A IS FOR AGATES

Baraks presents a quirky alphabetized tour of Lake Superior’s most magnificent points of interest.

Starting with “A” for “agates”—smooth, striped stones washed onto the lakeshore—readers take a journey around the Lake Superior region with the author, exploring waterfront elements like local wildlife and plants as well as industrial docks and ships. Just as importantly, Baraks also features pleasant scenes of everyday people going about their lives. Each page features impressive illustrations by Perrin-Kosmo, depicting a variety of Lake Superior’s splendors, day and night, through all kinds of weather. Baraks delivers a charming rhyme scheme to serve as readers’ narrative tour guide, and it quickly becomes apparent that this book was crafted with plenty of love and thoughtfulness. Beyond its visual and poetic elegance, the book also includes vocabulary from the region’s Ojibwa people, as well as a glossary of terms, which provides further information on wildlife, iconic landmarks, and more. For young readers familiar or connected in some way with the area, Baraks’ book will no doubt be a treat; for other youngsters, it will serve as a perfect geographical introduction and will surely have children hankering to visit this most superior of lakes.

Pictorial beauty abounds in this loving showcase of a singularly beautiful region.