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Fish-Boy
The Arctic region of North America is a land of long days, icy cold, hardy people and peculiar creatures. The Inuit people there have made traditional use of remarkable folk tales to find truth and explain the mysteries of an astonishing world.
In Fish-Boy, An Inuit Folk Tale, Vanita Oelschlager retells a tale passed down by a wise old Inuit. It's an origin story involving a little magic and a very odd boy with a large heart for friendship. On a journey with his new father, he must confront misfortune and the malice of cold hearted villagers. But he has a way.. and a lesson for all in the virtues of kindness and hospitality.
In Fish-Boy, An Inuit Folk Tale, Vanita Oelschlager retells a tale passed down by a wise old Inuit. It's an origin story involving a little magic and a very odd boy with a large heart for friendship. On a journey with his new father, he must confront misfortune and the malice of cold hearted villagers. But he has a way.. and a lesson for all in the virtues of kindness and hospitality.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Vanita Oelschlager
41 books41 followersVanita Oelschlager is a wife, mother,grandmother, former teacher, current caregiver and, for almost ten years, author and poet.
She was born and raised near Pittsburgh. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she currently serves as a Trustee.
She has also supported and helped Jim as he built Oak Associates, ltd. into a successful investment management firm.
Today, as an accomplished author, Vanita shares openly the experiences that she, Jim and their families have had with multiple sclerosis. She has likened MS to living with an elephant, one that won't go away or be ignored. Together, she and Jim have found ways to live with this "elephant", and to share some of the larger lessons about life they've learned through the disease.
She was born and raised near Pittsburgh. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she currently serves as a Trustee.
She has also supported and helped Jim as he built Oak Associates, ltd. into a successful investment management firm.
Today, as an accomplished author, Vanita shares openly the experiences that she, Jim and their families have had with multiple sclerosis. She has likened MS to living with an elephant, one that won't go away or be ignored. Together, she and Jim have found ways to live with this "elephant", and to share some of the larger lessons about life they've learned through the disease.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
May 14, 2018
5★
“The wise old Inuit, Teragloona, said to me, ‘Soon we will go to the two islands the white trader calls “Diomedes”. They lie between our land and the big land where the fathers of our fathers’ fathers’ fathers came from.’”
What a delightfully told and illustrated Inuit folktale! The boy telling the story goes with Teragloona and the men across the waters between the islands in the Bering Strait. The book opens with a double-page spread showing the Diomedes Islands with their Inuit names, meaning Yesterday Island and Tomorrow Island. Between them lie "The Waters of the Change of Days".
He sees a floating island which turns out to be an enormous mass of puffins! They rise and settle, rise and settle on the water, and when he asks why, Tergloona promises to tell him the story when they return.
This is that story, and an inventive one it is, about a boy who is something like a mermaid but with no arms, and he can live on land. He helps an injured fisherman catch fish and is adopted, but other villages envy this extra help, which leads to some trouble. Eventually, the result is that the bad people become puffins, but of course the real story and the illustrations are far more entertaining and beautiful than these notes.
Picture of Teragloona
Picture of the boat sailing between the islands
As I recall, the author always includes a glossary of terms, when necessary, and some extra information and suggestions for extension activities. I'm going to quote one bit here which is interesting:
“Diomedes: Two small islands between the United States and Russia, separated by the international date line (which, if you could stand there, you’d have one foot in today, one foot in tomorrow!). The Diomedes Islands are also known as Nunarbuk.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the copy to review. It's available as Read Now for all NetGalley members. Lovely!
“The wise old Inuit, Teragloona, said to me, ‘Soon we will go to the two islands the white trader calls “Diomedes”. They lie between our land and the big land where the fathers of our fathers’ fathers’ fathers came from.’”
What a delightfully told and illustrated Inuit folktale! The boy telling the story goes with Teragloona and the men across the waters between the islands in the Bering Strait. The book opens with a double-page spread showing the Diomedes Islands with their Inuit names, meaning Yesterday Island and Tomorrow Island. Between them lie "The Waters of the Change of Days".
He sees a floating island which turns out to be an enormous mass of puffins! They rise and settle, rise and settle on the water, and when he asks why, Tergloona promises to tell him the story when they return.
This is that story, and an inventive one it is, about a boy who is something like a mermaid but with no arms, and he can live on land. He helps an injured fisherman catch fish and is adopted, but other villages envy this extra help, which leads to some trouble. Eventually, the result is that the bad people become puffins, but of course the real story and the illustrations are far more entertaining and beautiful than these notes.
Picture of Teragloona
Picture of the boat sailing between the islands
As I recall, the author always includes a glossary of terms, when necessary, and some extra information and suggestions for extension activities. I'm going to quote one bit here which is interesting:
“Diomedes: Two small islands between the United States and Russia, separated by the international date line (which, if you could stand there, you’d have one foot in today, one foot in tomorrow!). The Diomedes Islands are also known as Nunarbuk.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the copy to review. It's available as Read Now for all NetGalley members. Lovely!
October 18, 2018
This is my first time to read an Inuit folktale. Even though the story is quite long for a children's storybook, I believe that kids will surely enjoy reading this because of how wonderful the story and the illustrations are. If ever this will be sold here in our local bookstores in our country, I would definitely get one and give this as a present to my niece.
