"The Caribou Feed Our Soul" /// Information Book

"The Caribou Feed Our Soul" by Pete Enzoe and Mindy Willey is truly an accomplishment in the field of children's non-fiction literature. Published in 2010, with photos by Northern resident Tessa Macintosh, this book is culturally accurate and stays true in the portrayal of a Northern First Nations community. Additionally, this book is relevant as it not only draws upon the history of the author's ancestors, with sacred stories and long held traditions, but it also demonstrates modern living and contemporary practices of the Northwest Territories' community of Lutselke, the Chipewyan people. This book is a standout among other information books aimed at upper elementary school children (ages 8 to 12 most likely) as it has authenticity and specificity not matched in many older (published over 10 years ago) non-fiction titles still available for purchase.

One of the authors comes from the Aboriginal community (as explained in the introduction as well as a biography at the end of the book) and the other author acknowledges her sincere appreciation for being allowed to immerse herself in the community the book is based on, even though her hometown is Yellowknife.

The real highlight of this book are the intimate photos, which do an excellent job of capturing life and hunting caribou practices. Individuals in the community are named, and the reader should feel privileged to catch a glimpse of this special way of life. Interspersed with the details of hunting and the land are traditional stories and definitions of terminology and language used.
In sum, "The Caribou Feed Our Soul" is the type of non-fiction feature that deserves a spot in any library collection.

(Note: picture of book shown is slightly different than version described in review).

Reference: Enzoe, P., Willey, M., & Macintosh, T. (Illustrator). (2010). The caribou feed our soul. Markam, Ontario: Fifth House Publishing.