Books published by publisher Alaska Northwest Books Jan - 2008

A kid favorite of life in the far north, Recess at 20 Below is now repackaged in a new design with bonus content from the author!Experience from a kid's perspective what it is like playing during recess when it is really cold: how the world sounds outside, how it tastes outside, how it looks, and even how it smells when the thermometer says it's 20 below. Learn about the layer after layer of clothing you have to put on to avoid frostbite before you could hit the playground, the tiny ice crystals you could just see in the air, the loud crunch, crunch, crunch sound your boots make when you walked. Photographs of real kids with words by award-winning teacher Cindy Lou Aillaud have made this book popular all over North America because all the kids want to know what happens at 20 below zero. This revised edition also includes the author's answers to real questions she has received from kids everywhere about what life and school are like in Alaska.

There was nothing reluctant about Sojo and in this book Sojo doesn't hesitate to have her say. Told through the voice of Sojo herself, this creative and hilarious book is sure to entertain readers of all ages. Often overshadowed by her sister, Anna, Sojo is surprised to be chosen for the team that will cross the Arctic. Happily, Sojo learns along the way that she has what it takes to be a top-notch sled dog.Recommended by Alaska Book Review.Sojo recommends the book BIG-ENOUGH ANNA: The Little Sled Dog Who Braved The Arctic. Sojo also recommends a story about her father titled DOUGGIE.

In the Arctic, before winter gives way to buds and flowers, breakup occurs—the moment when the ice of a frozen river suddenly breaks apart in a spectacular sight-and-sound show. Massive chunks of ice crunch and pound against one another, pushing their way down river towards the sea. ‘“That river will come to visit us today,” said Kumak. The water starts rising. It spills out of the river banks, up over the sandy beach, and begins flowing up past the fish racks and boats. As the waters sweep through his village, Kumak and his family take refuge on the roof of his house. “Look!” said Kumak’s wife, “There goes Uncle Aglu’s oil drum.” “Look!” said Kumak’s wife’s mother, “There goes Aana Lulu’s fish tubs and net floats!” “Look!” said Kumak’s sons and daughters, “There goes Little Nate’s basketball!”’ Just as Kumak and his family are feeling all is lost, “just like someone pulled a plug in a bathtub”, the water recedes. “Just in time!” shout the villagers. “What has the river done with our things!”’In an effort to recover as many of their belonging as possible, Kumak and the village practice the value of community and working together. In this light-hearted, playful adventure, the villagers show respect for nature’s immense power as Kumak brings them together to rescue their supplies, toys, household goods, and, finally, Kumak’s dogs. Through lively art, humorous text, and informative endnotes, author Michael Bania conveys authentic details on Inupiat village life and provides young readers with a fascinating window into another culture as the life of hapless, yet lovable Kumak continues. Bania’s first book, KUMAK'S HOUSE was a 2003 Children's Book Council Notable Trade Book in Social Studies. Her second book, KUMAK’S FISH was a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, 2005 Children’s Book Council. Both books were chosen for the Alaska Association of School Libraries “Battle of the Books” for First Grade. KUMAK’S FISH was an honor book for the first Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award.

With nearly 50 species of berries that grow wild in Alaska, this collection takes the more abundant and popular species and shares 200 tried-and-true berry recipes that have been Alaskan favorites for decades. In this newly updated edition of The Alaska Wild Berry Cookbook, brightened with a fresh design and re-edited and modernized with an all-new foreword and glossary, you’ll find a range of berry recipes that go far beyond the usual limited sampling. Mouth-watering recipes include classic desserts, such as blueberry-lemon pie and strawberry mousse, to more unique ones, such as salmonberry cake, but there are also sections for berry-made breads, salads, meat dishes and marinades, preserves, candies, mincemeats, and even beverages. Also included are easy substitutions for berry lovers everywhere, foragers and grocery store shoppers alike, to customize and enjoy the dishes wherever they may live. From lowbush cranberry marmalade to raspberry cake to crowberry syrup, this classic berry cookbook covers it all.

