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Songs of the North Wind
Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon
Brothers Joe and Cody, along with their parents and Ootsie the dog, live far to the north, too far for most trees, where the lakes, rivers, islands, and hills are covered with snow for most of the year. Through the long winter, the two young boys dance and play the kitoochigan (a much better sounding name for what those of us living further south call an accordion). Then, one spring day while following the ateek (caribou), the family pauses on an island where, on a great rock surrounded by a meadow, Joe and Cody receive a wonderful glimpse of the spirit world.
Told both in English and Cree, this tale by playwright and novelist Tomson Highway of a vanishing way of life might seem too sparsely drawn at first, but it is this very quality that aligns it to the vast scale and rhythm of the North and its peoples. Mythic and poetic, Caribou Song is the first book in a planned trilogy entitled Songs of the North Wind. One imagines reading this story out loud by a crackling fire, a perfect setting to amplify the story's evocative power. Borrowing from the diverse visual worlds of Ice Age cave paintings and French impressionism, illustrator Brian Deines wraps the narrative in a densely luminous northern world. (Ages 4 to 8) --Martha Johnson
30 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
4 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Tomson Highway
37 books199 followersIn the six decades since he was born in a tent in the bush of northernmost Manitoba, Tomson Highway has traveled many paths and been called by many names. Residential school survivor, classical pianist, social worker and, since the 1980s, playwright, librettist, novelist and children's author.
He is fluent in French, English and his native Cree. In 1994 he was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada -- the first Aboriginal writer to receive that honour. In 2000, Maclean's magazine named him one of the 100 most important people in Canadian history.
He currently resides in Toronto.
He is fluent in French, English and his native Cree. In 1994 he was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada -- the first Aboriginal writer to receive that honour. In 2000, Maclean's magazine named him one of the 100 most important people in Canadian history.
He currently resides in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 2, 2018
Assigned reading for MLIS 7421: Multicultural Youth Literature.
This was one of those books that I really wanted to like, because it has such a unique and rarely shown perspective, as it's written about Canadian indigenous people, by a Canadian indigenous author. It even includes the story in its original language, rather than only its English translation, which is not only a fantastic added touch, but allows it to reach a wider variety of children.
That said, it just doesn't really have a story to it. It's about two children who go out hunting for caribou with their parents, and decide to do a song and dance to make the caribou come. While I can absolutely appreciate the cultural importance of this theme, in the context of the book, it just makes it feel like nothing is really happening. The book isn't saved by its art, as many lackluster children's books might be; the artwork is dodgy and muddled, so I can't see it attracting the eye of most children I know (my own son glanced at it and kept walking, which is unusual for him).
This was one of those books that I really wanted to like, because it has such a unique and rarely shown perspective, as it's written about Canadian indigenous people, by a Canadian indigenous author. It even includes the story in its original language, rather than only its English translation, which is not only a fantastic added touch, but allows it to reach a wider variety of children.
That said, it just doesn't really have a story to it. It's about two children who go out hunting for caribou with their parents, and decide to do a song and dance to make the caribou come. While I can absolutely appreciate the cultural importance of this theme, in the context of the book, it just makes it feel like nothing is really happening. The book isn't saved by its art, as many lackluster children's books might be; the artwork is dodgy and muddled, so I can't see it attracting the eye of most children I know (my own son glanced at it and kept walking, which is unusual for him).
November 14, 2022
While Tomson Highway’s English language text remains pretty much the same as the 2001 publication of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon (the one illustrated by Brian Deines) and also obviously retains the same book title, this new 2013 edition has supposedly been translated into a colloquial dialect of Cree rather than the original high/standard Cree (which I will also have to take at face value, as I do not know enough Cree to make any kind of textual comparisons).
