Book Review by Marcia Abalama

Name of book: Nutik, the Wolf Pup

Author: Jean Craighead George

Illustrator: Ted Rand

Year Published: 2001 Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN #: 0-06-028164-2

Grade level: pre-school to 2^nd grade

Genre: Male

Realistic fiction [X] historical fiction [ ] fantasy [ ]

Cultural Perspective:

Stories: oral [ ] Teaching stories: [ ] Myth [ ] legend [ ]

Traditional stories: [ ] Someone else's stories: [X] Parable [ ]

Summary:

A short summary of what the story is about.-Nutik, wolf pup was given to Amaroq by his sister Julie. Julie was given two wolf pups by the wolf pack. Amaroq and Nutik played and slept together. Julie had told Amaroq to be strong because the wolves would be back to take their pups back, but Amaroq fell in love with his pup. In the beginning of winter the wolf pack came for their pups but Amaroq didn't want Nutik to go back to his family. Nutik came in the night to take Amaroq to his family, Amaroq decided not to go with the wolf pack. Nutik came back and joined Amaroq's family.

Author Background: What is the background history of the author? Craighead George's inspiration for this book came from her book Julie of the Wolves. Julie of the Wolves came from two specific events during a summer when she studied wolves and tundra at the Arctic Research Laboratory of Barrow Alaska. Ms. Craighead George has written over 80 nature books for children. "When she isn't living in a tent in the wilderness Mrs. George lives in Chappaqua, New York.

-Is the author an Alaskan Native? Mrs. George is not an Alaska Native.

-Does he/she live in Alaska and if so how long have they lived here? It doesn't state how long she has lived or studied in Alaska.

Illustrator Background: What is the background history of the illustrator? Ted Rand has been drawing since he was a small child. He has illustrated over 75 children's books. In order to observe the Arctic tundra firsthand, Ted Rand traveled to Barrow Alaska. Rand illustrated this book from his research and experience in Barrow. Rand died in 2005.

-Is the illustrator an Alaskan Native? Mr. Rand is not an Alaska Native.

-Does he/she live in Alaska and if so how long have they lived here? Rand has visited Barrow Alaska, but he lived in Mercier Island, Washington.

Illustration:

- Is the book colorful and beautifully illustrated? I believe this book was very nicely illustrated. The colors are bright and it is well done.

-Are the clothes/homes depicted in this story illustrated culturally correct?-some of the clothes are not culturally correct, the boy is wearing a ball cap, shirt, white man's clothing, in the winter he is wearing correct clothing.

-Are Native people depicted as genuine individuals? Yes, the Native people were genuine individuals. One thing that didn't seem right was the mother with orange, premed hair-she didn't look like an Alaska Native.

Vocabulary: Is the language culturally relevant? I believe the names were that of the Eskimos who live in the Barrow area.

-Is the translation culturally correct?

-Is the language used as an insult to Native people? The language wasn't insulting to the Native people.

Content:

-Is there anything that might offend a Native child? No, this was an interesting story; this would not offend a Native child.

-Do Alaska Native's have ridiculous names? No, I don't think the names were ridiculous. I don't know if people named their children after wolves??

Alaska Natives name their children after their ancestors or Elders; they don't name their children after animals.

-Are there any stereotypes or prejudges against Alaska Native people? No, stereotypes or prejudges against Alaska Native people.

-How are Elders, women, and men portrayed in this book? It only talked about his father, mother, and sister and they were portrayed with respect.

-Is this story a retelling of a traditional Native story? No, I don't believe this was a retelling of a traditional Native story.

-Does the story describe ceremonies correctly? There weren't any ceremonies.

-Does this story cross cultures? The story doesn't cross cultures but the clothing does.

-Is the Alaska Native's culture respected in this story? No, the culture wasn't respected in this story, by naming their child after a wolf and by dressing the boy in white man's clothes.

Other things to look for when Reviewing Alaska Native Children's books:

Important information about Traditions, culture; can this book be passed down? Anything else that might be of interest about the book being reviewed. This story talks about how the sister, Julie was helped by the wolves, and how the wolves gave her two of their pups to fatten up. She also talked to the wolves. I have heard stories of long ago how wolves (animals) and people communicated. Although the book was interesting I would not recommend this book for reading, due to crossing culture and naming the boy after wolves.

Over All Rating of this Book:

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