Hungry Giant of the Tundra - Softcover

Teri Sloat is the author of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout!," as well as the author and/or illustrator of many other books for children. A former teacher, she lives with her husband and their three children north of San Francisco.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A masterful retelling that combines rich, lively language that reads aloud well and colorful, detailed illustrations that capture children at play on the autumn tundra. When they disobey their parents' instructions to return home, they are confronted by a hungry giant and escape via a small amount of wit and a good deal of luck. The layout is creative and has some interesting perspectives, and the characters' faces are very expressive. (The giant looks more imposing than frightening, however, and is perhaps a bit too hairy for a Yup'ik Eskimo.) Also, while the story comes from the Yup'ik Eskimo of the Bethel region of Alaska, the artist's representation of the houses, terrain, and vegetation are more indicative of interior Alaska. The chants, the repetition of the giant's name, and the song of the chickadee that saves the children invite listeners to participate in the telling of this tale that is told throughout Canada and Alaska. A welcome addition to folktale collections.
Roz Goodman, Bering Strait School District Media Center, Unalakleet, AK
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.