Description
Life in the high Arctic is beautifully captured in this classic picture book, read aloud in digital form by award-winning Inuit author Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak. The year is 1955 and Arvaarluk and his friends watch as Rocky Parsons lands his plane on the ice in Repulse Bay, a tiny community “smack dab on the Arctic Circle.” Having never seen trees before, the children try to guess what the six green spindly things are that Rocky delivers. One of the boys has a brilliant idea: why not use them as baseball bats? Full of vibrant, richly-colored illustrations, this story gives young readers ages 5 to 8 a glimpse into a time, place, and culture that may be new to them. The Arctic way of life is realistically portrayed by the author, whose narrative voice resonates with the lilt of his native language, Inuktitut
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 7 to 11
- Grade:
- 1 to 3
- Reading age:
- 7 to 11
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Canadian classic storybook with lovely art
Disclaimer: review based off of NetGalley proof
I have a feeling I must have read this as a kid; seems to be a rerelease of a book from the '90s. Definitely has that nostalgic feel either way. There's a strong storytelling tone to it, and it's more storybook length than picture book. I'd recommend for early readers, elementary schoolers, or as a read-aloud to toddlers. Lovely, painterly art supports the story of a remote Canadian-Inuit community sometime last century. Fits in with other historical fiction efforts that convey a sense of a simpler time, making your own fun, community and family. The snowy landscape and Christmas references could make it a good holiday gift for children, and I could see it being a teaching tool as well for discussions of Canada's past, the experience of remote communities and First Nations.
Librarian review
Baseball Bats for Christmas
This delightful Canadian classic has remained popular since 1990. It tells the tale of “the standing-ups”: Christmas trees, delivered by a bush pilot to the treeless Arctic Circle village of Repulse Bay in 1955. The contemporary reader is charmed by the lively, humorous glimpses into the traditional Inuit life of seven-year-old Arvaarluk and his family’s generosity and warmth. One of the village boys, Yvo, who is the strongest and smartest, decides that the strange trees can be made into baseball bats. All the children revel in the sport for a full year. The narrative is matched by vibrant illustrations.
Kusugak wrote A Promise is a Promise with Robert Munsch. Krykorka has illustrated all of Kusugak’s books.
Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. Canadian Aboriginal Books for Schools. 2007-2008.