Readers who enjoy Big-Enough Anna will want to read Pam Flowers' newest book, SOJO: Memoirs of a Reluctant Sled Dog. Sojo is Big-Enough Anna's sister! This new book is written from Sojo's perspective in a fun and funny style sure to delight young readers.NOW - more about Big Enough Anna.Winner of the Tennessee Volunteer State and Oregon's Patricia Gallagher Awards, this book tells Anna's life story and how she played a pivotal role in Iditarod finisher Pam Flowers 2,500-mile, solo, dog sled expedition across Arctic America. Anna was the smallest member of the team but became a hero dog before their journey was finished.

These timeless, beautifully written essays share encounters and observations on a variety of Alaskan wildlife and include natural history information.In these essays about Alaska’s best-known and most charismatic animals—grizzlies and wolves, moose and Dall sheep, bald eagles and beluga whales—Sherwonit also introduces readers to many of Alaska’s largely overlooked species, from wood frogs to redpolls and shrews to lynx and wolverines. The stories are geographically diverse, stretching across the state, from the Panhandle to the Arctic, and also from Alaska’s urban center, Anchorage, to its most remote backcountry.Sherwonit examines the complicated relationships humans have with other animals and consider different ways of knowing, and relating to, these critters. Animal Stories increases readers’ awareness and questions their own relationships with wild neighbors, wild relatives, and the inherent value that these animals have, irrespective of what they give to us.

At the edge of a great frozen river, Kumak and his family lived in their house by the willows. Though their house was warm and cozy, Kumak was not happy. His wife was not happy. His sons and daughters were not happy. His wife's mother was not happy. Too small, this house, said Kumak. I will go to see Aana Lulu. She will know what to do. Set in an Inupiat Eskimo village in the northwest Arctic, KUMAK'S HOUSE is a folktale that conveys a humorous lesson on life with Kumak as the foil. As Kumak treks again and again to elder Aana Lulu for advice, the book's charming illustrations incite laughter and introduce children to traditional Inupiat activities and animals of the Arctic.

Long ago, the only berries on the tundra were hard, tasteless, little crowberries. As Anana watches the ladies complain bitterly while picking berries for the Fall Festival, she decides to use her magic to help. ""Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsaukina!"" (Be a berry!), Anana sings under the full moon turning four dolls into little girls that run and tumble over the tundra creating patches of fat, juicy berries: blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, and raspberries. The next morning Anana and the ladies fill basket after basket with berries for the Fall Festival. Thanks to Anana, there are plenty of tasty berries for the agutak (Eskimo tee cream) at the festival and forevermore. As she did with THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE (praised by the New York Times Book Review, a San Francisco Chronicle Choice, and a Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Picture Book Award winner), Yup'ik Eskimo elder Betty Huffmon shared this folktale with author/illustrator Teri Sloat, who brings it to life with her delightful illustrations.

Sam is an eight-year-old boy who's always on the lookout for adventure in his corner of the Alaska wilderness. Sometimes Sam's explorations get him into a scrape--most times he learns something new. In the second book of this exciting series, Sam is building a driftwood fort on the beach when he hears a strange cry, like a baby, echoing off the water. It is a baby--an abandoned baby sea otter. Sam is determined to help take care of the pup through the night so a biologist can take over when the ferry arrives. And what a night it is! Early chapter-book readers will delight in Sam's bizarre babysitting experience, and celebrate the satisfying outcome of a rescued wild animal that finds a new home in the Alaska Zoo. Seldovia Sam and the Sea Otter Rescue won the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award.

On a beautiful Arctic morning, Kumak looks out the window of his house at the sun rising over the frozen river. "Ahhh, spring," says Kumak to his family. "The days are long, the nights are short, and the ice is still hard. Good day for fish." Eager to give Uncle Aglu's amazing hooking stick a try, Kumak packs up his family and heads out to go ice fishing. "Good day for fish!" they all agree. Hapless Kumac is the only one in his family without fish until the tug at the other end of his line incites a mighty battle. A clever ending reveals that the whale-sized fish that Kumak imagined was actually a line of small fish in tug o' war position. Kumak reigns, and there's plenty for everybody. Authentic details throughout the playful art and text, as well as endnotes on Inupiat fishing, provide young readers with a fascinating window into another culture in this follow up to KUMAK'S HOUSE a 2003 Children's Book Council Notable Trade Book in Social Studies