The Sleeping Lady - 35th Edition (Paperback)

About the Book

Gazing across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, Alaska, people have imagined that the sprawling peak across the inlet is a slumbering woman. Out of this idyllic landscape, has come a tale about a time of peace and the consequences of war. Evocative paintings and this retold tale capture the village life of the g

Book Synopsis

Gazing across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, Alaska, people have imagined that the sprawling peak across the inlet is a slumbering woman. Out of this idyllic landscape, has come a tale about a time of peace and the consequences of war. Evocative paintings and this retold tale capture the village life of the giant people, a prehistoric, peace-loving group and the drama that ensues when they must face a band of menacing warriors. The tale centers on the fate of the story's two betrothed lovers, Nekatla and Susitna, whose encounters with war bring a lasting change to the land and their people. The story is both a mythical explanation for natural phenomena and a tale about a time when people lived in harmony with nature and each other.

Review Quotes

"Although the setting is unique to Alaska, the text, which focuses more on the story line and action than on description and detail, will hold the interest of readers, storytellers, and listeners everywhere. A great introduction to or enhancement for units on war, peace, decision making, cooperation, love, or myths and legends." -School Library Journal

"The passages flow like poetry."--Small Press


"Beautiful and enchanting pictures help to make this modern-day folk legend one children will want to read over and over again. Its message about war and peace leaves a lasting impression on the reader." -Review from Parent Council (TM)

"Dixon's serene presentation resonates with the simplicity of a Native American legend. Johns's oil paintings are an apt complement, their handsome, ethnic-appearing characters and reverence for the land adding drama and atmosphere. Especially striking are the illustrations' thematic borders, which subtly reflect the story's changing moods." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ann Dixon is the author of numerous books including "Alone Across the Arctic, Big-Enough Anna," "Blueberry Shoe," and "When Posey Peeked at Christmas." She is a librarian and lives in Homer, Alaska.
Elizabeth Johns is a painter and has illustrated several books including "The Sleeping Lady" and "Sunflower Sal." She is a former resident of the Pacific Northwest and now lives in Bristol, Tennessee.