, and challenged her to come out of hiding, which she did, with arms outstretched to hug him. Full of pride, Narcissus said he would rather die than be touched by Echo. Humiliated, Echo hid in caves, where she wasted away until all that was left of her was her voice that endlessly repeated the words of others.

Echo Hiding in a Cave

Meanwhile, Narcissus went on scorning and shaming others when they fell in love with him, until one of those shamed people prayed to the gods that Narcissus would fall in love with someone who wouldn’t return his love. The goddess of revenge, Nemesis, answered the prayer.

So it was that Narcissus, on a hot day, went into the forest to hunt deer. He came upon a still, mirroring pool, and knelt to take a cold drink. There, he saw his reflection for the first time, and thought the beautiful being was someone else. He fell immediately in love with himself, and reached forward to hug himself, but the watery surface broke the image.

Narcissus Falls in Love with Himself

Time and again he tried to reach himself, wailing and crying and despairing as time passed. For days, he pined away, not eating or drinking, until at last, he lay down on the shore, and died. Echo loved him until the end, echoing the mourners in their cries of grief. In his death, Narcissus was transformed into a narcissus flower (otherwise known of as a daffodil or jonquil), with a circle of white petals round a yellow centre.

Narcissus is Transformed into a Daffodil

After students read and absorbed the myth, they went on to answer questions about Narcissus’s and Echo’s choices and behavior, after which they reflected on the nature of true love and self love. In my next post, see the wonderful student color work on pictures I provided and read their animated letters of advice to Narcissus and Echo….

Creative Mess

An Untidy Room Suggests a Tidy Mind…

Now I Know How Not to Be a Bully!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Dear Margaret Shaw-Mackinnon,

Hello, my name is P., and I’m in Mr. Popiel’s class [at] Scott Bateman Middle School. I’m from The Pas, MB. I’m writing to you because we finished The Beech Nut! (HOORAY)!! Thank you for coming to our class. It’s cool that we got an author to come to the class. The book was really good, and now I know how not to be a bully! Thanks!

I really liked the book when Munro, Al, Dean, and Mike did that prank! It was really funny! This book is really good. It’s one of my favorite books! One valuable lesson that I learned is that I really don’t want to be a bully!!! My favorite characters are Munro, Alison, and Mike. I also liked when you drew pictures on the board. My favorite one was Alison’s nightmare because it was scary! (Sort of—ha ha!)

The book was really funny! I learned to be yourself, and don’t let anyone change who you are! I have my own experience with a bully. It’s not fun!

I hoped that you had fun like I did! Bye!

Sincerely,
P.!!

Anti-Bullying Lessons in the Classroom

December 11, 2012
Dear P.,

Thank you for your letter about my visit to your school and about reading The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach. I was so glad to hear that you finished reading my book! It’s great to reach the end in a book that you enjoy, to find out what happens. I was pleased to hear that you thought the book was good and that you know how not to be a bully. That’s fantastic.

I agree that the prank was very funny. I think that it’s wonderful that The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach is one of your favorite books! Authors love to hear such positive feedback!

I was sorry to hear that you have been bullied, and that it is not fun. As I’ve said to other kids, when bullying doesn’t stop, go to a trusted adult like Mr. Popiel, or like the counselor, Mrs. M. and they can help out!

I did have fun, just like you, in coming to your class. You were all such good listeners, and enthusiastic students, and it was my pleasure to work with you!

Best wishes,
Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon

Harry Styles is not a Character in a Book Called One Direction

Oops!

Dear Margaret Shaw-Mackinnon,

Hi my name is P. C., and I’m [from] Scott Batman Middle School, and I love One Direction so much. My favorite is Harry Styles. I am writing to you about the book and what I like about it, so yeah. Thank you for coming to The Pas and it was nice meeting you. Thank you for a valuable lesson about bullying. I like your drawing and you should make a Part Two. P.S. I found your book. It was wonderful knowing you.

What I like about your visit was you reading to us, and I like The Beech Nut, and it was funny drawing with you. The book was good and awesome. My favorite characters were Jane and Munro. I liked Munro because he is an artist and he loves drawing like I do. And [the reason] I like Jane is because she pretty and she wanted to be nice to Alison or be her friend [even when] Lisa and Becky don’t want to be nice to Alison. A valuable lesson that I learned was about bullying and how it [feels] to people and you should never [bully] because you might be made the victim. The activities you did with the class were drawing, thinking about bullying, or drawing all the characters and what Alison dreamed about. My favorite part of the book was the end because Munro told his friends that he liked Alison, and Al and Jane were together. That was my favorite part.

My feeling about the book was that it was awesome because it was a really good book to read. I would like to read it again. Okay, this is me [about] myself. When I was in grade four, I got bullied by lots of people and teased because…I don’t know why. In grade five I was always alone. I only have like five friends to hang out with but some would ditch me for other people, and yeah, but there was that one friend that would never ditch me and that was Hope but she moved to Millville and she only comes to visit once in a while and thank you for coming to Scott Batman Middle School.

Sincerely, P. C.

December 11, 2012

Dear P. C.,

Thank you for your letter about The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach and my visit to your school! I was interested to learn that you love One Direction. I wasn’t sure what One Direction was so I looked them up on You Tube. I can see why you like them!  Harry Styles is very impressive!

I was so pleased to learn that you thought my book was good and awesome and that you wish I’d write Part Two. Your comments about Jane and Munro were great! I like the way that you noticed that Jane was not only pretty, but she was also nice in sticking up for Alison—unlike Lisa and Becky. I agree that a good part of the book is when Munro admits he likes Alison, and Al and Jane get together.

I’m so happy that you would like to read it again! You definitely should, maybe just before the summer.  I was sorry to hear that you were bullied in grade four, and that in grade five you were always alone. I was sad to learn that Hope moved to Millville and can only visit sometimes. My advice to any kids who feel lonely is to go ahead and talk to the counselor in your school. I stayed in a cottage beside her home at Clearwater Lake, when I was in The Pas, and she’s really nice! I know she’d give any kid who came to see her good ideas for getting more friends together—and good ways to do it.

All best wishes,

Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon