The Inquisitive Raven by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George
The virtues of curiosity
The Inquisitive Raven, we need you. All of us, all ages, everywhere.
Ostensibly, The Inquisitive Raven, the charming new picture book by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George, is for children. But its story of Rueben the raven, “black eyes gleaming, glittering in excitement” as he seeks to find out everything he can about the world around him, is a call to action for everyone.
“With any luck, children will read Wagamese’s story and, like Rueben, realize the importance of continuing to poke and pry, to be “Downright intrusive, sometimes.” After all, awareness leads to knowledge, to power.”
The ancient Greeks invented the word idiot to mean someone who pays no heed to civic matters. These days, with newspaper readership plummeting even as fascism around the world spreads, we need more civic engagement—more Ruebens. With any luck, children will read Wagamese’s story and, like Rueben, realize the importance of continuing to poke and pry, to be “Downright intrusive, sometimes.” After all, awareness leads to knowledge, to power.
Everyone in the forest knows Rueben. Squirrels are used to him popping up on tree branches to look at their babies. Beavers expect his nosiness—well, beakiness—while they design their dams. Bears know Rueben will not only raid their fave berry patches, but squawk in amusement at the sight of them stumbling about post-hibernation, rumpled and half-awake.
Rueben plies all the animals with questions. Annoying, yes, but he then listens respectfully to their explanations, “hitching his wings and twisting his head while he considered everything they had told him.”
Our hero is quite happy with his inquisitive existence. That is, until one day, with the sun high in “a perfect blue bowl of a sky,” he espies a huge, beautiful, powerful bird: Migizi the eagle. Rueben wants to wheel and soar like Migizi. And to have every other animal gawk in awe at him as they do at her.
What Rueben craves is “the sensation of becoming bigger somehow, more beautiful, less of a raven and more revered and respected like an eagle.” He decides he, too, can make dazzling flights. It’ll just take practice, right?
Every day, our feathered protagonist challenges himself to flap higher. Alas, an eagle he is not. Up too high, he finds the sky too big, the dizzying view too scary, and—
Well, no spoilers about the dramatic climax. Suffice it to say that wise Grampa Raven gives Rueben the advice that, ideally, readers of all ages will take away: a lively, unflagging curiosity about the world is itself a wonderful gift. And, like Rueben, when we discover something noteworthy, we should share it. Even if we can’t, like ravens, perch atop a tree and blast it out in a scratchy, yet somehow endearingly catchy, voice.
Why, even eagles would be impressed.
About the Author
Richard Wagamese (1955-2017), an Ojibway from the Wabaseemoong First Nation, was one of Canada’s foremost writers. His bestselling, award-winning novels include Indian Horse, which was made into a feature film. Richard was also the author of highly praised memoirs and personal reflections, such as Embers and One Story, One Song, winner of the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature. His work was recognized with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award and the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Matt Cohen Award.
About the Illustrator
Bridget George is an Anishinaabe author-illustrator and graphic designer. Raised on the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, she now lives in London, ON, with her young son. It’s a Mitig!, her début picture book, won the TD Summer Reading Club and First Nation Communities READ/PMC Indigenous Literature Award. Bridget’s other bestselling, critically acclaimed books for children include The Animal People Choose a Leader (2024).
About the Reviewer
Melanie Jackson is a freelance Vancouver writer/editor. She’s also the award-winning author of middle-grade/YA suspensers, including Orca Books’ Dinah Galloway Mystery Series, and several chillers set in amusement parks. Visit Melanie’s page at The Writers’ Union of Canada.
Book Details
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Publication date: September 2, 2025
Language: English
Paperback: 32 pages
ISBN: 9781771624497