Sweetest Kulu

by Celina Kalluk, Alexandria Neonakis (Illustrator)

A lyrical lullaby imbued with traditional Inuit beliefs.

This bedtime poem, written by internationally acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts bestowed upon a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Lyrically and lovingly written, this visually stunning book is infused with the Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Indigenous, Animals, Native American, Poetry, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2013

Reviews

[Debbie]

Sweet! Sometimes, that exclamation (Sweet!) means something is endearing, and sometimes, it means something is way cool. Both meanings apply to Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis.

Kulu is an Inuktitut term of endearment. The babe who is the sweetest kulu in this book is Inuit (Inuktitut is one of the languages spoken by Inuit people). I got it yesterday. The sense of peace and promise in Kalluk's book was just what I needed on a particularly trying day. See the cover? The whole book is like that...

Kalluk's words and Neonakis's art work beautifully together as we learn Inuit values in which people and animals coexist as caretakers of the land. In Kalluk's hands, this is not the stereotypical one-with-the-animals story that we see all too often.

This is a terrific book for those who have a newborn in the house... And for those of us who just need a book that rights the world for us, that reminds us of that world in all its richness.

Sweetest Kulu is another great book from Inhabit Media. By the way! If you're interested in Native music, you ought to add Kalluk to your playlist. She is a throat singer. Check out this video. She was performing in New York with a cousin. You MUST ALSO watch the set of short videos here.

Note (added May 27, 2014): Sweetest Kulu will be available in October. I reviewed it from a bound galley.

[DivaDiane SM]

This is a gorgeous, gentle book, perfect for bedtime reading. I wish I’d had it for my son. It would’ve been much preferable to Goodnight Moon!

The text is an obvious translation and awkward at times, but gives a real glimpse into the beliefs of the Inuit people. All of the arctic animals of land sea and air come to greet the newborn Kulu and bestow gifts upon them. Some (those that can) bring tangible gifts, but all of them give gifts of virtues, like patience, gentleness, kindness, heritage and empowerment and more. Also mandates to protect the land and its creatures. There is a gentle rhythm and calm to the text, but also joy in the new life.

The illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis are gorgeous and give plenty for a young child to look at.

[Cheryl]

Marvelous concept, breathtaking illustrations, rhythmic text, just right book design, an almost perfect book. I'd probably love it even more if I had a baby to dote over, or a classroom with which to share this. Definitely recommended.

[CanadianReader]

There's a great idea behind this book. A child is born during the Arctic summer, and the animals who live in the far north visit him/her, each with a special gift or quality to bestow on the infant. It's not unlike the story of the nativity.

But things go wrong with the book because the language sounds as though it has come out of some Canadian Heritage and Culture document that is trying too hard to "foster empowerment" in Indigenous people. For example, we're told the narwhal and beluga give "spontaneity"; the seal "loves creativity": and the muskox shares "heritage and empowerment". The spiritual gifts bestowed on the child just don't naturally go with the animal visitor. I was okay with a polar bear teaching respect, because let's face it: polar bears are in a bad state right now. There hasn't been much respect for the conditions they require in order to continue. Not only that, Inuit people do respect them—respect and fear. The additional "offering of gentleness"? From a polar bear? I don't think so. What would be wrong with a kid getting a gift of healthy fear of the powerful forces in nature?

It's just all too cute and cloying—which reminds me of the annoying adjectives: “cutest Kulu" and "nicest Kulu"—just not good.

This is the kind of book that a certain kind of adult would give to friends who've just had a baby. It’s a book rather like Robert Munsch's Love You Forever. Some people weep over that book. Adults are crazy about it; kids less so—they find it funny. Sweetest Kulu is less maudlin than Munsch, but the language doesn't recommend it for kids, and maybe not for adults either. It's a shame. It could've been a great picture book. The art, while not spectacular compared to other texts from Inhabit Media, is "nice" enough. The text itself, I cannot recommend.