April 1, 2018
Fish-Boy is an Inuit folk tale told by Vanita Oelschlager. It's a wonderful book in which the story of Fish-Boy is told to a young child by Teragloona, a wise old Inuit man. Fish-Boy is the origin story that explains why there are so many sea-parrots (Atlantic puffins) on the stony islands of the far north. This is a story of fathers and sons, kindness and rejection, hospitality to guests, friendship and some magic.
I loved the story and found the glossary very helpful and well written. The illustrations by Mike Blanc are what initially grabbed my interest in this book and are absolutely brilliant. I loved the people, the backgrounds, the use of colour, and the way they immerse you in the story.
I adore the tradition of teaching origin stories to each generation by the elders in so many Indigenous cultures. I've had a huge interest in learning about Indigenous cultures, their traditions and stories since I was a child. I had a computer program called 500 Nations with audio by Kevin Costner and I'd lose all concept of time as I explored the richness of cultures I knew nothing about. This book has really whet my appetite again and I want to learn more about the culture of the Inuit people.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vanita Books for the opportunity to read this book. I hope to see more books retelling other Inuit folk tales by Vanita and Mike.
I loved the story and found the glossary very helpful and well written. The illustrations by Mike Blanc are what initially grabbed my interest in this book and are absolutely brilliant. I loved the people, the backgrounds, the use of colour, and the way they immerse you in the story.
I adore the tradition of teaching origin stories to each generation by the elders in so many Indigenous cultures. I've had a huge interest in learning about Indigenous cultures, their traditions and stories since I was a child. I had a computer program called 500 Nations with audio by Kevin Costner and I'd lose all concept of time as I explored the richness of cultures I knew nothing about. This book has really whet my appetite again and I want to learn more about the culture of the Inuit people.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vanita Books for the opportunity to read this book. I hope to see more books retelling other Inuit folk tales by Vanita and Mike.
September 24, 2017
+Digital arc gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+
An Inuit folktale where during an trade expedition, a wise old man begins to tell a story about why there are so many birds in a certain part of the islands. Here is narrated the tale of Fish-boy.
Lesson left by this story:
Respect for the elders - Teragloona. As source of wisdom and cultural heritage.
To opt for inclusion and against prejudices. As demostrated by Kitmesuk and his village. That even people with apparental disvantages can be very valuable and contribute to the community.
To value hospitality.
I really liked the style of the artwork, and the colors are fantastic.
I'd say this works for children over 8 years old maybe because of the language.
This is the kind of book that would acquire for my nephews.
www.vanitabooks.com
An Inuit folktale where during an trade expedition, a wise old man begins to tell a story about why there are so many birds in a certain part of the islands. Here is narrated the tale of Fish-boy.
Lesson left by this story:
Respect for the elders - Teragloona. As source of wisdom and cultural heritage.
To opt for inclusion and against prejudices. As demostrated by Kitmesuk and his village. That even people with apparental disvantages can be very valuable and contribute to the community.
To value hospitality.
I really liked the style of the artwork, and the colors are fantastic.
I'd say this works for children over 8 years old maybe because of the language.
This is the kind of book that would acquire for my nephews.
www.vanitabooks.com
May 10, 2018
This is a quintessential cultural gem of Inuit origin.
"If the shore would not guide him in his course, the stars beckoned to him or the wind blew him."
In this book, we have the Diomede Islands - the Ignaluk (Lesser Land/Yesterday Land) and the Nunakbuk (The Greater Island/Tomorrow Island). I love the little introduction to maps at the beginning of the book.It's how I would turn kids into lovers of high fantasy - maps, maps, maps
The story follows the wise old Tenaglaona who goes with a little boy to visit the land of the father's father's father's. The old man tells the boy a story of the fish-boy.
The story begins with a great hunter named Menadluk who killed many white bears.
Contrary to Menadluk the great hunter, we have Kitmesuk, a lame man who may not kill bears, but is a great fisherman.
Kitmesuk struggles to find fish one day, but encounters a fish-boy who is despondent, lonely and orphaned. He begs Kitmesuk to be his father.
Kitsemuk and fish-boy go on many adventures. I don't want to spoil this book for any reader - it's warmth and loving nature is transcendental.
This book is brimming with love, vibrancy and a beautiful bond between a father and adopted son. The morality that isn't stuffed down your throat, but instead it's interwoven into the complex narrative that is presented in such a simple yet elegant way. This is a great book for introducing kids to suspense and narrative without being too befuddling.
This is a magical, entrancing Arctic tale. The deep and vibrant colours seep with a feeling of homeliness and belonging.
This book concerns itself with turning your strengths into weaknesses. Kitsemuk is lame and fish-boy has no arms. And yet, they do what they can to make ends' meet and enjoy the life given to them. I absolutely adore the relationship between Kitsemuk and fish-boy.
Just look at how adorable this cover is!
I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
"If the shore would not guide him in his course, the stars beckoned to him or the wind blew him."
In this book, we have the Diomede Islands - the Ignaluk (Lesser Land/Yesterday Land) and the Nunakbuk (The Greater Island/Tomorrow Island). I love the little introduction to maps at the beginning of the book.
The story follows the wise old Tenaglaona who goes with a little boy to visit the land of the father's father's father's. The old man tells the boy a story of the fish-boy.
