First Woman

by

Aren Cappella

Gentle, harmonious, and beautiful origin story.

First Woman by the late Aren Cappella is a lovely picture book with a gentle story of humankind’s origin. It is told in the style of a Native American fable and illustrated with beautiful and vivid images of animals and pristine natural spaces. A prologue introduces the tale and tells of the source of the story and the circumstances of the author. This heartfelt tribute is poignant and precious, and the intimate knowledge conveyed by the author’s spouse will speak to adult readers. 

The plot is simple and straightforward, with intentional repetitions, which slowly builds the tale toward its finale. The illustrations are a perfect complement to the narrative, with my favorite being the clever use of shadows to reveal the animal that each of Mother Wolf’s pups will eventually become. 

I recommend FIRST WOMAN for reading aloud to children of all ages. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.