Northern Lights: the Soccer Trails - Hardcover

Kusugak, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1550373390 ISBN 13: 9781550373394

Publisher: Annick Press, 1993

Synopsis

"Northern Lights" is a beautiful tale that explores the mystical aspects of the northern lights in Inuit culture. Scientists have their own explanations for the phenomenon that occurs when the night sky shimmers with milky white patterns, or displays all the colors of the rainbow. But the Inuit prefer their own explanation: They believe the souls of the dead are engaging in a lively game of soccer, just as they did when they were living. They run all over the sky chasing a walrus head that they use for a soccer ball. This is the story of Kataujaq and the intimate relationship she has with her mother. They do almost everything together; they hug, rub noses and say "Mamaq" which means "You smell so nice." But a great sickness comes and Kataujaq's mother is taken south to the white people's hospital and never comes back. Kataujaq grieves, but is also able to rejoice when she and her grandmother watch the northern lights. This book celebrates family life, intimacy and the glory of nature.

About this title

Review:

The best tasting, nutritious, easy to prepare muffins specially selected from the author's personal collection.

From the Publisher:

On Clear Moonlit Nights, the Northern Lights Come Out & Play
The Ruth Schartz Award

· Aesop Accolade List

· Canadian Library Assocaition Notable Book

This is the story of Kataujaq, an Inuit girl who lives in the snowy North. She loves to pick berries with her mother, and she gathers flowers and pretty rocks to give to her Mom. She loves her Mom more than anyone else in the world. After all, who else could sing such pretty songs, plays such fun games and hold on to Kataujaq in tumbling sleigh rides?

Kataujaq has just enough time with her Mom to find out how special she is, until the day a sickness comes to their village. Her mother starts to cough and feels so sick she has to be taken down South in an airplane. That is the last time Kataujaq gets to see her mother.

Like any child would, Kataujaq becomes very sad, but her grandmother tells her that in a way her mother is still very close to them, with the help of the Northern Lights...

This healing story is colorfully illustrated with paintings, and photographs of In! uit beadwork.

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 1550373390
• ISBN 13: 9781550373394
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Grimard Gabrielle, Krykora Vladyana