The story begins with a great hunter named Menadluk who killed many white bears.
Contrary to Menadluk the great hunter, we have Kitmesuk, a lame man who may not kill bears, but is a great fisherman.
Kitmesuk struggles to find fish one day, but encounters a fish-boy who is despondent, lonely and orphaned. He begs Kitmesuk to be his father.
Kitsemuk and fish-boy go on many adventures. I don't want to spoil this book for any reader - it's warmth and loving nature is transcendental.
This book is brimming with love, vibrancy and a beautiful bond between a father and adopted son. The morality that isn't stuffed down your throat, but instead it's interwoven into the complex narrative that is presented in such a simple yet elegant way. This is a great book for introducing kids to suspense and narrative without being too befuddling.
This is a magical, entrancing Arctic tale. The deep and vibrant colours seep with a feeling of homeliness and belonging.
This book concerns itself with turning your strengths into weaknesses. Kitsemuk is lame and fish-boy has no arms. And yet, they do what they can to make ends' meet and enjoy the life given to them. I absolutely adore the relationship between Kitsemuk and fish-boy.
Just look at how adorable this cover is!
I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
October 13, 2017
Fish-Boy by Vanita Oelschlager, Mike Blanc (Art) is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book is based on an Inuit tale and told as such. It is very cute story with colorful and delightful illustrations. I love old folk tales and I think more kids need to here the old traditional folk tales, they seem to be getting lost in our society now. In this story, an old Inuit man tells the story of Fish Boy. This will certainly keep the kids entertained and wanting to read or hear it over and over again. Very cute!
September 21, 2022
4.5 Stars
The Fish-Boy is an Inuit folktale about a merman (or merboy, to be precise) and Atlantic puffins. I think Puffins are super cute birds with colorful beaks and penguin-like bodies.
A lonely man who makes a living by catching and selling fish meets the Fish-Boy during one of his trips. He doesn’t want to adopt the Fish-Boy but agrees when the little one says he’ll help catch more fish.
The story goes on to show how the nearby villagers praise the man and Fish-Boy, then attack them because of their stupidity. Similar to other folklore, the Fish-Boy deals with several themes like goodness, respect, serving guests, etc.
The illustrations are wonderful. The color scheme is just brilliant and suits the content on the page. Scenes inside a cozy dwelling have warm hues, while the outside world has white, blue, and icy shades. The Fish-Boy is adorable with his colorful tail and layered hairstyle.
To summarize, Fish-Boy is a charming folktale from a faraway land with icy shores and lovely people. The glossary and additional information at the end of the book are icing on the cake. And did I mention the maps? So good!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Vanita Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Fish-Boy is an Inuit folktale about a merman (or merboy, to be precise) and Atlantic puffins. I think Puffins are super cute birds with colorful beaks and penguin-like bodies.
A lonely man who makes a living by catching and selling fish meets the Fish-Boy during one of his trips. He doesn’t want to adopt the Fish-Boy but agrees when the little one says he’ll help catch more fish.
The story goes on to show how the nearby villagers praise the man and Fish-Boy, then attack them because of their stupidity. Similar to other folklore, the Fish-Boy deals with several themes like goodness, respect, serving guests, etc.
The illustrations are wonderful. The color scheme is just brilliant and suits the content on the page. Scenes inside a cozy dwelling have warm hues, while the outside world has white, blue, and icy shades. The Fish-Boy is adorable with his colorful tail and layered hairstyle.
To summarize, Fish-Boy is a charming folktale from a faraway land with icy shores and lovely people. The glossary and additional information at the end of the book are icing on the cake. And did I mention the maps? So good!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Vanita Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 8, 2017
Thanks go to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this story.
This is a wonderfully colourful tale of the Inuit. It tells the story of where many of the sea parrots come from and what that has to do with malice and hospitality. It's also a story of inclusion and how handicapped people can still be of value to the community (never judge by looks alone). There is prejudice, as people aren't perfect, but the good ones learn from their errors while the bad ones get their just punishment.
And the story is a story within a story because the old folk tale is told by an elder during a journey - I always like that.
Accompanying the old tale are cute and wonderfully colourful illustrations, making this a bit more interesting (visually) for younger readers. Apart from the type of art, I really mostly enjoyed the little details like the carving on Kitmesuk's walking stick and the bright rainbow colours.
I checked if this was "just" a story from an author in an Inuit setting or an actual old Inuit tale and it seems to be authentic, which is very nice. Cultures like that of the Inuit have wonderful tales and it would be nice to find more of them in bookstores.
This is a wonderfully colourful tale of the Inuit. It tells the story of where many of the sea parrots come from and what that has to do with malice and hospitality. It's also a story of inclusion and how handicapped people can still be of value to the community (never judge by looks alone). There is prejudice, as people aren't perfect, but the good ones learn from their errors while the bad ones get their just punishment.
And the story is a story within a story because the old folk tale is told by an elder during a journey - I always like that.
Accompanying the old tale are cute and wonderfully colourful illustrations, making this a bit more interesting (visually) for younger readers. Apart from the type of art, I really mostly enjoyed the little details like the carving on Kitmesuk's walking stick and the bright rainbow colours.
I checked if this was "just" a story from an author in an Inuit setting or an actual old Inuit tale and it seems to be authentic, which is very nice. Cultures like that of the Inuit have wonderful tales and it would be nice to find more of them in bookstores.