Furthermore, Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon (in its 2016 incarnation) has also been illustratively revitalized by John Rombough (a Chipewyan Dene artist from the Northwest Territories) and who with his stylistic and intensely coloured pictures makes this a very different viewing experience from that of the softer and more realistic illustrations by Brian Deines (but also in my humble opinion more visually brilliant and showing a considerably more successful entrancing and enchanting marriage of text and images), since John Rombough's artwork for the 2013 edition of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon is infused with major energy and a sense of authentic First Nations magic, which engages the viewer/reader/listener into an active participation of Tomson Highway's storytelling for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon, and much more deliberately and authentically than is achieved by Brian Deines 2001 illustrations.
Of course, Tomson Highway's presented text for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon, it also contains ample verbal magic (and with me also truly regretting that I do not know Cree, that I am only able to read the English language and not the Cree parts of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon). Set in Northern Manitoba, Canada, the story of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon follows the adventures of two young brothers, Joe and Cody, who call the caribou herds to come forth in the springtime with their accordion (kitoochigan), with their singing and their dancing, and with the caribous' vigorous response enabling the boys’ parents’ traditional hunt, a delightful and wonderful textual and also as already mentioned above visual combination of laughter, danger, enthusiasm and spiritual joy, a solidly four star rating from me for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon. And well, the only reason why my rating for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon is not five stars is that the linguist in me would really want and would really appreciate an English/Cree glossary and some information on Cree grammar and syntax (even though I do realise that as a typical dual language book, my requests are actually above and beyond the scope of and for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon).
Furthermore, Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon (in its 2016 incarnation) has also been illustratively revitalized by John Rombough (a Chipewyan Dene artist from the Northwest Territories) and who with his stylistic and intensely coloured pictures makes this a very different viewing experience from that of the softer and more realistic illustrations by Brian Deines (but also in my humble opinion more visually brilliant and showing a considerably more successful entrancing and enchanting marriage of text and images), since John Rombough's artwork for the 2013 edition of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon is infused with major energy and a sense of authentic First Nations magic, which engages the viewer/reader/listener into an active participation of Tomson Highway's storytelling for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon, and much more deliberately and authentically than is achieved by Brian Deines 2001 illustrations.
Of course, Tomson Highway's presented text for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon, it also contains ample verbal magic (and with me also truly regretting that I do not know Cree, that I am only able to read the English language and not the Cree parts of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon). Set in Northern Manitoba, Canada, the story of Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon follows the adventures of two young brothers, Joe and Cody, who call the caribou herds to come forth in the springtime with their accordion (kitoochigan), with their singing and their dancing, and with the caribous' vigorous response enabling the boys’ parents’ traditional hunt, a delightful and wonderful textual and also as already mentioned above visual combination of laughter, danger, enthusiasm and spiritual joy, a solidly four star rating from me for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon. And well, the only reason why my rating for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon is not five stars is that the linguist in me would really want and would really appreciate an English/Cree glossary and some information on Cree grammar and syntax (even though I do realise that as a typical dual language book, my requests are actually above and beyond the scope of and for Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon).
August 27, 2024
Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon, illustrated by Brian Deines.
Joe and Cody were two young Cree boys, living with their parents and their pet dog Ootsie on the northern plains of Manitoba. One day, while following the caribou, the brothers performed a caribou song together, Joe playing the kitoochigan (accordion) and Cody singing. Their music summoned the caribou, and soon the boys were surrounded by a majestic herd of more than one thousand of these arctic deer...
Originally published in 2001, with artwork by Brian Deines, Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon was republished in 2013 with new illustrations from John Rombough. The edition I read was the original one, with the artwork of Deines, and it was bilingual, featuring the text in both English and Cree. It's interesting to note that the new edition is trilingual, featuring the story in English, high Cree and a local Cree dialect. Leaving that aside, I found the story here engaging, and appreciated its blend of matter-of-fact telling and almost magical storyline. There is something enchanting about the caribou's appearance, as if summoned by the song, and something very moving about the boys' mother's distress, before she realizes that they weren't crushed by the running herd. The accompanying artwork from Deines has a lovely, luminous quality, and adds to the reading pleasure. This is the first book I have read from Tomson Highway, a Cree author perhaps best known for his plays for adults, but I certainly hope it will not be my last! Recommended to picture-book readers looking for unusual outdoor adventure stories, and to anyone seeking First Nations/Native American stories for children.