[LauraR]

This book is listed as an AICL's best book of 2014. This picture book is a wonderful addition to any classroom library in grades 3 and above. This story tells of a young boy who receives "gifts" and personality traits from animals that are around him. Each animal offers up a different trait that beautifully reflects a part of a person. Together, the author and the illustrator show that the Earth is made up of all living things and how those living things are connected. The Inuit culture shines through as the values of the personality traits represented appear. In this particular culture, animals and people live respectively and cooperatively and this book shows their connection.
Based on the vocabulary of this book, it is recommended that this book be placed in a classroom library for grades 3 and above. The illustrations are clear and have a setting that depicts the animal giving away the personality trait to the young boy. The illustrations lead off the page, which allows the reader to draw their own inferences based on the already developed image. The images flow throughout both pages of the book and the text is located on the center of one of the pages. This book could be used as a read-aloud or as an independent read. It is important that the vocabulary words are discussed in order for students to understand the meaning of the book.

[Abigail]

A newborn Inuit baby named Kulu is gifted with many wonderful traits and good wishes from the animals around him in this poetic picture-book. From adventurous Snow Bunting, who gives Arctic cotton seeds and flowers, to powerful Polar Bear, who teaches about respect for the wild, the creatures of land and sea give Kulu a "practical foundation to balance and build upon..."

Apparently author Celina Kalluk is an Inuit throat singer, and her musical gift certainly comes through in the lovely sing-song narrative of Sweetest Kulu. I enjoyed the text, and I also appreciated the artwork from illustrator Alexandria Neonakis, with its use of color and contrast. This is another title from the Nunavut-based Inhabit Media, an Inuit-owned publisher concentrating on books with an Inuit cultural context, and it is another winner. Recommended to anyone looking for sweetly reassuring picture-books for young children, as well as to those seeking children's stories with an Inuit cultural context.

[Rachel]

In this charming picture book, an unnamed mother speaks lovingly to her newborn. She tells her baby (which can be either a boy or girl) about the day he/she was born, and how all of the Arctic came to give their greetings. As they visit, the animals, and the land itself, endows little Kulu with a set of qualities; tenderness from Arctic Char, patience and a sense of direction from Caribou... each spread features a different entity and their gift. This sense of love and well-wishing is conveyed through both word and art. All the illustrations have soft, coloured linework, designs that emphasize the gentle, cuddly side of the animals and baby, and a beautiful dreamlike palette. Sweetest Kulu is a heartfelt lullaby, looks phenomenal, and, it nurtures the Inuit value of respect for nature. Absolutely recommended for all little ones and their guardians.

[Barbara]

All the animals in the Artic bestow their own unique gifts to newborn baby Kulu. The illustrations are lovely, filled with scenes depicting nature's beauty and the love of a mother for her young one. What is particularly impressive about this book is how the gifts aren't monetary or superficial but instead values such as believing in oneself, giving to others, tenderness, and spontaneity. The story was written by an Inuit throat singer.

[Robert]

An absolutely delightful book to read with your little one. The art is stunning, and the life-affirming message from the High Arctic is tender and bittersweet.
My own baby daughter now refers to the basement, where this treasured book is kept, as "Kulu".

[Edward Sullivan]

Warm, gentle lullaby story incorporating traditional Inuit values and beliefs. Lovely illustrations.

[Erin]

I absolutely love this book. The lyrical words and the whimsical illustrations have made it one of my new favorites. I excitedly gift this board book to new parents.

Some of the reviews are dismissive and mock the gifting of this book. To them I ask, what other titles feature an Inuit infant? There are not many options for children (and parents) to see themselves in print in the Arctic. There are not many options for children outside of the Arctic to get a glimpse at the animals and landscape seen in the north. While some find it cliche or underwhelming, I am overjoyed to encounter such beautiful Arctic art.

[haya]

Sweetest Kulu was very heartwarming and sweet and you just felt warm and fuzzy throughout. loved the illustrations. The different ways to compliment baby kulu was so cute

[Courtney]

O min. To read.

Kind of odd… it makes sense the first page or so, with the mom explaining -very poetically- what the weather was like when the child was born (windy, in the time of year the North gets 24 hours of sun). Then she brings the animals in which is confusing, because- is she just describing the different kinds of animals in their homeland to Kulu, or are we supposed to believe they all were animals his parents saw the day he was born? It’s interesting if you want to learn about the different attributes Inuit people associate with each animal, and the kinds of animals that live there. (At least, I think that’s what’s going on.) Not so much plot-wise. It’s mostly the mother praising her child, and, I guess saying how she hopes he’ll grow up to be as a person.