October 20, 2020
I loved reading this folktale (it seemed like a fairytale almost!) with all the amazing illustrations and the upbeat storyline. The characters are endearing, so truly so!
A man who makes his living by catching fish alone adopts a boy (want to read an endearing and unforgettable mermaid tale as soon as possible? Go for this one!) and is doing well after that. But life becomes difficult with all the hype regarding his son who is the fish-boy with no arms. Basically this folktale tries to explain why sea-parrots skim and sing over the ocean.
One heck of a folk tale!
I would like to know more about Inuit folktales now as I absolutely loved reading this one with all its amazing artstyle and story telling.
The only thing I couldn't come in terms with was about the book being so short!
Thanks #NetGalley for the copy of #FishBoy
A man who makes his living by catching fish alone adopts a boy (want to read an endearing and unforgettable mermaid tale as soon as possible? Go for this one!) and is doing well after that. But life becomes difficult with all the hype regarding his son who is the fish-boy with no arms. Basically this folktale tries to explain why sea-parrots skim and sing over the ocean.
One heck of a folk tale!
I would like to know more about Inuit folktales now as I absolutely loved reading this one with all its amazing artstyle and story telling.
The only thing I couldn't come in terms with was about the book being so short!
Thanks #NetGalley for the copy of #FishBoy
April 18, 2020
Thanks to Vanita Books and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review. Myths, fables and legends are part of all cultures and this is my first reading of an Inuit myth and this childrens book does a great job in teaching kids the lesson and morals of this Inuit story. I also think that the illustrations really match the story, sometimes illustrations can either be too much or not enough, but in his book they really hit the mark. This is the story as to why the sea-parrots (a/k/a puffins) came to be so plentiful in the Inuit islands. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of love, trust, and human anger and jealously.
May 9, 2018
This is a beautiful book with a lovely message: we all have our own strengths and weaknesses.
The illustrations here really set the mood. Don't be misled by the almost cutesy cover -- the illustrations within aren't cute, they're beautiful. Illustrator Mike Blanc does a fantastic job of capturing the arctic cold and the mystic atmosphere of the story.
The story itself is wonderful; Vanita Oelschlager has written a truly magical fable that doesn't shove a moral down your throat. The glossary and other information in the last pages were great additions, and I know a few little ones who love learning new facts presented that way.
I did find I had to go back and reread one section because it seemed at one point that a bunch of characters just suddenly appeared. I never did figure that out, so be cautious reading with ultra-curious, detail-oriented little ones.
Overall, a great read, especially for a 1-book night (it's a little on the long side).
Thank you to NetGalley and Vanita Books for a free electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
The illustrations here really set the mood. Don't be misled by the almost cutesy cover -- the illustrations within aren't cute, they're beautiful. Illustrator Mike Blanc does a fantastic job of capturing the arctic cold and the mystic atmosphere of the story.
The story itself is wonderful; Vanita Oelschlager has written a truly magical fable that doesn't shove a moral down your throat. The glossary and other information in the last pages were great additions, and I know a few little ones who love learning new facts presented that way.
I did find I had to go back and reread one section because it seemed at one point that a bunch of characters just suddenly appeared. I never did figure that out, so be cautious reading with ultra-curious, detail-oriented little ones.
Overall, a great read, especially for a 1-book night (it's a little on the long side).
Thank you to NetGalley and Vanita Books for a free electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2017
I read and reviewed another book from this publisher, which was also an Inuit legend. This one had much more narrative and had a truly fascinating story of fish boy. I spent quite a bit of time studying the illustrations. They are colorful and beautifully detailed. Another great book to expose children to a different culture.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley, for the complimentary copy.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley, for the complimentary copy.
March 26, 2019
This story--heavy on magic and light on logic--tells the story (within a story) of Fish-Boy, who helps his father and his friends. I'd never heard this story before, and I thought it was different and interesting. Kitmesuk, after some initial hesitation, grows to love his new son, an armless little boy with a tail and feet (yes, that's a different twist on the traditional mermaid). And it's Fish-Boy who uses his abilities to help his father out of a tight spot.
I liked the illustrations for the most part. However, I was a bit disappointed that they're not quite in the same style as the cover illustration (Fish-Boy has quite a bit more personality there; I think it's the eyes). But the pictures portray a beautiful, far-north landscape with stunning colour and interesting detail. This is the same illustrator that did Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit, and the pictures here are just as nice.
Quotable moment:
Thank you to NetGalley and Vanita Books for providing a digital ARC.
I liked the illustrations for the most part. However, I was a bit disappointed that they're not quite in the same style as the cover illustration (Fish-Boy has quite a bit more personality there; I think it's the eyes). But the pictures portray a beautiful, far-north landscape with stunning colour and interesting detail. This is the same illustrator that did Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit, and the pictures here are just as nice.
Quotable moment:
Thank you to NetGalley and Vanita Books for providing a digital ARC.
August 31, 2017
I loved this book. A beautiful Inuit folk tale about 'how the sea parrots came to be so numerous' around little island Ignaluk, is narrated in an enchanting way, in this beautifully illustrated book. Its a tale of learning to appreciate beauty of differences, and consequences of not being tolerant...The story is about a fishboy, who has no arms and is half-fish,but can deal with man bigger and stronger than himself..
