The Animal People Choose a Leader

The Animal People Choose a Leader is an abridged picture book version of a story from Richard Wagamese’s One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a Planet. The story unfolds as the Animal People decide to select their leader through a challenging race—four laps around a lake nestled among steep hills. Horse, Buffalo, Wolverine, Cougar, and Rabbit (Waabooz) want to race to be leader while Eagle watches from above. As the race begins, Waabooz takes her time to appreciate the beauty of the land and the challenge of the race, while the others rush ahead:

“Oh, the land is so lovely,” Waabooz said. “There is so much to see and the feeling of being on it is so beautiful.”
“You are far behind,” Eagle said. “There is no way for you to ever catch up.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m here to enjoy the challenge,” Waabooz said. Then she took a small drink and continued on her way.

As the race progresses, the laps become increasingly demanding as the animals grow tired. Wolverine becomes trapped in a crevice of rocks, Horse is ensnared in a thicket of blackberry bushes, Buffalo is stuck in a bog, and Cougar becomes so tired that he needs to be carried. Throughout these trials, Waabooz emerges as a steady voice of reason, embodying problem-solving and friendship. The animals cross the finish line together, but Waabooz still has one lap to go. Though the others wish for her to be the leader, she humbly declines, stating, “…there is no need for one to lead. We all help each other complete the journey.” She explains that it is in the journey that one becomes wise, and she still has one more lap to go. Waabooz then finishes her last lap. Eagle places her on Buffalo’s back, and “They walked together back to the Animal People bearing a great story and a great Teaching.”

Bridget George’s illustrations are masterful. The colours and essence of each animal are beautifully depicted, creating a visual delight. The illustrations are primarily earthy colours with greens, browns, and blacks juxtaposed with bits of pink, white, and gold. There are full-page colour illustrations as well as ornate borders for longer text passages. The physical book, itself, is a thing of beauty. The shiny silver border and the pinks of the rabbit and flowers are contrasted against the black covers, and the book’s woven texture gives it a tactile appeal.

Wagamese’s storytelling is rich and detailed, making The Animal People Choose a Leader both insightful and entertaining. The book is a longer storybook, often with full pages of text. While the narrative is accessible for all ages, its length and depth make it particularly suitable for readers aged 8 and up, whether read aloud or independently. Given the scarcity of picture books for older children, this beautiful and important addition is a must-have for home, school, and public libraries.