Extra star given for the art - while the proportions of Kulu’s face threw me a little bit, the art style is quite lovely.

[Kris]

Sweetest Kulu really is the sweetest. Gorgeous illustrations, and a gentle, lovely bedtime story. The rhythm of the text did take some getting used to, though, and it felt inconsistent. Still a warm, enjoyable picture book.

[Samantha]

A bedtime poem to a newborn baby in which a mother speaking to her child tells of all the Arctic animals that bestowed blessings upon the child.

The artwork supports the dreamy nature of this book with its subdued color palette and softly shaped animals. Traditional Inuit values of love and respect for land and animals are woven into text making this a celebration of culture as well as the child.

Highly recommended for PreK-2.

[Alia]

I was very excited to read this book but found it a little underwhelming. It is very sweet, yes and I enjoyed reading how every aspect of Kulu's environment from the wind to all the animals welcomed him and bestowed gifts upon him BUT it's not much of a story. The illustrations are ABSOLUTELY gorgeous though and that saves the book for me. It is worth a read.

[Justin Jacob]

The “Sweetest Kulu" is a children’s book written by Celina Kalluk. The book follows a new born baby named Kulu who is surrounded by the beauty and wildlife of the Arctic. In the book, the mother talks to the child about the beauty of nature around them, and the value of the different wildlife around them. Each animal comes to the newborn baby and bestows it with their special qualities, such as the patience of the Caribou, the instinct of the Polar bear and the ability to treat other animals with kindness and respect.
One of the major themes in the book is the importance of nature and the interconnectedness of all things living. Kulu's mother sings about the beauty of the land, animals, and water around them. She talks about the value of each animal around them and how kind and caring everyone is around them and how they all came to the newborn Kulu to share their special qualities. This shows how interconnected everything and everybody is within nature and how all wildlife are connected and cared for by each other.
The main genre of this book is Poetry and Novels in verse.
Through reading this book, 2 lessons I learnt are importance of gratitude and respect for nature and the environment. The book shows how nature really cares for each of her living species and provides nourishment and care to everyone, and it is our duty to pay nature back with love and respect.
This book was a WOW book for me because it was a different story compared to what I usually read. Instead of having a straightforward plot and characters, the story introduces a multitude of characters and don’t really give emphasis to any except the new born baby Kulu. The story just highlights the love, care, and attention mother nature gives to each of her beings, and personally, I felt like it was a nice and different book for children rather than the standard kinds as it teaches multiples values, and emphasizes the importance of love and respect and nourishment.

Some of the writing craft techniques that the author used in this book were alliteration, through words like the “shining sun”, and personification, by giving animals human like qualities like “patience”, “tenderness”, “spontaneity”, etc.
I would consider this book to be an example of an anti-bias book because the book features a variety of characters and does not show bias to any specific characters. Also, the book highlights the value of nature and the importance of treating everyone the same. The teaches children valuable lessons of treating everyone with kindness and respect and we are all interconnected to each other through nature.

[Vincent]

In this book, Kulu is spoken to by her mother in a mellow tone about all these native animals welcoming her to the new place she would soon call home. Each animal like the hare, fox, and polar bear had a different sense and ability to offer her. The genre of the book is poetry and it's contemporary because it was published in the last 20 years. A major theme in this book is the acceptance of nature. The acceptance of nature is seen as Kulu's mother wholeheartedly embracing wild animals and their characteristics which give them meaning and value. Kulu is seen being wrapped around by the Hare, awakened by the fox, and riding the caribou to see the Borealis and beautiful sky. If I were to share this book with children I want them to love nature and its qualities. We take Earth's beauty for granted, but animals are being threatened by growing sea levels and climate change so it's necessary for children to learn to love them. The book also connects life lessons and good traits with the animals so that is another thing I want to point out to children. This book is a WOW book because I liked how the author, who comes from an indigenous people tribe, incorporated a lyrical sense of poetry to describe the wonders of nature and how they interconnect with our life.

Throughout the whole book, personification is used to another level. The phrase, "Melodies of Wind", shows the delightful tune the wind displays, and the page where the Polar bear teaches Kulu about treating animals with respect and kindness is used to show the love for nature. Alliteration is seen in the beginning as Kulu Mother describes the sun as "Settling Sun shone so bright." This book shows diversity because it shares the stories of indigenous people, a marginalized group in which they are usually invisible. It also emphasizes the baby's name, "Kulu", to show its actual meaning of being the embodiment of affection as it's seen throughout the book.

