Kumak's Fish: A Tall Tale from the Far North - Tapa blanda

While the maxim traditionally says, "It takes a village to raise a child," in this case it takes a village to catch a fish. Joyful watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations capture the icy although not colorless landscape and most particularly the expressive faces of the Inupiat villagers. Even the animals wear expressions filled with humor and playfulness. This delightful blend of art and text brings the rich traditions and culture of the peoples of the Far North to life. A wonderful supplement to units on Alaska and the Arctic, this title surpasses mere curriculum support and stands alone as gifted storytelling.--- School Library Journal, Sept 2004

Light watercolor washes outlined in delicate ink on white paper give the pictures a sense of the icy setting while still conveying the joyful energy of the people as they work together. Bania pays careful attention to the details of place and of the Inupiat people, but the book is never stuffy. She includes several visual jokes as well as nicely defined characters for children to seek out in the pictures, and brings the story to a triumphant and very funny conclusion. --- Horn Book

Like "Kumak's House "(2002), this original comic tall tale about an Inupiat (Eskimo) family in the Arctic combines folklore and farce with some realistic detail of the setting and community. It's "a good day for fish," so Kumak loads his big family onto his sled with all their fishing gear. They dig their fishing holes, and everyone except Kumak catches something. But then, with Uncle Aglu's amazing hooking stick, Kumak fells a pull so big that he nearly falls into the hole. His family members line up behind him to help him drag in what's on the line. A few passerby stop to help, and finally, the whole village. Bania spent two decades in the Arctic, and her playful line-and-watercolor scenes show the people fishing on a bright, icy spring morning, pulling together across the pages and laughing. The tug of war is hilarious, and the catch is a great surprise. Both words and pictures celebrate cooperation, sharing, and humor. --- Amercain Library Association, Hazel Rochman, 2005.

Light watercolor washes outlined in delicate ink on white paper give the pictures a sense of the icy setting while still conveying the joyful energy of the people as they work together. Bania pays careful attention to the details of place and of the Inupiat people, but the book is never stuffy. She includes several visual jokes as well as nicely defined characters for children to seek out in the pictures, and brings the story to a triumphant and very funny conclusion. --- Horn Book"

While the maxim traditionally says, It takes a village to raise a child, in this case it takes a village to catch a fish. Joyful watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations capture the icy although not colorless landscape and most particularly the expressive faces of the Inupiat villagers. Even the animals wear expressions filled with humor and playfulness. This delightful blend of art and text brings the rich traditions and culture of the peoples of the Far North to life. A wonderful supplement to units on Alaska and the Arctic, this title surpasses mere curriculum support and stands alone as gifted storytelling. --- School Library Journal, Sept 2004"

While the maxim traditionally says, It takes a village to raise a child, in this case it takes a village to catch a fish. Joyful watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations capture the icy although not colorless landscape and most particularly the expressive faces of the Inupiat villagers. Even the animals wear expressions filled with humor and playfulness. This delightful blend of art and text brings the rich traditions and culture of the peoples of the Far North to life. A wonderful supplement to units on Alaska and the Arctic, this title surpasses mere curriculum support and stands alone as gifted storytelling.

--- School Library Journal, Sept 2004

"

Light watercolor washes outlined in delicate ink on white paper give the pictures a sense of the icy setting while still conveying the joyful energy of the people as they work together. Bania pays careful attention to the details of place and of the Inupiat people, but the book is never stuffy. She includes several visual jokes as well as nicely defined characters for children to seek out in the pictures, and brings the story to a triumphant and very funny conclusion.

--- Horn Book

While the maxim traditionally says, "It takes a village to raise a child," in this case it takes a village to catch a fish. Joyful watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations capture the icy although not colorless landscape and most particularly the expressive faces of the Inupiat villagers. Even the animals wear expressions filled with humor and playfulness. This delightful blend of art and text brings the rich traditions and culture of the peoples of the Far North to life. A wonderful supplement to units on Alaska and the Arctic, this title surpasses mere curriculum support and stands alone as gifted storytelling.

--- School Library Journal, Sept 2004

On a beautiful Arctic morning when Kumak and his family go ice fishing, Kumak hooks what seems like an enormous fish, and the entire village gets involved.