Tuktuk

February 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 4-This expertly translated Spanish-language edition of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale is one readers will not soon forget. Tuktuk is one crafty collard lemming-no jumping off cliffs for him! The Arctic winter is fast approaching, and he needs to gather stray musk oxen fur to insulate his burrow. Providence is on his side as an Inuit trader and his barking sled team rush past at a high speed, dislodging a fur-lined kamik. The boot lands in front of a delighted Tuktuk, but his joy is short-lived as one by one several animals come upon him and his newfound boot. The polar bear, arctic fox, and caribou all think that the boot is just the thing for the coming winter. Instead of fighting each of his much larger neighbors for the kamik, Tuktuk cleverly makes sneaky suggestions to the gullible animals in order to keep the boot for himself. His strategy is a success, and the animals leave him hibernating in his warm nest-peace at last. Saroff's illustrations are bright and lushly detailed, from Tuktuk's cheeky expressions to the disgruntled look on the polar bear's face when he realizes that wearing a kamik on his nose is not how he wishes to spend the long Arctic night. Back matter features scientific information on the Arctic seasons, the animals described within the story, the unique atmospheric phenomena over the North Pole, and a glossary that includes Inuit terminology. VERDICT A top pick for Spanish-language collections for the quality of the translation and the kid-friendly humor.-Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ

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