Many thanks to Netgalley and VanitaBooks,LLC for letting me read this book; written by Vanita Oelschlager and illustrated by Mike Blanc.
Many thanks to Netgalley and VanitaBooks,LLC for letting me read this book; written by Vanita Oelschlager and illustrated by Mike Blanc.
November 28, 2018
This book is a folk tale about why there are so many birds in a certain part of the islands. Great story and great illustrations.
Thank you Netgalley for this beautiful story.
Thank you Netgalley for this beautiful story.
March 22, 2018
An Inuit child accompanies a trading mission to the Diomedes Islands. Out on the ocean, a thick fog falls and obscures their view. When it lifts, the child mistakenly thinks they are heading towards an endless beach of black sand. But it's not land - it's an enormous flock of sea parrots or Atlantic puffins. The wise old Inuit, Teragloona, promises to tell the child the story of how there came to be so many sea parrots when they reach their destination. Later, tucked into a bed of white bearskin, the child is told the story of Fish-Boy.
This is a lovely story about difference and symbiosis. It will give parents and teachers the opportunity to open up discussions about the treatment of strangers, the killing of animals for food and clothing, the environment, and passing on values from one generation to the next. Young readers may struggle a bit with character names at first, but for some of the other unfamiliar language, the author has included a nice little glossary at the end of the book. This book is also exquisitely illustrated by Mike Blanc.
With thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy to read and review.
This is a lovely story about difference and symbiosis. It will give parents and teachers the opportunity to open up discussions about the treatment of strangers, the killing of animals for food and clothing, the environment, and passing on values from one generation to the next. Young readers may struggle a bit with character names at first, but for some of the other unfamiliar language, the author has included a nice little glossary at the end of the book. This book is also exquisitely illustrated by Mike Blanc.
With thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy to read and review.
May 21, 2022
The Arctic region of North America is where this story takes place
A not much known Inuit-folktale forms its inspirational base
It's about a boy who'll change the hearts of all those following his trail
Because there's a beautiful lesson in his wonderful and magical tale*
*pun intended ;-)
***********************
Story
The Arctic region of North America (and Russia) forms the background of this interesting story about the power of kindness and hospitality, which is based on an Inuit folktale and retold by Vanita Oelschlager, a former teacher who was born and raised in Pittsburgh.
This book tells us the origin story of why there are so many sea-parrots (I knew those birds as 'puffins') on the stony islands of the far North.
It might be a little bit confusing for younger children because of the more difficult and resembling names of the characters, the structure of the story (the trade relation with the great hunter Menadluk has not much to do with the actual story and its sole purpose is to offer a frame of reference to introduce the Diomedes Islands and the sea-parrots) and the Inuit terminology. As regards the latter, most of these specific words are explained at the end of the book.
But otherwise this original folktale forms a nice blend between imagination and non-fiction.
Furthermore, it not only contains some good messages about social interaction, but it provides a very good starting point to dive further into different other fields as well.
It certainly made me curious to discover more about:
- geography: where are the Diomedes Islands and why are they called Yesterday Island and Tomorrow Island? (two interesting movies can be found here and here)
- cultural customs: what is an umiak and how is it made? (more about it, can be found here)
- …
Pictures
The beautiful illustrations of Fish-boy (and of many other books published by Vanita Books) are made by Mike Blanc. They are very colourful and vibrant.
Both the drawing style in this book and the very different ones of which you can see a glimpse on his website, make me really curious to discover more books illustrated by this gifted artist.
Vanita Books
A special mention of the publisher is absolutely in order here.
Not only does Vanita Books offer lots of interesting and instructive titles in their catalogue, but they support charities as well. All net profits are donated to The Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis and other charities where "people help people help themselves"..
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 31, Jim Oelschlager founded the not-for-profit Oak Clinic, a facility where MS patients can get help for all aspects of the disease regardless of their ability to pay. His wife Vanita assisted him in these endeavours.
To read about their experiences and about their multiple other donations, just type their names in Google and you'll get an idea of their relentless commitment.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Vanita Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A not much known Inuit-folktale forms its inspirational base
It's about a boy who'll change the hearts of all those following his trail
Because there's a beautiful lesson in his wonderful and magical tale*
*pun intended ;-)
***********************
Story
The Arctic region of North America (and Russia) forms the background of this interesting story about the power of kindness and hospitality, which is based on an Inuit folktale and retold by Vanita Oelschlager, a former teacher who was born and raised in Pittsburgh.
This book tells us the origin story of why there are so many sea-parrots (I knew those birds as 'puffins') on the stony islands of the far North.
It might be a little bit confusing for younger children because of the more difficult and resembling names of the characters, the structure of the story (the trade relation with the great hunter Menadluk has not much to do with the actual story and its sole purpose is to offer a frame of reference to introduce the Diomedes Islands and the sea-parrots) and the Inuit terminology. As regards the latter, most of these specific words are explained at the end of the book.
But otherwise this original folktale forms a nice blend between imagination and non-fiction.
Furthermore, it not only contains some good messages about social interaction, but it provides a very good starting point to dive further into different other fields as well.
