The Dancing Deer and the Foolish Hunter — Elisa Kleven

Out in a forest one day, a senseless hunter happens upon a joyful, dancing deer. Believing his desire for wealth is within his reach, he decides to capture the deer and sell it to the circus. What a fortune he'll make! The hunter's plan hits a snag, however, when the captured deer (who can also talk) informs him that he cannot dance without the forest songbirds. The hunter retrieves the songbirds, only to learn that they require the accompaniment of the whistling pine trees. And of course, whistling pine trees need the sea breeze to rustle their branches! While the hunter's dream of riches evaporates, the deer offers to share a more valuable gift; the secret of his joyful dance. Originally published in 2002, The Dancing Deer and the Foolish Hunter explores in a simple, yet impactful way, the themes of ecology and the interconnectedness of all living things. Man cannot alter the natural world without changing it. The importance of the message and the opportunity to explore Elisa Kleven's detailed multi-media collage illustrations make this a book readers of all ages will retrieve from the shelf again and again.