I’m sorry to report that children’s book illustrator Michael Lacapa (Hopi-Tewa-White Mountain Apache) has passed away.

He was the author and/or illustrator of such books as: The Magic Hummingbird: A Hopi Folktale, collected and translated by Ekkehart Malotki, narrated by Michael Lomatuway’Ma, illustrated by Michael Lacapa (Kiva, 1995); Antelope Woman: An Apache Folktale retold and illustrated by Michael Lacapa (Kiva, 1995); and most recently, The Good Rainbow Road/Rawa ‘Kashtyaa’tsi Hiyaani by Simon J. Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo), illustrated by Michael Lacapa (The University of Arizona Press, 2004).

My favorite of his books, though, was: Less Than Half, More Than Whole by Michael and Kathleen Lacapa (Northland, 1994).

My sympathies to Kathleen and her children.