[.ca] The Polar Bear's Gift (ISBN 0889952205)

Amazon.ca:
Living in the Canadian Arctic for almost three decades has given author Jeanne Bushey a great affinity for her subject matter. This well-told tale, inspired by a traditional Inuit legend, is about a young girl named Pani who dreams of becoming a great hunter of polar bears like her mother and father before her. But as her grandmother Ananna reminds her, "As you know from the death of your parents, it is not easy to kill a polar bear. You and I must be content with fish and small animals." As Pani is now old enough to fish, her grandmother presents her with a little ivory fishing lure that once belonged to Pani's mother. Pani's playmates laugh when she says that the fishing lure is magic and she will one day be a great hunter. Running away far out onto the frozen bay, Pani comes upon a wounded polar bear cub. At first she decides to wait until the cub dies, planning to bring it back to the village in triumph. However, when she senses that the cub is imploring her to help him, Pani decides to save his life, and in doing so is given a great reward. Children will find this morality tale of the high Arctic appealing in its depiction of a place where animals and people coexist as equals (even talking to each other!), and they will also learn an important lesson about respecting the other creatures with which we share this ancient northern land. (Ages 4 to 8) --Martha Johnson

The Northern Lights imbue:
I'm going to make a statement here that I cannot necessarily back up with facts or figures, yet I believe that what I say is true. There are relatively few picture books out there that follow the adventures of Inuit girls. I'm not the world's foremost expert on what Inuit books have been written for youth in America, but I am certain that amongst them, this is one of the finest. Pani and her grandmother live alone in their own igloo. Pani yearns to become a hunter and bring good food to herself and her grandmamma. However, as a young girl, she must content herself with merely fishing with a lure that once belonged to her mother. Galled by the comments of her peers who claim that girls can never become hunters, Pani spies a dying polar bear cub in the cold wilderness. It would be easy enough to allow the bear to die, thus bringing food and fur into her home and earning herself the long desired title of hunter. Compassion wins over such desires, however, and Pani works to save the bear's life. After having done so, the bear speaks to her and brings her to his home. Pani is rewarded with the gift of a pouch that shall always contain food and furs a-plenty for Pani and her grandmother. The tale is, according to the book's bookflap, a traditional Inuit legend. Just the same, it contains many elements found in myths worldwide. The young girl taking pity on a stronger creature and helping it to live. A packet that is always filled with food. The desire to prove oneself to one's peers. It's all here, but wrapped up in an entirely new light and story. Buskey's writing is crisp and clear, telling a straightforward tale in such a way that the reader never feels bogged down by the dialogue or narrative. Complimenting this tale adeptly are Vladyana Langer Krykorka's incredibly beautiful illustrations. Each page seems to glow with a mix of melded iridescent colors. The pictures here throb with a life entirely of their own. Not only is Krykorka respectful in her depictions of Inuits and their life but she makes a land that some would consider barren look absolutely gorgeous. It's as if the Aurora Borealis was painted onto the landscape itself. Author Jeanne Bushey has lived in the Canadian Arctic for years. Illustrator Vladyana Langer Krykorka has won countless awards. Together, they've created a book of incomparable beauty with a deceptively simple narrative. It is a book well worth reading.