It certainly made me curious to discover more about:
- geography: where are the Diomedes Islands and why are they called Yesterday Island and Tomorrow Island? (two interesting movies can be found here and here)
- cultural customs: what is an umiak and how is it made? (more about it, can be found here)
- …
Pictures
The beautiful illustrations of Fish-boy (and of many other books published by Vanita Books) are made by Mike Blanc. They are very colourful and vibrant.
Both the drawing style in this book and the very different ones of which you can see a glimpse on his website, make me really curious to discover more books illustrated by this gifted artist.
Vanita Books
A special mention of the publisher is absolutely in order here.
Not only does Vanita Books offer lots of interesting and instructive titles in their catalogue, but they support charities as well. All net profits are donated to The Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis and other charities where "people help people help themselves"..
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 31, Jim Oelschlager founded the not-for-profit Oak Clinic, a facility where MS patients can get help for all aspects of the disease regardless of their ability to pay. His wife Vanita assisted him in these endeavours.
To read about their experiences and about their multiple other donations, just type their names in Google and you'll get an idea of their relentless commitment.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Vanita Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2019
Fish Boy
Rising up out of the waters of the Bering Strait a boy interrupts a grouchy, preoccupied fisherman with the startling claim that Fish Boy choses him for his own father. This is no ordinary boy. Fish Boy has power and magic that far belie his graceful, armless form. Despite the extraordinariness of this event, the fisherman complies with Fish Boy’s claim. So starts a tale of an Inuit elder’s story around the communal fire told to a youngster in the north sea region and, as we snuggle in, readers. Set in a home land of The Diomedes Islands (Nunarbuk, the Greater island and Ignaluk, the Lesser island) which “float” in The Waters of the Change of Days, this is a delightful origin story of sea parrots (Atlantic Puffin) and how people ought to treat each other.
The folktale is deftly told, with a clever punch at the end, making a reader think twice about the listening boy. I enjoyed the careful explanations of the names and places of each new character as they were introduced. The tension level rises as it appears the fish boy might be hurt, and that is well handled in the roll out of the tale. At the end is a handy “New words for young readers” helpful for young and old readers, along with a message from the author and the artist, both welcome bonuses to an already great book.
The artist’s textured and color-infused style evoked in me a feeling consistent with my imagination’s idea of Inuitness. The child within me was pleased to see the artist’s nod to a child’s self-centric perception – the eyes of the boys are open and seeing – the eyes of the adults are greyed out and seem blind or seem non-seeing. The colors spill across each page, dark and deep for indoor and deepsea environments, and bright with movement for outside and sky views.
I enjoyed this book, and hope to find a copy for my young friends.
Sincere thanks to author Vanita Oelschlager, Vanita Books and NetGalley for a copy of Fish Boy to read and review!
Rising up out of the waters of the Bering Strait a boy interrupts a grouchy, preoccupied fisherman with the startling claim that Fish Boy choses him for his own father. This is no ordinary boy. Fish Boy has power and magic that far belie his graceful, armless form. Despite the extraordinariness of this event, the fisherman complies with Fish Boy’s claim. So starts a tale of an Inuit elder’s story around the communal fire told to a youngster in the north sea region and, as we snuggle in, readers. Set in a home land of The Diomedes Islands (Nunarbuk, the Greater island and Ignaluk, the Lesser island) which “float” in The Waters of the Change of Days, this is a delightful origin story of sea parrots (Atlantic Puffin) and how people ought to treat each other.
The folktale is deftly told, with a clever punch at the end, making a reader think twice about the listening boy. I enjoyed the careful explanations of the names and places of each new character as they were introduced. The tension level rises as it appears the fish boy might be hurt, and that is well handled in the roll out of the tale. At the end is a handy “New words for young readers” helpful for young and old readers, along with a message from the author and the artist, both welcome bonuses to an already great book.
The artist’s textured and color-infused style evoked in me a feeling consistent with my imagination’s idea of Inuitness. The child within me was pleased to see the artist’s nod to a child’s self-centric perception – the eyes of the boys are open and seeing – the eyes of the adults are greyed out and seem blind or seem non-seeing. The colors spill across each page, dark and deep for indoor and deepsea environments, and bright with movement for outside and sky views.
I enjoyed this book, and hope to find a copy for my young friends.
Sincere thanks to author Vanita Oelschlager, Vanita Books and NetGalley for a copy of Fish Boy to read and review!
August 20, 2017
This is a wonderful Inuit tale with the main character, me, telling how he or she learned the story of how the Sea parrots (puffins) came to be.
Very easy to read and understand, as the main character hears the story from the elder, and learns about their origin.
I bring up that it is easy to understand, because to the Western, European ear, many Indiginous peoples' myths sound odd, and confusing. We are used to the homogenized Greek and Roman myths, that all make "sense" to us, and are logical, and why can't all myths make sense like that. Heck, if everyone though that same, think how dull things would be.
I bring up that this book is easy to understand and totally accessible, because the first time I read a Inuit myth, when I was a mere child, I got every confused. It is the myth of Sedna, the goddess of sea animals, who grew the sea creatures felon her cut off fingers. To me, at the time,t hat made no sense. To me, as an adult, it makes about as much sense as any other myth.
So, with the delightful pictures, and the delightful story, I hope we get more Inuit tales, just as good as this one.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Very easy to read and understand, as the main character hears the story from the elder, and learns about their origin.
