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.
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
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