Alaska Book Club: 3 Children’s Books!
Lucky travelers to Alaska will find themselves in a whole new and wonderful world with the diverse landscape, unfamiliar weather and rare animal populations. These highlights are a draw to those looking for adventure and an extraordinary look at the world.
These three compelling books, each illuminating different details about Alaska include bears of Alaska, encyclopedic information about Alaska’s animals and environment, and a retelling of an old Yupik Eskimo tale, will draw children of different age groups to the unique features of a very different place on earth.
After experiencing the following books, young readers and adults can draw instantly on their new knowledge to experience the visual beauty of all parts of Alaska, to understand the unusual behaviors of the animals they may meet, and to realize how Alaskan Indigenous People connect to their part of paradise.
By Shannon Cartwright
Alaska’s ABC Bears gives a new spin on early childhood letter books and brings its youngest audience to their first reader experience. This delightful board book of the ABCs illustrates captivating and fun-loving bears in action. The letter D shows “dancing bears,” the letter I shows “itchy bears,” and the letter R shows “roller-skating bears.” (I hesitate to give away the ending!) This rendition of the traditional ABC book with its star player as the Alaskan bears draws children to actions including practicing letters, imitating bear and human activities, and realizing the talent of Shannon Cartwright and her illustrations of the bears of Alaska. Give your tiny bear lovers the gift of Alaska’s ABC Bears.
Alaska Animals-Where Do They Go At 40 Below?
By Bernd and Susan Richter
This informational book gives audiences a clear picture of seven prominent animals (including fish and birds of Alaska) their size, seasonal habits, food sources, and migration patterns. Each creature is promised two pages to showcase information. The first page discusses summer habits, with the inevitable question at the end of the page, “where do the animals go at 40 below?” In the next page, readers hear about the movement of the animals, birds and fish as they find refuge in the harsh conditions of Alaskan winters. As the question is answered in the winter telling of the animals’ habits, the nature of both summer and winter in Alaska is revealed. This book appeals to two age groups including ages 3 to 7 and ages 5 to 10. On each page there is a paragraph in bold lettering appropriate vocabulary for young readers, and more challenging words and information for the older readers who can look to the longer paragraph. Adults love this book as well, as they can glean fantastic information about the wildlife of Alaska.
The Hungry Giant of the Tundra
Retold by Sheri Sloat
Illustrated by Robert and Sheri Sloat
The Hungry Giant of the Tundra is a perfect reader for third to sixth graders. This story comes from the master storyteller, Olinka Michael, and is told in the Yupik Eskimo oral tradition. In the retelling of The Hungry Giant of the Tundra, the audience recognizes the theme of triumph of small over big. The children in the story take risks despite their parents bidding for them to return home early. The children extend their playtime into the evening only to find themselves in the clutches of odiferous and slightly forgetful Giant who plans to eat them for dinner. In a turn of events, the children, using their knowledge, wit, and bird friends of Alaska manage to escape the clutches of the awkward giant. A twist in the story comes at the end when the audience believes the crane to be less than loyal to the children as he extends his help to the giant as well. This tale is so beautifully illustrated, and the audience see the children on the backdrop of a summer day in the Alaskan wilderness and feels the water and the weather as the children do. It is a wonderful tale to experience in the setting set up by Robert and Teri Sloat.
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This Blog Post was written by Cathleen M.
