Muskrat Will Be Swimming

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

The kids in school unkindly call the kids who live by the water "Lake Rats." Jeannie is upset, because she loves the lake and all of the surrounding wildlife. Grandpa tells her a traditional Haudenonsaunee creation story about Skywoman and the bravery of a little muskrat. Jeannie realizes that her heritage, the lake, and her family are important. She is proud to be a Native American who can appreciate all of these things. Realistic and fanciful watercolor illustrations by Hynes in a variety of sizes show readers what Jeannie is seeing and feeling.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-6This exquisite, multifaceted tribute to the power of story incorporates issues of cultural diversity, empathy, the environment, andmost universallyintergenerational guidance and love. A Native American girl is ostracized because she lives in "shanty town," a collection of trailers and abandoned vacation cottages along the lake. Jeannie and the other children from her neighborhood have been labeled "Lake Rats." At first, she tries to tell her classmates of the pleasures of nature she regularly experiences. After enough taunting, she decides to keep her feelings to herself. It is the gentle guidance of her grandfather that finally brings Jeannie from shame to appreciation. He leads the child to consider muskrats, the real "lake rats," in a new light. After a vivid dream, Jeannie performs a fitting ritual that establishes her own oneness with the lake and provides her with a newfound sense of well being. Hynes is equally adept at capturing human emotions and the beauty of nature. Full- and half-page illustrations are arranged with an eye-catching use of white space. An interesting note describes the role of stories in Native American cultures, recommends additional reading, and adds more information about muskrats. A unique book with an important message.Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA