King Island Christmas

by Jean Rogers, Rie Muñoz (Illustrator)

The Eskimos have to carry their biggest walrus skin boat to the other side of the island in hopes that the sea will be calm enough there so they can bring Father Carroll ashore from a waiting freighter

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Historical Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1985

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely dated use of language and story (the term "Eskimo" which is offensive to many Native people, and a focus on Christmas not happening because the priest can't get to the island). This is a great story about cooperation, but I can't use it in story time.

[Laura Drennen]

Context- Fiction, Picture Story Book

Bibliographic Information-
Rogers, Lean. King Island Christmas, Illus by Rie Munoz. HarperCollins Publishers, 1998, Unp, Primary

Based in a Rural Coastal village in Alaska, the community members of King Island work together to bring the holiday of Christmas by traditional uses of boats and strong hunters to safely escort the new priest into the village. The authors use of the native language, illustrations, and representations demonstrate and create the emotional journey of the children and adults within the community and how their continuous efforts to bring Christmas to the village not only represents the act of giving but also the moral decision of a community coming together to help one individual reach safety. The actions within this text creates a heartwarming atmosphere for any reader to digest and reflect upon the strength of a community working together.

Alaska Information/Keywords- Northern Lights, Cultural clothing, Community representation, Cold weather, King Island Village.

Activity- Ask students what they think would have happened if the community did not work together and bring the priest into the village. Have students create their own version of the story.

Recommendation- Yes, great book to display community strength

[Bre Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture Story Book, Christmas, Villagers, Community

Rogers, Jean. King Island Christmas. Illustrated by Rie Muñoz. NY: Greenwillow Books, 1985. Unp. Primary

On King Island, a Native village is worried that Christmas won’t come because their new priest that is supposed to light the candle is stuck on the North Star, which is a huge freight ship stuck out at sea. The small village comes up with a plan to take their oomiak, a wooden boat covered in animal hide, and meet the North Star on the other side of the island and bring the new priest to the church so they can celebrate Christmas. This easy to read and heartwarming story with detailed imagery and illustrations is a really good story to read to children and teach them the importance of community and teamwork, because without the teamwork the village portrayed in the story, the priest would have been stranded at sea and King Island would not have Christmas that year.

Alaska Connection: Bering Sea, Oomiak, King Island

Related Activity: Just like the illustrations in the story how Christmas meant a lot to the village on King Island, draw what Christmas means to you?

[Kortney Rupprecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on King Island, AK, villagers worry that their new priest won’t make it across the Bering Sea in time to light the candles for their Christmas service. In valiant effort, the community work together to carry their oomiak over the cliffs to the other side of the island in order to fetch the priest from calmer waters. The third person point-of-view, combined with the contrast between the powerful imagery and soft watercolor illustrations highlight the joy and triumph in this heartwarming holiday tale.

AK: Oomiak, Parka, Northern Lights, Traditional Home, King Island, Bering Sea

Activity: Read this story during the holidays and have the children reenact it for a whole school or individual class performance.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uses the term Eskimo. Creators are not Indigenous. Not until "the new father" arrives do we have a clue who he is, and even then only Christians will care. I can see the appeal to the naive, and the art is certainly engaging, but it's deeply disrespectful to people who are trying to hold on to their traditional culture.

[Helen-Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Nice story, lovely illustrations. Another Alaska book, good for helping kids see an unfamiliar part of the world. First book I bought in Alaska!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story about a community coming together to help bring a new priest to their island so they could celebrate not only the secular but the sacred for the coming Christmas season.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this straightforward heartwarming tale, the villagers of King Island worry if they do not get the new priest from the freighter to their island through the high seas there will be no one to celebrate Christmas. In this joyful holiday folkloric tale, the whole village comes together to make it a memorable Christmas. Muñoz’ authentic brilliant stylized pictures accentuate the power of community to overcome adversity.

[LauraW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another beautiful book by Jean Rogers. It tells about the King Islanders waiting for the priest to come by to hold a Christmas service. It is beautifully illustrated by Rie Muñoz.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful little story illustrated by one of my all-time favorite artists, Rie Munoz.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great illustrations by Rie Munoz do not save this book. The story is plodding and was overly simple. I was totally bored having made no connection to the people of the town or the new priest.