Joe and Cody were two young Cree boys, living with their parents and their pet dog Ootsie on the northern plains of Manitoba. One day, while following the caribou, the brothers performed a caribou song together, Joe playing the kitoochigan (accordion) and Cody singing. Their music summoned the caribou, and soon the boys were surrounded by a majestic herd of more than one thousand of these arctic deer...
Originally published in 2001, with artwork by Brian Deines, Caribou Song / atíhko níkamon was republished in 2013 with new illustrations from John Rombough. The edition I read was the original one, with the artwork of Deines, and it was bilingual, featuring the text in both English and Cree. It's interesting to note that the new edition is trilingual, featuring the story in English, high Cree and a local Cree dialect. Leaving that aside, I found the story here engaging, and appreciated its blend of matter-of-fact telling and almost magical storyline. There is something enchanting about the caribou's appearance, as if summoned by the song, and something very moving about the boys' mother's distress, before she realizes that they weren't crushed by the running herd. The accompanying artwork from Deines has a lovely, luminous quality, and adds to the reading pleasure. This is the first book I have read from Tomson Highway, a Cree author perhaps best known for his plays for adults, but I certainly hope it will not be my last! Recommended to picture-book readers looking for unusual outdoor adventure stories, and to anyone seeking First Nations/Native American stories for children.
June 13, 2014
This is a good picture book for reflective times and teaching times. It's a gently moving, broad story about two brothers who call caribous and end up calling thousands of them. The illustrations may not appeal to people who prefer less abstracted art, but they are gorgeous in their boldness, in their stunning array of colors, and in their Dene-influenced style of abstraction and framing. This is a great bilingual book allowing readers who aren't familiar with or simply don't know any Cree (or any of the original cultures and languages of Turtle Island) to gain some perspective into Indigenous worldviews. This might not be the Frozen titles that kids are clamoring for, but this is a valuable and important book that expands horizons and will help Cree (and, hopefully, other Native) kids see that their culture(s), their language(s), their stories, their worldview(s), and their styles and traditions are valid, contemporary, important, representative, and worth of attention and diverse readership.
October 24, 2019
I love the art in this book so much. It is like stained glass, with bold black lines and vibrant colors. The text, told in both English and Cree, is choppy at times, but it captures a nice feel for Cree culture and tradition.
October 14, 2021
Les illustrations de cet album me font penser à un vitrail, style que je ne vois pas souvent !
Dans celui-ci, on en apprend davantage sur la chasse au caribou.
La présence du cri ajoute un petit plus!
Dans celui-ci, on en apprend davantage sur la chasse au caribou.
La présence du cri ajoute un petit plus!
October 16, 2018
This was an interesting story. In this edition of the book, I found that each page was written in English as well as in their language. The illustrations were like stain glass with bold black lines filled with vivid colors. The illustrations each told a story in themselves. As you look and observe the illustrations you begin to make out other images in the illustration. The story was an interesting story about a family, where they live and how they follow the caribou. Then something magnificent happens when the boys play music and dance. The description on the caribou was amazing, the sound they made was compared to thunder, as a reader you could imagine and hear the events around them. I enjoyed the different ethnicity and reading about the caribou. I felt this was something important to this family.
October 22, 2018
We need more books with indigenous language translations. This one is in Cree/English and it is a celebration of Cree culture and family. Part of a trilogy.
March 25, 2016
2013
Genre is children's fiction/outdoor
Target Audience is probably second grade to fifth grade.
Text to Self: This book reminded me of when my grandma had horses. The way that they call in the Caribou and have a mutual respect for them reminded me of calling in the horses when we would go riding. This book was a great way to see into the lives of people from the North.
