Rufus the Mayus - by Everson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Rufus is a curious little mayus (raccoon). When his adventures separate him from his family, Rufus is visited by G̱wa'wina (Raven). The supernatural shapeshifter offers to share a bit of his gift with the young mayus, but there's a catch: Rufus is only allowed to pick one animal to turn into! There are so many good animals to choose from. Goose, deer, wolf, or bear... how will he decide?

Inspired by the author's own relationship with her identity as a mixed-raced individual, Rufus is a sympathetic character caught between 2 worlds: the wild raccoon and the house cat. Rufus introduces to children the concept of identity and this book is the perfect set up for multiple sequels exploring the complexities of identity as he learns to walk in both worlds. The intention is to assist children, especially those who are composed of two identities, to find homes in both. Rufus the Mayus is fully illustrated in color and features key words in Kwakwala with a pronunciation guide in the back matter.