Kisimi Taimaippaktut Angirrarijarani (Only in My Hometown)

Starred review from July 15, 2017
Life in a snowy northern town, from a child's perspective and written both in Inuktitut and EnglishOne-story houses in multiple colors sit close together beneath a cloudy blue sky, their roofs covered with snow. A little girl sits on a large metallic tube looking straight ahead. "Sitting on an elephant, always remembering what my mom said." The next picture pulls back for a wider view; the girl is on an oil drum or water tank. Below her are some nondescript buildings and two children riding bicycles on a quiet rural road. The book's text is a reflective poem. Stanzas end with the repeated line, "Only in my hometown." Inside the house, so many children are playing that care needs to be taken to avoid stepping on their toys. Nearby four women share a feast of raw meat, in which the little girl is delighted to partake. Outside, blizzards can last for weeks, covering everything with snow. And then the darkness comes, enveloping the region. The northern lights dance. Everyone can be called family "in my hometown." The sister collaborators work in harmony. Angnakuluk Friesen's poetic text is fluid and evocative, and Ippiksaut Friesen's illustrations, painted with watercolor and acrylic "on elephant poo paper," then composited digitally, are lovely works of folk art. Inuktitut is rendered both in its own symbology and Romanized. Heartwarming and illuminating. (Picture book. 5-8)

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August 1, 2017
Grades 1-3 In this warm picture book, author Angnakuluk Friesen and illustrator Ippiksaut Friesenwho has a background in animationpay homage to their home: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, a place where everyone could be family. Their depiction is of a loving community of strong women, where people take care of one another, and winter blizzards don't stand in anyone's way. The text is laid out in three blocks, two in Inuktitut and one in English. The English narrative is tersely descriptive, brought to life by the bold mixed-media illustrations that capture the stark beauty of this remote Canadian hamlet, where northern lights dance and women's faces are broad and beautiful. Though the creators' first foray into children's literature, the book pushes at the boundaries of literary conventions in both form and content, providing a much-needed mirror for readers within the culture, and an astonishing window for those outside. A lovely testament to community and cultural diversity. Let's hope it is the first of many.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)