Text to Text: Immediately I thought of When You Give a Moose a Muffin just because it's a moose and the Caribou are closely related and from the same parts of the world. However, the story is much more insightful and meaningful than When you Give a Moose a Muffin. The setting reminds me of the book Hatchet (which I love). I've always had intense respect for people who must live off the harsh land to survive.
Text to World: This book reminds me of all of the Alaska TV shows now days where people hunt and gather their own food. They don't have a grocery store that they can just go to. The people of the North are very interesting to me, and I liked to see the relationships they had with their family and the bonds that are formed when you live somewhere like that.
Genre is children's fiction/outdoor
Target Audience is probably second grade to fifth grade.
Text to Self: This book reminded me of when my grandma had horses. The way that they call in the Caribou and have a mutual respect for them reminded me of calling in the horses when we would go riding. This book was a great way to see into the lives of people from the North.
Text to Text: Immediately I thought of When You Give a Moose a Muffin just because it's a moose and the Caribou are closely related and from the same parts of the world. However, the story is much more insightful and meaningful than When you Give a Moose a Muffin. The setting reminds me of the book Hatchet (which I love). I've always had intense respect for people who must live off the harsh land to survive.
Text to World: This book reminds me of all of the Alaska TV shows now days where people hunt and gather their own food. They don't have a grocery store that they can just go to. The people of the North are very interesting to me, and I liked to see the relationships they had with their family and the bonds that are formed when you live somewhere like that.
April 14, 2015
Text to self: When I was little I used to hear the coyotes in the woods near my house. I used to howl out my window, wishing that I could call them near. One night, just after I had howled loudly, I saw one near my house. I was positive that he had come to my call.
Text to Text: This book brings to mind Enduring Wisdom by Sinthia Saint James. Caribou Song is written in both English and Cree, giving the reader a small taste of the language of the native tribe. Enduring Wisdom is a collection of Native American sayings and stories, that give a voice to the tradition of the Native people.
Text to World:
Caribou Song embraces the customs of a group of people in a time when a lot of personal connections to our roots are being lost. Recently I have been seeing a resurgence of pride in our ancestry and their traditions, and feel that this book exemplifies that pride. It makes us look at an existence that is different from our every day norm, but shows us that these children are not so far removed from the same emotions and feelings that we experience universally.
Text to Text: This book brings to mind Enduring Wisdom by Sinthia Saint James. Caribou Song is written in both English and Cree, giving the reader a small taste of the language of the native tribe. Enduring Wisdom is a collection of Native American sayings and stories, that give a voice to the tradition of the Native people.
Text to World:
Caribou Song embraces the customs of a group of people in a time when a lot of personal connections to our roots are being lost. Recently I have been seeing a resurgence of pride in our ancestry and their traditions, and feel that this book exemplifies that pride. It makes us look at an existence that is different from our every day norm, but shows us that these children are not so far removed from the same emotions and feelings that we experience universally.
April 23, 2015
AIYLA Award
I really enjoyed this book because I am very interested in the American Indian Culture. I also loved the idea of having it written in both English and Cree. I believe by doing this, children of different cultures can relate to one another and help one another learn about each other's culture. This book reminded me of a story told to myself and a group I was in from an American Indian. He told us about growing up and the different things he encountered and learned that were different from us. He also shared things we all have in common, which just proves that we are all similar in some way. What I read also reminds me of the countless summers I have done volunteer work on an Indian Reservation and how different and interesting their culture is to me. It is exciting to me to read these books because this is the land we came to. What I read makes me wonder about the future and how I hope these stories can be told forever.
I really enjoyed this book because I am very interested in the American Indian Culture. I also loved the idea of having it written in both English and Cree. I believe by doing this, children of different cultures can relate to one another and help one another learn about each other's culture. This book reminded me of a story told to myself and a group I was in from an American Indian. He told us about growing up and the different things he encountered and learned that were different from us. He also shared things we all have in common, which just proves that we are all similar in some way. What I read also reminds me of the countless summers I have done volunteer work on an Indian Reservation and how different and interesting their culture is to me. It is exciting to me to read these books because this is the land we came to. What I read makes me wonder about the future and how I hope these stories can be told forever.
