The bicentennial of the War of 1812 has spawned a publishing boom on the subject. Tecumseh is Toronto writer and professor James Laxer’s second such book to be released in the same month (the first, Tecumseh and Brock, was for adults). The picture book follows the Shawnee leader from his birth in 1768 on a settlement near the Ohio River to his death at the Battle of Moraviantown in 1813. In between, Laxer portrays Tecumseh’s childhood and teen years, his rise to leadership, his attempts at building a native confederacy to repulse encroaching Americans, and his involvement in the war.

The early chapters focus on Tecumseh’s youth and provide context for life among the Shawnee tribes. By focusing on the specific context of Tecumseh’s life, Laxer avoids the trap of ascribing traits, behaviours, traditions, and lifestyles to “native people” in general.

Violence tinges nearly all of the major events highlighted in the book, including the battle deaths of Tecumseh’s father and older brother; the prophecies of his younger brother; and the partnership between Tecumseh and Major General Isaac Brock, leader of the British troops in Upper Canada. Even Tecumseh’s childhood best friend, a white boy named Stephen Ruddell, was kidnapped from the Americans and raised among the Shawnee. (Ruddell’s journals are cited as Laxer’s primary source of information on Tecumseh’s early life.

Halifax painter and illustrator Richard Rudnicki picks up on this current of violence in his accompanying artwork. The full-page paintings provide realistic interpretations of battle scenes, sacked camps, and battle preparations. Most impressive is the meticulous attention to period dress and weaponry, as well as the activities of daily life.

Laxer’s action-packed portrayal of Tecumseh, along with Rudnicki’s studied illustrations, effectively bring to life the war-torn, often brutal world the Shawnee leader inhabited. The inclusion of a short epilogue about the conclusion of the War of 1812, numerous maps, a timeline of Tecumseh’s life, a glossary of military and native terms, and a list of sources and titles for further reading makes this a standout resource for young readers.