This is a great multicultural book that tells the magical tale of how a variety of berries came to the tundra. The main character is a young Eskimo girl named Anana who sews four dolls and through singing and dancing turns each one into a different berry that speckles the ground, creating cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and salmonberries. These berries are then used to make ice cream, called akutaq, for the village's fall feast. As a reader, I really enjoyed learning about Eskimo culture, language and customs. Throughout the story, Eskimo words and sayings are used and translated, along with their pronunciations. This really adds depth to the story and gives the reader a greater glimpse into this rich culture. This tale has likely been passed down through many generations. The illustrations really set the mood for this story and feature a rich color palette with lots of earth tones. Each of the native outfits and items are drawn beautifully and with much detail. As a teacher, this book would be great for younger students, who could sing along with Anana when she sings "Atsa-ii-yaa Atsa-ii-yaa Atsaukina!" to the dolls, which translated means Berry Berry Be a berry! Also, students could work in groups to create replicas of these dolls or their own magic dolls. They could learn more about the tundra and the people that live there or try tasting the different berries mentioned in the story. Anana's akutaq recipe is also included at the end of the book, which would be fun to make and sample as a class.
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