From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit
by Edward Field Illustrated by Mike Blanc
Vanita Books
Children's Fiction, Outdoors & Nature
Pub Date 01 Sep 2013
FTC Reviewed for Vanita Books and Net Galley
Description
Magic Words is a modern translation (1965) of a very old Inuit creation story by nationally known poet Edward Field. As a poem, it captures beautifully the intimate relationship these Arctic people have with their natural world.
Magic Words describes a world where humans and animals share bodies and languages, where the world of the imagination mixes easily with the physical. It began as a story that told how the Inuit people came to be and became a legend passed from generation to generation. In translation, it grew from myth to poem. The text comes from expedition notes recorded by Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen in 1921. Edward Field got a copy from the Harvard Library and translated it into English.
My Thoughts
I am always in awe of picture books that teach children about different cultures. And, I absolutely adore this retelling. Ink drawings have been digitally colored and will help children better understand the Inuit who live along the far northern seacoasts.
The story begins with Rasmussen expedition. And while we see creative mixes, we also see the Inuit dressed in their caribou skins, which they wear to keep warm and dry. But, the story delves much deeper than that. Hunting and trapping are necessary for Inuit survival. There are images of walrus, polar bear, and of a young hunter, which appears to depict the 'rights of passage'. And, we also see images of potlatching practices. Magic Words is a wonderful way to introduce children to the lifestyle of the Inuit.