I bring up that it is easy to understand, because to the Western, European ear, many Indiginous peoples' myths sound odd, and confusing. We are used to the homogenized Greek and Roman myths, that all make "sense" to us, and are logical, and why can't all myths make sense like that. Heck, if everyone though that same, think how dull things would be.
I bring up that this book is easy to understand and totally accessible, because the first time I read a Inuit myth, when I was a mere child, I got every confused. It is the myth of Sedna, the goddess of sea animals, who grew the sea creatures felon her cut off fingers. To me, at the time,t hat made no sense. To me, as an adult, it makes about as much sense as any other myth.
So, with the delightful pictures, and the delightful story, I hope we get more Inuit tales, just as good as this one.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
September 26, 2020
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Fish boy is an Inuit folk tale told as a story within a story. The book starts with a young boy being told the folk tale of how there came to be so many sea parrots on an island they are visiting.
This folk tale is full of magic and very disbelievable but lovely non the less. Children will delight in some parts of this story.
Fish boy is an Inuit folk tale told as a story within a story. The book starts with a young boy being told the folk tale of how there came to be so many sea parrots on an island they are visiting.
This folk tale is full of magic and very disbelievable but lovely non the less. Children will delight in some parts of this story.
September 28, 2018
This beautiful book for children is born from an inuit story that the author wanted to share with the world of readers. The legend is told to a child and is accompanied by numerous illustrations.
What I liked the most are the illustrations: they have magnificent colors, pure and powerful, as pure is the story. The story is about nature, courage, enthusiasm, friendship, love for the world and for animals.
The story transports us to the border between USA and Russia, where the island in which the story takes place is located. I was surprised by the beauty of the drawings and the musicality of the words chosen by the author. Colors are powerful, impressive, warm and cold depending on the time of day.
There's a bit of magic and a little bit of morality, two things I've always liked in children's books. There are many lessons to learn, such as kindness and hospitality.
A very good book.
*I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
What I liked the most are the illustrations: they have magnificent colors, pure and powerful, as pure is the story. The story is about nature, courage, enthusiasm, friendship, love for the world and for animals.
The story transports us to the border between USA and Russia, where the island in which the story takes place is located. I was surprised by the beauty of the drawings and the musicality of the words chosen by the author. Colors are powerful, impressive, warm and cold depending on the time of day.
There's a bit of magic and a little bit of morality, two things I've always liked in children's books. There are many lessons to learn, such as kindness and hospitality.
A very good book.
*I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
November 10, 2017
An interesting tale - with an amusing ending. Well, at least I thought so.
The art was perfect for the story. I think this would capture the imagination of a child in early elementary school. Too bad my kids are now a bit older than this.
I love the encouragement at the end to tell a story. We forget how important stories are.
And at the end there is also a good section of definitions of words that were in the book. And there are some good teaching points on a different number of issues covered - if you didn’t think about them while reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Vanita Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
The art was perfect for the story. I think this would capture the imagination of a child in early elementary school. Too bad my kids are now a bit older than this.
I love the encouragement at the end to tell a story. We forget how important stories are.
And at the end there is also a good section of definitions of words that were in the book. And there are some good teaching points on a different number of issues covered - if you didn’t think about them while reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Vanita Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
November 11, 2020
Vanita has a delightful talent for storytelling and has made great use of her talents with the retelling of this magical Innuit folktale.
The soft and smooth lines created by Mike Blanc were captivating and allowed the ambience to unfold beautifully across the pages.
This was such a wonderful way to teach tiny humans (and full grown humans as well) that kindness is a trait everyone should possess.
Thank you NetGalley and Vanita Books for this DRC.
The soft and smooth lines created by Mike Blanc were captivating and allowed the ambience to unfold beautifully across the pages.
This was such a wonderful way to teach tiny humans (and full grown humans as well) that kindness is a trait everyone should possess.
Thank you NetGalley and Vanita Books for this DRC.
April 20, 2018
This beautifully illustrated folk-tale was new to me, as many Inuit tales are unfamiliar. I can see how it would fit into a unit of creation tales from native Americans, and this will broaden my collection to other tribes. (Since I live in upstate NY, we have many tales from the Iroquois, Mohawk, etc, but not as many from tribes that are not native to our region.)
September 1, 2017
4 helms
Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages
(www.vellumvoyages.com)
Cute little Inuit story by Vanita Oelschlager. Never really heard of this author but thought it would be interesting to request the book on NetGalley. Glad I did as I discovered a new author and Vanita Books (Vanita’s publishing house) donates 100% of its proceeds to The Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis which is such a generous and worthy cause!
Fish-Boy is a children’s book, told in a style of an Inuit folklore tale (unsure if this folk tale is a real one or not?) which brings up themes of friendship, kindness and hospitality. Great as a bedtime story for the kids or as a great teaching tool for teachers. A nice storyline with important and strong morals and values. There are discussion points towards the end of the book too which are great as reminders to discuss the story with the kids. Beautiful illustrations with bold and striking colours which are easy on the eyes and a pleasure to look at. Lovely hand drawn maps of the Diomedes Islands and St. Lawrence Island is also included to showcase the land of the Inuits.
