A purposeful but nonetheless evocative glimpse of rural Inuit life inspired by memories of egg gathering in the author’s...
What young Akuluk expects to be a dull visit with her grandparents in Nunavut turns out to be an immersive experience in Piusuituqait, or “the traditional ways.”
Hardly has she stepped off the plane from Yellowknife than Akuluk’s mood changes from regret to delight at seeing big Arctic hares by the roadside on the way to a warm welcome from her Anaana and Ataata. Next morning, dressed in a new atigi (fur parka), she ventures out with both to ride an ATV over rolling hills of aqpiit (cloudberries) to the sea. There, following her grandpa’s instructions, she helps to select and gather eggs of mitiq (eider ducks) from a nesting site. Then on her return she finds on her chair an amauti, a woman’s parka with a pouch for carrying babies (or, in her case, her stuffed polar bear Piulua), and falls asleep to dream of speckled eggs and future visits. Wright’s soft-focus illustrations usually center on the round, smiling faces of Akuluk and her family, but background details of dress and the subarctic landscape add atmospheric notes to the episode. The Inuktitut words threaded through the narrative are defined both in context and in more detail at the end. Its focus on an Inuit protagonist who lives south of the tundra and has relatives in Montréal is a valuable reminder to all readers that indigenous peoples are not confined to their traditional territories.
A purposeful but nonetheless evocative glimpse of rural Inuit life inspired by memories of egg gathering in the author’s youth. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-7722-7025-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Inhabit Media
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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