Carry Me Mama - Hardcover

Devine, Monica

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0773733175 ISBN 13: 9780773733176

Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2002

Synopsis

Katie views life from the warm hood of her mother’s parka. From her safe vantage point, she watches as her mother catches salmon, picks plump, red berries, and leads the family’s dog team across the snow. Then one spring day, Mama decides it is time for her little girl to walk on her own. The first time Katie walks, it’s a short distance - just as far as you can throw a stone. The next time it’s as far as a rabbit runs, then as far as a bear roams! But trying to keep up with Mama takes all of Katie’s energy. “Carry me, Mama!” she begs, even though Mama knows it’s time for Katie to make her own way. Carry Me, Mama is a charming story about growing up. Young children will understand Katie’s mixed feelings about standing on her own two feet. Here, too, is a perfect bedtime story, as young readers follow Katie and her mother through their walks until it is time for Katie to be tucked in. Charming illustrations by Pauline Paquin are full of life, and reflect the beauty of the northern tundra. Pauline’s unique artistic style incorporates faceless figures. Remarkably expressive, these images reflect her desire for young children to see themselves as the characters in the story.

About this title

About the Author:

Monica Devine lives in Alaska and has travelled extensively among Inuit villages where she worked with special-needs children. She is the author of Iditarod: The Greatest Win Ever.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 1-Mama knows that Katie is now old enough to walk by herself, instead of being carried. Gently, she persuades her reluctant child to walk the stone's throw to Aunt Nina's house. Next, she takes the girl to Uncle Kalila's cabin, "as far as a rabbit runs." After gradually increasing the distance of their walks, the mother finds that her daughter is soon able to go "as far as a raven flies." The color and beauty of the Far North is captured in Paquin's energetic and expressive oil paintings. Without showing the facial characteristics of her subjects, the artist does an amazing job of setting the emotional tone of each scene. Readers sense the determination in Katie's steps as she wades through deep puddles on her way to Uncle's cabin, and feel the love Mama has for her child as she helps her out of her parka after they have returned home. It is interesting (and satisfying) when, in the last full-page illustration, Paquin allows readers to catch a glimpse of Katie's sleepy, contented smile as Mama carries her to bed. This engaging and reassuring story about a parent-child relationship has significant cross-cultural appeal. A visually stunning picture book.
Carol L. MacKay, Camrose Public Library, Alberta, Canada
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0773733175
• ISBN 13: 9780773733176
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 22
• Illustrator: Paquin Pauline