The Snake King of the Kalinago

Children of Atkinson School, DominIca

£4.99

ISBN

9780954333469

Published

2010

Format

Paperback

ISBN

9780954333469

Published

2010

Format

Paperback

This delightful children’s book – the first to be written by children in Dominica – tells the story of the myth of the Kalinago snake. Like all myths it has changed down the centuries and this version is an adaptation by a primary school class who, from their own knowledge and their own imaginations, came up with this lively tale.

The Kalinago people live in the Commonwealth of Dominica in the eastern Caribbean. They were the island’s first inhabitants and arrived in their canoes from South America. They were farmers and fishermen but, after Europeans arrived more than 500 years ago, they gradually lost their land. Now they live by the sea in a mountainous and rainforested part of the islands known as the Kalinago Territory. If you visit the Kalinago Territory, you will see a rocky “staircase” coming out of the sea. It is called L’Escalier tete chien – it means “the staircase of the snake” in the Dominican Creole language. This is where, according to the myth, a great snake came out of the sea, slithered on to the land – the rocks are the marks his belly left – and went up to his cave. He will stay there sleeping until the world is at peace again.

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What they say

This is a stunning one-off – the retelling of a Caribbean myth. It is the captivating work of children.
– Kate Kellaway, Observer

A welcome addition to any primary school’s collection.
– Schools Library Association Journal

A charming and entertaining tale….This book deserves a place in any school library.
– Carousel

The story is well told and illustrated… I like the way these [the bold paintings] are arranged with the text partly because they support the story content and partly because they are placed on the page in a variety of ways.
– Books for Keeps

This is a stunning one-off – the retelling of a Caribbean myth. It is the captivating work of children.
– Kate Kellaway, Observer

A welcome addition to any primary school’s collection.
– Schools Library Association Journal

A charming and entertaining tale….This book deserves a place in any school library.
– Carousel

The story is well told and illustrated… I like the way these [the bold paintings] are arranged with the text partly because they support the story content and partly because they are placed on the page in a variety of ways.
– Books for Keeps

About the Author

Atkinson School, Dominica

In a ground-breaking initiative, pupils from Year 6 (the top year of primary level) of Atkinson school, Dominica, wrote the words for The Snake King of the Kalinago. They were supported by their teacher Micheline Bruno and the school principal, Alice Laronde.

The Snake King of the Kalinago

ISBN

Published

Format

ISBN

Published

Format

What they say

About the Author

Atkinson School, Dominica

About the Author

Atkinson School

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