[Ben Truong]

Sweetest Kulu is a children's picture book written by Celina Kalluk and illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis, which is a wonderful lullaby from a mother to her child, who happens to be Indigenous. Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day (21 June), so I thought it would be apropos to read this today.

Kalluk's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and poetic. Using simple rhymes, Kalluk has written a beautiful lullaby imbued with traditional Inuit beliefs. Kulu is an Inuktitut term of endearment for babies and young children. It is told from the perspective of a mother speaking to her newborn child. Neonakis' illustrations use the colors of the northern world splendidly and depict the lullaby extremely well.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. A newborn child is welcomed by the sun, the wind, the Arctic land and all its animal inhabitants, who bring gifts of love and self-respect to the newborn child.

All in all, Sweetest Kulu is a wonderfully children's book of a mother’s love to her newborn child, by singing a lullaby that accentuates her culture.

[Elizabeth]

This is Celina Kalluk's only children's book to date, so I haven't read anything else from her. Alexandria Neonakis has illustrated a few other children's books, but this is my first time seeing anything from her. I'm a big fan of Inhabit Media as a publisher, which is what brought me to this book--but it isn't why I stayed.

Kalluk's story is absolutely charming, poetic, tender in all the best ways. Interpreting Inuit culture and Arctic nature into a bedtime story filled with love and tenderness works beautifully. My heart melted for most of this. Neonakis's illustrations are beautiful and really brought the story to life. It was hard to take my eyes off the beautiful pictures, but it was hard to take my eyes off the beautiful words.

This is perfect for anyone looking for a new bedtime story for a toddler or infant, but also genuinely a good read for any adult fans of picture books. I hope Celina Kalluk publishes more children's stories. I hope to read more books illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis.

[Star Gater]

Thank you to Kim --- Native Lady Book Warrior for the Skoden Readathon and to Cozy Reader Kelly for all the Indigenous shout outs on your channel.

I had the audiobook for this, and then kept searching until I found the E-book (Kelly had the physical.).

This was a bit different for me. After listening to the audio I was stymied. I wasn't confident in my feelings and didn't know what was the point. Then I searched out the E-book and boy am I glad.

The story is beautiful. A baby being introduced to the world. I loved, absolutely loved the illustrations.

The audiobook was not enough for me, I missed the point. However, audibly read with the E-book I was saddened that more people don't have traditions like this. I felt like I was taking part in a family's private time.

[Karl]

If I could give this 6 or 7 stars I would. This one racked up a number of awards and I believe, having recently read over 100 children’s indigenous books ,that this is a Top 5 for me. Beautiful illustrations. Simple elegant poetic prose. A message of love. An indigenous story (Inuit) written by an Inuit woman. Inhabit Media is a favourite of mine. They publish great stuff. Seek this out and read this to your child and/or students and/or nieces and nephews and grandchildren. It really provides an opportunity to dig deeper into some questions of life.

[Andrew]

Engross yourself in the Poetic beauty of an Inuit Child, Kulu, as the babe is instilled with the spirits of the Arctic Animals' strengths and talents, from the Beluga and Narwhal, to the Musk Ox and the Arctic Fox or the Caribou, these beautiful illustrations will have you immersed in this delightful picture book about the joy of being a parent.

[Errin]

The illustrations of the wittle beebee, Kulu, with all the animals were adorable. The landscapes and colors used were stunning. The poem was soft and lovely and a nice way to introduce children to traditional Inuit values.

[Alexsi Barashkoff]

Sweetest Kulu is a great representation of Native American literature as it is written by an Inuit throat singer that incorporates her skill and heritage into her book. The book show cases the Inuit beliefs of respecting and loving the land which is a huge part of the Native culture.

[Liaken]

Beautiful illustrations with a simple gender neutral lullaby theme. The art is both intimate and vast.

[Laurence Paris]

Just beautifull

[shems]

why am i crying at work right now

[Aolund]

A lovely, lulling bedtime read full of very sweet energy. Own Voices author.

[Mio]

I had to read this for my French class and yes I google translated the whole thing sorry Madame