March 12, 2016
This is a beautiful and magical story of two boys who live with their parents in the far north, and follow the caribou, an important part of their survival. In this story, the boys play music to call the caribou, and what happens is more than they expected. The art, according to the book bios is reflective of the harmony of Dene peoples. I would say it seems like woodcuts. The pictures of the action create frames which sit on various dream-like backgrounds. They are beautiful. The other beauty of the book is that the story is told in both Cree and English. I would imagine this is not done often, and will be welcomed by Cree readers everywhere, especially the children.
March 22, 2016
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Lower Grades
Text to Self: When I was little my family and I would go to Montana at our cabin. Every night I would fall asleep listening to all the coyotes howl.
Text to Text: This book reminds me of "The Girl Who Loves Wild Horses" because they both relate back to animals, and the Native American culture. They make it known that animals mean a lot to them in this culture.
Text to World: This reminds me of the Native Americans that take trading very seriously. They value their animals, and if they are willing to trade them for something else then that means a lot in their culture
Audience: Lower Grades
Text to Self: When I was little my family and I would go to Montana at our cabin. Every night I would fall asleep listening to all the coyotes howl.
Text to Text: This book reminds me of "The Girl Who Loves Wild Horses" because they both relate back to animals, and the Native American culture. They make it known that animals mean a lot to them in this culture.
Text to World: This reminds me of the Native Americans that take trading very seriously. They value their animals, and if they are willing to trade them for something else then that means a lot in their culture
May 26, 2017
We checked this book out from the library recently, and I plan on buying a copy. The story is about 2 Cree boys who sing and dance to call the caribou. I loved the abstract illustrations, and the story evokes a lot of atmosphere in very few words. But the best part, imho, is that the story is written both in English and Cree. Upon request, I attempted to read some of the Cree, and I'm sure I sounded awful, but I feel like it brings the native tribes to life when we can see so much of their language like this. We might have some art and oral/reprinted stories from native peoples, but to see the language when so many languages have disappeared or are disappearing is wonderful.
October 7, 2017
This was a good book, but it was very simplistic in nature. If this is intentionally done in the traditional style, then it's fine then. My kids liked the illustrations because they kind of looked like a stained glass or mosaic piece. They were also fascinated by the Cree translations that were found within the book. I tried to pronounce a few of the paragraphs just so they could get a feel for the language, but I fear that I really butchered it. Maybe it's even better in Cree and gets lost in translation a little bit. It's not a bad story though, just not overly embellished. I would recommend it to everyone.
February 12, 2013
Joe and Cody live too far north in Manitoba for most trees. All year long, they follow the caribou. Joe would play the accordion (kitoochigan), while Cody danced. After lunch one day, the boys wander off and find a clearing and play and dance for the caribou. The caribou suddenly were rumbling throughout the forest and all around them. The Caribou spirit protected the boys and they embraced it. Their parents were very worried but suddenly understood what had happened.The book is the first in the series. It is written in both English and Cree but the Cree is not phonetically written.
February 14, 2014
The Caribou Song is a wonderful story about to young Cree boys who are brought on a life adventure with their parents on a dog sled following migrating Caribou. The brothers use their talents to attract the caribou for their parents. Cody dances beautifully while Joe plays enticing music on his accordion. Suddenly the caribou fill the meadow surrounding the two boys who are separated. Fear fills their eyes and slowly dissolves into a calm magical spirit wrapping the boys in safety. The cree artwork is momentous in telling the story.
December 19, 2009
Brothers, Joe and Cody live with their mother and father. They don't live in any one place, rather they follow the caribou all winter long. Joe and Cody love to play, dance, and sing and they often sing a song while they travel, to attract the caribou.
This is a wonderful adventure book that...Please read the rest of my review here: http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2009/11...
This is a wonderful adventure book that...Please read the rest of my review here: http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2009/11...
