Thanks to the Animals
PreSchool-Grade 2–As the cold weather sets in, Joo Tum and his family dismantle their log house, load their bobsled, and prepare to move north to their winter home in the deep woods. Squirrels, birds, and rabbits look on benevolently. When all is ready, the family nestles into a heap of sealskin coats and blankets, and they set off. While the other children sleep, baby Zoo Sap falls off the sled and is left behind. His frantic cries soon alert the animals of the forest, who gather around him in a warm, loving nest of fur and feathers. Before long, Joo Tum notices that the baby is missing, and walks all night to retrieve his son. Sockabasin weaves a powerful story of paternal love while simultaneously expressing the mutual respect between his Passamaquoddy culture and the natural world. His spare, straightforward prose calls to mind the gentle rhythm of a well-worn family bedtime story. Raye's luminous watercolor-and-ink paintings evoke the wintry majesty of rural Maine. Facial expressions are captured with warmth and subtlety as the family members experience excitement, fear, relief, and joy. In addition to being a lovely story,Thanks to the Animalsgives a fascinating glimpse into a culture not often seen in picture books. An author's note provides further information about the Passamaquoddy tribe, including the names for the animals introduced in the book.–Rachael Vilmar, Atlanta Fulton Public Library, GACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.