From the Publisher
. . . [L]ove the present-day setting, and the significant role extended family members play in Jake’s life.”—American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)
“This book is very well-written and explains clearly to children that there is more involved with being a dog owner than just playing with them . . .”—CM Magazine
“Qin Leng uses the almost weightless touch of fountain brush and ink with high-contrast colours against the snowy background to keep the story graceful and self-assured . . .”—CanLit for Little Canadians
“The fundamentals of dog sledding emerge in this story of two youngsters, one a boy and the other a dog, eager to join the team and run.”—Kirkus Reviews
"[T]his story offers a refreshing and credible depiction of a moment in a contemporary Inuit boy’s life...Leng’s playful illustrations capture the snowy quiet of Jake’s walk through town and his puppy’s adoring devotion."—Booklist
School Library Journal
01/01/2017
K-Gr 3—An Inuit boy dreams of becoming a winning musher like the uncle he admires in this appealing tale of hope and family bonds. Jake is unsure whether his puppy, Kamik (the Inuktitut word for a traditional winter boot), will make a good sled dog. When his uncle comes to visit, Jake learns that being a great dog sledder requires a lot of skill and hard work—and at first he's unsure whether he can learn everything he needs to know. The story ends on an optimistic note as Jake's uncle shares encouraging stories of patient persistence, and Kamik's first trial in harness is a success. Baker, an Inuit author from Nunavut, Canada, infuses the story with relationships and values that will be familiar to readers from diverse cultural backgrounds: Jake is highly observant and respectful of his elders, and he aspires to follow community traditions. Chinese Canadian illustrator Leng renders the physical setting with care and accuracy. VERDICT A charming, universal "boy and his dog" story that is authentically grounded in a compelling and underrepresented community setting. Perfect for one-on-one or small group sharing.—Laura Simeon, Open Window School Library, Bellevue, WA
Kirkus Reviews
2016-10-26
The fundamentals of dog sledding emerge in this story of two youngsters, one a boy and the other a dog, eager to join the team and run.Jake is a young Inuk living in Nunavut, in the Canadian north, with his dog, Kamik; such can be surmised by his calling his grandparents ataatasiaq and anaanatsiaq and the fact that there is an awful lot of snow on the ground, just right for mushing, a strong Inuit tradition. One morning Jake brings Kamik—the word for "sealskin boot" in Inuit; Baker's story is captivating enough to make non-Inuit readers want to look these things up—to his master-musher uncle's house to show him off. Jake's uncle is a serious musher and is pleased with Kamik. "Smart, hard-working dogs are the best dogs. Being a good musher takes a lot of work." He tells Jake about the things he will need to know: how to rebraid ropes and harnesses, build sleds and a doghouse, and, not least, "Dogs rely on us to keep them healthy." Jake is a bit overwhelmed when he realizes his ignorance. But his uncle claps him on the back. "You can learn alongside your dogs." It is one of those life lessons that need but a few words: we all must learn, we will all make mistakes, perseverance is key—neatly delivered, making learning fun rather than drudgery. Leng's artwork sets the story in its element, with its spare landscape and close community. A keen introduction to a way of being in the world. (Picture book. 5-7)
