by Susan Avingaq (Author) Charlene Chua (Illustrator)
2020 USBBY OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL BOOK
"[A] wonderful and touching story" -- New York Time Book Review
"A breath of warmth from the far north"-- Kirkus Reviews
Susan and her sister, Rebecca, love watching their mother write letters to people in other camps. Their mother has one precious pencil, and she keeps it safe in her box for special things.
One afternoon, their mother leaves the iglu to help a neighbour, and Susan, Rebecca, and their brother Peter are left with their father. They play all their regular games but are soon out of things to do--until their father brings out the pencil! As Susan draws and draws, the pencil grows shorter and shorter. What will their mother think when she comes home?
Based on author Susan Avingaq's childhood memories of growing up in an iglu, this charming story introduces young readers to the idea of using things wisely.
WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
PreS-Gr 2--An Inuit elder shares a memory of her childhood in this appealing picture book. One day, when Anaana (mother) has to help deliver a neighbor's baby, children Susan, Rebecca, and Peter must entertain themselves. Ataata (father) tells stories, they play games, and they practice writing on the icy window. Then Ataata surprises them by bringing out one of Anaana's prized possessions--a tiny, well-worn pencil, used for writing letters on bags, wrappers, and sometimes, on precious pieces of paper. He encourages them to write and draw, offering up a single sheet of unmarked paper. All day, Susan and her siblings marvel as their drawings materialize on the page. When Anaana returns, her initial hesitation at seeing the pencil smaller than before is tempered by the joy her children have in sharing their drawings with her. While she reminds them all how important it is to use the few resources that they have wisely, she also affirms the value of what they created. Avingaq's memories of an affectionate, close-knit family are perfectly captured by Chua's expressive cartoon illustrations. VERDICT A family-focused story with a light moral that lovingly illuminates a lifestyle rarely seen in children's books. A solid purchase for larger collections.--Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.