“Even though the Inuit no longer live as nomads, moving from place to place with the seasons, hunting caribou and seal, and living in igloos as their ancestors did, the Inuksuit remain a symbol of the Arctic.”
For many hundreds of years, the inuksuk has guided and informed the Inuit through the vast northern lands. It has now been selected as the official symbol of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and will come to be known to the peoples of the world. Its many purposes include marking spots for good hunting and fishing, a navigational aid, and s sign of happiness. In Mary Wallace's new book she celebrates the inuksuit with the letters of the alphabet and her writing also takes the form of an acrostic poem. Each entry tells the reader about the traditional way of life for northern People, and adds the offical language (Inuktitut)to its description. A pronunciation guide at the end of the book made me realize how much I needed to have it, and adds dimension to this worthwhile and welcome book. It pays homage to the people and the Arctic landscape. The full color illustrations are reminiscent of the land, using the cool colors of blue, purple and green. There is much movement here and the eye will be drawn across the color filled pages as the book is shared. Be sure to look for the hidden inukshuk on each page, and then see what the author adds concerning their history and uses at the back of the book. If you are looking for books to use while studying this year's Olympic celebrations, this is one that would be most useful and appealing. If you have guests for the Games, what a wonderful remembrance it would make of their visit!
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