March 19, 2014
This book was very different and was a very different culture. They did a lot of dancing and singing throughout the book. This was a very different culture so it was hard to understand and I enjoyed the pictures throughout.
April 6, 2014
Beautiful book, and I appreciate the bi-lingual nature of it.
March 28, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how a scary event turned into something very fun for Cody and Joe.
January 1, 2017
This was beautiful, and a lovely retelling of myth.
December 19, 2017
Beautiful story and illustrations.
October 29, 2021
I found this book while looking through the American Indian Library Association websites award winners, this book won the award in 2014. The book follows the story of Joe, Cody, their mom, dad, and Cody's dog Ootsie as they experience the power of song. This story has a good mixture of good and bad in my opinion. I believe this story is good because it touches on the lives of northern Indian lives. This is a net positive for me because this is not something I saw often in books at all growing up. The art is a little dark and blended together which makes it easy to get lost and hard to find things at times, however this adds to its charm in a way which I think can be appreciated by children. The story is rather simple which makes it easy for children to wrap their head around but not so simple that it is just a breeze. Another amazing part to this story is it being told in English and Cree. This makes it a wonderful tool for children who know Cree and a wonderful tool for Indian American families that want to teach their children Cree. I definitely can see this story being used as a read-aloud for children in a classroom setting or used as a tool to teach an ELL student English.
April 7, 2019
"Caribou Song: Atihko Nikamon" by Tomson Highway offers children a introduction to another culture and way of life for the children. The two brothers and their family are nomadic and follow the caribou. The boys sing and dance and play music as a form of entertainment. When they sing a song to call the caribou, it works and thousands of caribou surround them. The spirit of the herd then comes to them and protects them. This book has some interesting and colorful artwork that offers a sort of puzzle-like feel with the different pieces fitting together. Overall, this is a good book for children to understand the differing experiences and daily lives of other children in other parts of the world.
Read
February 23, 2020This book is about a family who follows Caribou all year long. The main two characters are brothers named Joe and Cody, when they are traveling they always hear the Caribou song that their family sings. When they play that song, they dance together! One spring day, their camp gets into a stamped of caribou and though it is a scary moment and the boys get separated from their parents, they end up smiling because they got to experience part of the spiritual word that they love.
This book is directed at lower to middle elementary aged students since there are a lot of words to be read on the pages and some of the words or sounds may be hard to pronounce. This would be a great read a loud.
This book is directed at lower to middle elementary aged students since there are a lot of words to be read on the pages and some of the words or sounds may be hard to pronounce. This would be a great read a loud.
February 22, 2019
This book is about two brother of the Manitoba people named Cody and Joe. These brothers have a fascination about Caribou so much that they follow them around all year long. One day they decide to sing a song calling to the caribou and to their much surprise over thousands of caribou come running to the brothers. They find themselves emerged into the spirit of the caribou in this magical adventure. This book is really great in being able to learn more about the people of Manitoba with its very unique and beautiful illustrations. I would recommend this book to children in grades 3-10.
November 8, 2018
This book is told in both Cree and English. It takes place in northern Canada (I think) and is about two brothers named Joe and Cody that follow a herd of Caribou all year long. Joe plays the accordion and Cody dances for the Caribou as they ride dog sleds with their parents. They get lost on their journey but learn to embrace the magic of the caribou spirit in nature. This book enlightens its readers of a different culture many don't learn about which is important.
February 22, 2019
I think this book is age appropriate for first or second graders. It is about brothers who sing a Caribou song and ten thousand caribous came around them. I could use this in my classroom as a read-aloud book to get my students to think about different cultures. Something really cool about this book is that it is in both English and Cree. Students could see or maybe even learn some words from another language, from another culture.
February 24, 2020
Good for early primary schoolers. Book tells a story of a family who follows caribou. Joe and Cody are brothers and are the main characters in the book. They dance and sing a special song which calls the caribou out, and startles their parents. The book is written in two languages and demystifies what people might think of as "native american" people. It shows that they have a family unit just like many other families and enjoy some of the same things that other siblings might enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews