If You Want to See a Caribou

April 12, 2004
Taking readers on a simple journey into the north woods in search of the endangered caribou, Root's (Grandmother Winter
) lyrical poem captures that magical and fragile moment when human beings respectfully intersect with nature. Nearly every line of the poem contains tactile descriptions: waves lapping the sailboat in Lake Superior are "rushing, rooosh
, rooosh
," "the ground spongy with feather moss" and in the clearing "where caribou have rubbed the velvet off their antlers... the air has a faint, acrid odor." Root's
second-person narrative describes just enough action to keep readers turning the pages, even as child and adult wait: "You sit,/ quiet as an old spruce is quiet,/ quiet as a red cupped mushroom,/ quiet as a caribou who scents danger on the wind." Throughout, the poet's images startle and evoke a reverence for the beauty of the natural world, inviting young readers to notice even smallest details: "Yellow buttercups nod, hello, hello
," and a log "pointed like a pencil" signifies that a beaver has gnawed it down. The human figures in newcomer Meyer's elegantly colored woodblock prints are sometimes static, and his landscapes do not fully illustrate the splendors mentioned in the poem (e.g., no buttercups). Nonetheless, they possess a restrained grace of their own, and usher the audience into the hushed, expectant mood of the poem. Ages 4-8.

April 19, 2004
Taking readers on a simple journey into the north woods in search of the endangered caribou, Root's (Grandmother Winter) lyrical poem captures that magical and fragile moment when human beings respectfully intersect with nature. Nearly every line of the poem contains tactile descriptions: waves lapping the sailboat in Lake Superior are "rushing, rooosh, rooosh," "the ground spongy with feather moss" and in the clearing "where caribou have rubbed the velvet off their antlers... the air has a faint, acrid odor." Root's second-person narrative describes just enough action to keep readers turning the pages, even as child and adult wait: "You sit,/ quiet as an old spruce is quiet,/ quiet as a red cupped mushroom,/ quiet as a caribou who scents danger on the wind." Throughout, the poet's images startle and evoke a reverence for the beauty of the natural world, inviting young readers to notice even smallest details: "Yellow buttercups nod, hello, hello," and a log "pointed like a pencil" signifies that a beaver has gnawed it down. The human figures in newcomer Meyer's elegantly colored woodblock prints are sometimes static, and his landscapes do not fully illustrate the splendors mentioned in the poem (e.g., no buttercups). Nonetheless, they possess a restrained grace of their own, and usher the audience into the hushed, expectant mood of the poem. Ages 4-8.

April 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 4-Set on a forest island in Lake Superior, this reflective story follows a child and parent as they explore the area, hoping to see a caribou. Written in free verse, the text describes how they find signs of beavers in fallen birch trees, enjoy the exhilarating scent of balsam, and, in the heart of the woods, discover "the moss-edged bones of a caribou long dead." While silently sitting near the shore, they observe a caribou cow and calf wading in the water. The child whispers her name to the calf before the animals return to the forest. As the explorers leave the island at sunset, the youngster is delighted that she has seen a caribou and that he now knows her name. The restrained tone and natural rhythms of the language add depth to the telling. Meyer's woodblock prints, inspired by landscapes of the Great Lakes, are ideally paired with the gentle narrative. The muted hues match the quiet mood of the text. The distinctive textures of tree bark, forest ferns, and rippling water are carefully portrayed and observant readers will enjoy examining each detail. An afterword provides information about woodland caribou. This thoughtful and unique work successfully portrays the wonder of discovery and of the natural world.-Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2004
PreS-Gr. 2. Quiet poetry and beautiful color woodblock prints convey the excitement of wilderness encounters in this picture book set on a Lake Superior island. "If you want to see a caribou," begins the text, "You might go by boat on a good sailing day." In just a few lines per page, the poem continues to describe what one might see and feel on an island search for caribou, following the trails "churned back by caribou hooves," through balsam trees that "brush you with their scent," to the water where a caribou mother and calf come to drink, and "you whisper your name." Root's poetry is subtle, and children may have questions about a few challenging words, such as the names of plants, and phrases (Why have the caribou "rubbed the velvet off their antlers"?). But with you-are-there immediacy, the words show the shock and joy of meeting wilderness face-to-face, a sense that's beautifully captured in first-time-illustrator Meyer's serene, expansive woodblock images of a wide lake, pristine forest, and the wild creatures that become friends.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)