The Seasons and Someone [Library Binding]

Virginia L. Kroll (Author), Tatsuro Kiuchi (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

The changing seasons and activities in the magnificent Alaskan landscape are viewed through the eyes of a young Eskimo girl. By the author of Masai and I.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3?Through the eyes of a young Eskimo girl, this simple, poetic text, full of metaphors and similes, captures the sights and sounds of the seasonal changes in the Arctic. Kroll uses a question-and-answer format to present information about the land, vegetation, animals, and traditional and cultural activities of an Eskimo family from the time the field turns gold to brown to sparkling white to the time the gulls gather on the cliffs. The richly colored yet softly muted oil paintings capture the flow and meaning of every word. The outstanding illustrations and lilting text succeed in creating the feel of the Arctic environment and the warmth and importance of family life inside the home. Libraries will want to add this jewel to their Alaska and Eskimo culture collections.?Roz Goodman, Bering Strait School District Media Center, Unalakleet, AK
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. A young girl (she refers to herself as "Someone" out of respect for the Eskimo custom of not speaking one's own name aloud) observes the seasonal changes around her in this elegant picture book. As winter approaches, she enjoys the last of summer's berries, the musk oxen grow thick coats, and the sun disappears. She stays busy during the cold months, safe inside her family's warm igloo, but with spring's return she ventures out to look for new blossoms. Summer brings long days and enormous vegetables, a new fishing season, and delicious ripe berries. She looks forward to many new seasons and gives thanks for the beautiful land. Kroll's sparse yet poetic text conveys a great deal of information about traditional Eskimo life as well as a sense of cultural values. Kiuchi's lush oil paintings portray the vastness of the Arctic landscape and are best viewed from the distance that story hours provide. An excellent introduction to units on Eskimos; pair with Murphy's A Child's Alaska, also reviewed in this issue. Kay Weisman

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books (J); 1st edition (December 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015271233X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152712334
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,596,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Virginia Kroll is the author of over fifty books for children and winner of a 2004 Children's choice award. A former elementary school teacher, she lives in New York with her husband and has raised six children of her own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, wonderful book, March 8, 2005

By 

taylorschott "taylorschott" (santa barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Seasons and Someone (Library Binding)

I never review books. But I loved this one and I was afraid that the other review posted would not give you a good sense of it. The story is very sweet and the illustrations are very beautiful. I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A very informational book!, March 10, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Seasons and Someone (Library Binding)

This book talks about Eskimos and how they live and survive with the different seasons. They have a great appreciation for the land and use it respectfully. There is an old belief that it is bad luck to speak your own name aloud, so therefore they use someone or somebody. In the fall, the Eskimos prepare for the long and hard winter ahead. They savore the last of the berries, and the animals will grow their winter coats. In the winter the Eskimos live by the light of whale oil and candles. They will make sealskin boots, and carve things out of soapstone. In the Spring they await the berries, and the geese will return. The villagers will catch fish and seaweed from the unfrozen streams. In the Summer the cabbages will grow, and the berries will be ready for picking. I thought this book was very informational and it helped me to understand how the Eskimos survived and used the land. I would recommend this book because it shows us how lucky we are to have the luxuries we have. ~ Katelyn Carson