An elegant introduction to caribou and the language of the people who depend on them.

TUKTUT INNARUQPALLIANINGIT / LIFE CYCLES OF CARIBOU

Follow caribou as they grow in this bilingual English-Inuktitut board book.

Caribou hold enormous economic and traditional significance to the Inuit people, and this board book affirms their vital role in the community. Opening with a vulnerable “nurraq,” or “baby caribou,” the text defines the animal in three terms, first with Inuktitut syllabics, then with the Romanized version of the syllabics, and finally, the English translation of the word. Standing alone against a white background, the lanky baby caribou is gauzy and lightly shaded, a mostly naturalistic animal imbued with a touch of softness. It’s followed by a full-bleed, double-page spread showing mother and baby amid a luminously colored, sweeping boreal landscape. As the book progresses, readers meet six specific iterations of caribou throughout their life spans, such as “nurraviniq,” or “young caribou (male or female),” ending with a “pangniq,” or “bull caribou.” Each stage is accompanied by a handsome introductory portrait and then a tableau set against mountains, grassy meadows, or snowy expanses, demonstrating the Arctic environment’s rugged beauty and diversity. Though no humans appear in this picture dictionary, the respect for both the Inuit language and the caribou itself is abundantly clear, and this book will be useful for native speakers and for those learning about Inuktitut.

An elegant introduction to caribou and the language of the people who depend on them. (Board book. 1-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-77227-280-2

Page Count: 26

Publisher: Inhabit Media

Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020

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Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.

CLIMATE CHANGE FOR BABIES

From the Baby University series

This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.

The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.

Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)

Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore

Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020

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A nice addition to this baby-attuned series.

BABY BOTANIST

From the Baby Scientist series

In this newest addition to the Baby Scientist series toddlers are introduced to the basics of what a botanist does.

The book starts with a simple and straightforward explanation of its subject matter: “Who studies plants? / Baby Botanist does!” Wearing a white lab coat with yellow polka dots, a brown-skinned child with a purple hair bow holding up its one little curl proceeds to present a number of simply stated and easily understood plant facts. As with the previous books, the illustrations are colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging, and baby has a sidekick; this time it is a blue-and-yellow snail. After planting a seed, Baby wonders what plant will grow. The text explains that some plants have roots and some do not, and they might grow on water or underground. In a simple acknowledgment of a healthy diet, the book states “Baby’s favorite foods all come from plants.” Children are also presented with food they may not recognize as coming from plants, such as noodles and chocolate. In the end, the seed that Baby has planted, watered, and kept in the sunlight “grows into a flower for Mama!” and with that comes a big thank-you hug from Mama.

A nice addition to this baby-attuned series. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-06-284132-2

Page Count: 22

Publisher: HarperFestival

Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019

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