Hide and Sneak

Everything about this book is extraordinary; the story, the characters, the creatures, the elaborate illustrations, and the details about the environment without being teachy.As a third grade teacher, I am always looking for stories from other cultures - having seen Michael Kusugak's name on a book by one of our favorite authors, Robert Munsch (A Promise is a promise), I looked for more of Michael's book.What a treasure we found in Hide and Sneak. In the story, the children of the Arctic are told fables designed to protect them from the dangers of the surrounding environment. In Hide and Sneak they are warned of a tundra spirit, a Ijaraq, that will lead them into danger - perhaps death - by hiding them away never to be found again.Of course one little girl does not heed the warning and the tail changes into a childhood thriller!The actual reading of the story is a bit difficult do to the unfamiliarity of the names. The Native words are approached with caution when reading aloud to third graders. The story is completely comprehensible, do in large part to the beautifully detailed illustrations.As a following activity to reading this book - my students created very miniature 'inuksugaqs'. They are beautiful little structures that might help us keep our homework from getting lost.

Loved this book as a child now I am sharing it with my daughter.