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Title details for An Inuksuk Means Welcome by Mary Wallace - Available

An Inuksuk Means Welcome

by Mary Wallace
ebook
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An inuksuk is a stone landmark that different peoples of the Arctic region build to leave a symbolic message. Inuksuit (the plural of inuksuk) can point the way, express joy, or simply say: welcome. A central image in Inuit culture, the inuksuk frames this picture book as an acrostic: readers will learn seven words from the Inuktitut language whose first letters together spell INUKSUK. Each word is presented in English and in Inuktitut characters, with phonetic pronunciation guides provided.

The words and their definitions give a sense of the traditions and customs of Inuit life in the Arctic: nanuq is the powerful polar bear of the north; kamik is a warm seal- and caribou-skin boot; and siku is sea ice. Stunning paintings with deep color and rich texture evoke a powerful sense of place and show great respect for the Acrtic's indigenous people.

Extra informational text features include an introductory note about the significance of inuksuit in Inuit culture and a nonfiction page that profiles seven different types of inuksuit.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 1, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781771472234

    • PDF ebook

      • ISBN: 9781771472234
      • File size: 134141 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 630
    • Text Difficulty: 2-3

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 7, 2015
      Having written several children’s books about inuksuit (large stone cairns used by Inuit peoples for navigation), Wallace builds an acrostic from the letters in the word inuksuk to share seven Inuktitut words. Explanatory sentences introduce each word (“N is for nanuq, the powerful polar bear of the North”), and page turns show the object or animal within a larger Arctic setting (in this case, a lithe polar bear stands atop an icy hill, green aurorae swirling over its head). Wallace tucks tiny inuksuit into her expansive paintings, adding a minor seek-and-find element, while phonetic pronunciations and Inuktitut syllabics help readers engage in many ways with the words presented. The presence of a close-knit Inuit family, paddling their umiaq or sharing a kunik (“a kiss that says we’re family”), brings a loving warmth to the Arctic landscape Wallace so affectionately portrays. Ages 3–7.

    • School Library Journal

      December 1, 2015

      K-Gr 3-This beautifully illustrated book takes readers to the Arctic to explore Inuit culture. Each letter in the word inuksuk (a landmark made of stone that can mean many different things) is accompanied by a relevant concept or item in the Inuktitut language-such as "kamik, a warm waterproof boot made from seal and caribou skin." The English pronunciation of the word and a representation of the term in Inuktitut are also provided. Taken together, the book works as an acrostic. The endnotes offer examples of different types of inuksuit and ask readers, "Did you see some of these inuksuit in the pages of this book?" VERDICT A strong addition for libraries looking to expand cultural collections with ease.-Amy Zembroski, Indian Community School, Franklin, WI

      Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • PDF ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:630
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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