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Sunday, July 2, 2023

It's Time for Berries, written by Ceporah Mearns and Jeremy Debicki, and illustrated by Tindur Peturs. Inhabit Media, Orca. 2023. $18.95 ages 5 and up

 


"Ninguiq puts on her favourite hiking shoes
and her jacket. She has her bucket. The girls
follow her as she walks toward her berry- picking
spot. 

The mountain behind her house is enormous. Up, 
up, and up the mountain they climb, but nothing 
can stop Ninguiq! It's finally time to pick berries!
"

Siasi and Siloah are very happy when they are spending time with their grandmother. They visit at her house and bake with her. In the spring, they jump at the chance to go ice fishing. As the weather gets warmer, they dig for clams with her. All the while, they are waiting for the time to come when they can pick berries. Patience is a key as the berries won't be ready until late summer. 

As the season changes, Ningiuq prepares to take them on a trip. Always they wonder if they are going to pick berries. No! Their grandmother packs the sled with fishing equipment while the girls don their parkas. After fishing, warmer weather calls them to the lake shore and clam digging. Still, no berries. Pleased with their bucket full of clams, they head for home. 

As the days get shorter and the end of summer nears, it's finally time to pick berries! How happy they are. So many luscious berries. Ningiuq loves crowberries best. The girls are happy to pick and eat, not minding which berries they pick. They set out four different times, all successful. 

"It is now the end of the berry-picking season. Ninguiq
makes wonderful blueberry, crowberry, and cranberry 
jams and cheesecakes. She also bakes the most wonderful 
berry muffins." 

What a treat whenever her granddaughters visit ... not to mention the fish and clams they also enjoy. 

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