Section 6.1 Small Number and the Big Tree
Written by: Veselin Jungic and Mark MacLean Illustrated by: Simon Roy and Jess Pollard
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Small Number likes to wander around grandma's house because whenever he visits he discovers something new and exciting there. This time he finds an old woven basket. “Look how beautiful these patterns are,” says Small Number while touching the smooth surface of the basket. “It was made by my great aunt,” Small Number hears Grandma?s gentle voice. “Do you know that this basket was made from cedar roots?”
Grandma looks at Small Number's puzzled face, and says, “You and Perfect Number will go with me tomorrow to help me gather cedar roots. Now let us eat and I'll tell you why cedar is a sacred plant for our people and how it can be used in many different ways.”
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It is a misty morning and Small Number can smell the sweet scent of the forest. He hears how the birds sing to each other somewhere high in the trees. “What is behind those big trunks?” thinks Small Number and starts walking over the coarse woody debris on the forest floor. He moves between fallen dead trees and the remains of large branches until he reaches the group of trees standing by a creek bank.
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Then he looks down at the creek. Small Number's eyes widen and the beating of his heart fastens when he realizes that the creek is full of spawning salmon. “There must be thousands of fish here.”
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“I told you to stay with me all the time, Small Number!” Small Number hears his grandma's quiet voice, coming just from behind him. He turns around and hugs grandma very tightly. “I love you so much, grandma!” “I love you very much too, but please don't scare me like this again!” replies grandma.
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Question: How wide was the Bear Tree?
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