FICTION

Caribou Song

by Tomson HIGHWAY
illus. by John Rombough. 32p. Fifth House. 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781897252611.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1–3—Bilingual in English and Cree, this story of the far north follows a family of four that has a spiritual connection to the caribou of the land. One brother, Joe, plays the accordion (a kitoochigan) and sings while the other, Cody, dances. On a magical day, all of nature aligns and ten thousand caribou come when the boys call. Though the stampede is ocean-storm strong, Cody and Joe emerge from the experience unharmed. Despite the Arctic setting, the illustrations forgo snowy whites for deep shades of purple, blue, and orange with shapes delineated by thick black lines; the effect is not unlike a stained-glass window. Altogether, the combined elements give this mystical occurrence and communion with nature the cadence and tenor of a traditional folktale.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library
Reviewed by Joanna K. Fabicon , Dec 01, 2013

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

To the Death
by Tang, Andrea
BOOKS

The Spiral Key
by Day, Kelsey
BOOKS

Jazz Davies Skips a Beat
by Florence, Melanie
BOOKS

Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom
by Mills, Claudia
BOOKS

Eureka
by Chang, Victoria
BOOKS

Aku: Journey to Ibra
by Johnson, Micah
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?