Arctic Adventures: Tales from the Lives of Inuit Artists [Hardcover]

Raquel Rivera (Author), Jirina Marton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Extreme weather, hunger, magic, hunting, and the land are themes that shape the existence of the Inuits’ of the Far North. These stories — retold by Raquel Rivera based on the lives of native artists Pudlo Pudlat, Jessie Oonark, Kenojuak Ashevak and Lazarusie Ishulutuk — offer young readers a glimpse into this rich, remote culture, past and present. In “Pudlo and Kapik Go Hunting,” a young boy drifts out to sea on an ice floe; “Oonark's Arctic Adventure” tells of a mother and daughter stranded on the icy tundra; “The Shaman’s Granddaughter” movingly explores loss and mystery; and “Lazarusie and the Polar Bears” reveals just how finely attuned the relationship between animals and humans can be. Accompanying each story are illustrations by Jirina Marton, who has spent time in the Arctic and whose deep appreciation for its subtle beauty shines through her art. In addition to the stories, there is a feature spread on each artist with a photograph, a brief biography, and a reproduction of one of the artist’s works.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Steeped in the Inuit culture of the far north, this dynamic picture book draws on memoir, legend, art, and history to tell true dramatized events in the lives of four modern Inuit artists. The stories range from a boy's survival adventure with his dog on shifting ice and a hunter's close-up encounter with a polar bear, to a shaman's dangerous journey to appease the sea-goddess at the bottom of the stormy ocean. Another story introduces Jessie Oonark, a widow rescued with her child on the tundra by the Royal Canadian Air Force; she worked as a janitor and later became famous for her wall hangings and prints. Beautiful illustrations in colored pencil and mixed media show the individual people and creatures in the Arctic landscape close up, sometimes with an edge of magical realism. After each story, there is a brief, straightforward biography of the artist, a photo, and a reproduction of his or her work, which is often a rich blend of the traditional and the new. End matter includes a map, bibliography, and glossary. Rochman, Hazel

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (May 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888997140
• ISBN-13: 978-0888997142
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #667,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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