Having travelled to Finnish Lapland earlier on this year, my husband and I got a chance to learn a little about the Sami people (indigenous Finno-Ugric people) and their culture. We were also lucky enough to catch Arctic Odyssey at the Finland National Theatre, a combination of cross-border artists from different parts of the Arctic region who banded together to reflect and share their experiences and memories. A combination of Inuit masked dance, Arctic songs, modern Sami poetry and Chukchi myths brought awareness of such fragile cultures to the interest of adults.
Luckily for the kids they don’t have to wait long to be educated about the Inuits, as Vanita brings a part of the Arctic north into your children’s world through this story raising awareness of the Inuit people and their folklore combined with important strong themes to make this book a must-have in your children’s library.
*Thank-you Vanita Oelschlager, Netgalley & Vanita Books for the ARC.
Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages
(www.vellumvoyages.com)
Cute little Inuit story by Vanita Oelschlager. Never really heard of this author but thought it would be interesting to request the book on NetGalley. Glad I did as I discovered a new author and Vanita Books (Vanita’s publishing house) donates 100% of its proceeds to The Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis which is such a generous and worthy cause!
Fish-Boy is a children’s book, told in a style of an Inuit folklore tale (unsure if this folk tale is a real one or not?) which brings up themes of friendship, kindness and hospitality. Great as a bedtime story for the kids or as a great teaching tool for teachers. A nice storyline with important and strong morals and values. There are discussion points towards the end of the book too which are great as reminders to discuss the story with the kids. Beautiful illustrations with bold and striking colours which are easy on the eyes and a pleasure to look at. Lovely hand drawn maps of the Diomedes Islands and St. Lawrence Island is also included to showcase the land of the Inuits.
Having travelled to Finnish Lapland earlier on this year, my husband and I got a chance to learn a little about the Sami people (indigenous Finno-Ugric people) and their culture. We were also lucky enough to catch Arctic Odyssey at the Finland National Theatre, a combination of cross-border artists from different parts of the Arctic region who banded together to reflect and share their experiences and memories. A combination of Inuit masked dance, Arctic songs, modern Sami poetry and Chukchi myths brought awareness of such fragile cultures to the interest of adults.
Luckily for the kids they don’t have to wait long to be educated about the Inuits, as Vanita brings a part of the Arctic north into your children’s world through this story raising awareness of the Inuit people and their folklore combined with important strong themes to make this book a must-have in your children’s library.
*Thank-you Vanita Oelschlager, Netgalley & Vanita Books for the ARC.
March 10, 2019
Thank you Net Galley for the book to review.
This is a nice cultural tale. I wonder if this is a true folk tale that is shared among the Inuit people. I love at the end of the book how it breaks down for the reader the moral of the story.
Example: Elder guidance, hospitality, killing for food and clothes, how to treat people that look differently than you etc.
10% of the profits for the book go towards treatment of MS. The illustrations were colorful and beautiful. Enjoyed this book and would possibly purchase it.
Inuit Folk Tale about a man who was lame and couldn’t hunt so he fished. He was such a great fisherman that he was able to sell his fish for meat. One day he went fishing and he was having a hard time fishing when finally he saw something in the water. It was a fish boy. The fishboy became the fisherman’s son and helped the village with catching fish. Other villages heard of the fishboy and wanted the him to visit and helped them with their fishing. The visiting village thought the boy was evil and chased the villagers away and to escape the villagers put the discarded beaks in their mouths and became birds. The wicked villagers turned into birds also. When the villagers returned home they were turned back into humans and the mean villagers remained birds. Which has the moral lesson of be kind to your guests.
This is a nice cultural tale. I wonder if this is a true folk tale that is shared among the Inuit people. I love at the end of the book how it breaks down for the reader the moral of the story.
Example: Elder guidance, hospitality, killing for food and clothes, how to treat people that look differently than you etc.
10% of the profits for the book go towards treatment of MS. The illustrations were colorful and beautiful. Enjoyed this book and would possibly purchase it.
Inuit Folk Tale about a man who was lame and couldn’t hunt so he fished. He was such a great fisherman that he was able to sell his fish for meat. One day he went fishing and he was having a hard time fishing when finally he saw something in the water. It was a fish boy. The fishboy became the fisherman’s son and helped the village with catching fish. Other villages heard of the fishboy and wanted the him to visit and helped them with their fishing. The visiting village thought the boy was evil and chased the villagers away and to escape the villagers put the discarded beaks in their mouths and became birds. The wicked villagers turned into birds also. When the villagers returned home they were turned back into humans and the mean villagers remained birds. Which has the moral lesson of be kind to your guests.
October 23, 2017
Fish-Boy is an Inuit Folktale told as a story-within-a-story. A young boy listens to one of his elders tell the story of how there came to be so many sea-parrots (Atlantic Puffins) near the water that surrounds the islands. It is also the story of fish-boy, his adopted father and the villagers that treated them badly. As folktales usually do, there is a moral to this story about hospitality and treating strangers kindly. The story is well told in the oral storytelling way, but the illustrations are what really sold me on this book. Mike Blanc uses bright colours in a smudged way. The backgrounds showed the Arctic landscape and the expressions on the face of fish-boy shared a lot of emotion. The glossary and teaching points at the back of the book make it a great choice to use when teaching a lesson on fables and folktales as well as multi-cultural aspect and positive character traits (hospitality, elder treatment, kindness, acceptance of differently abled people etc.) This book is geared to older children (ages 8 and up) and would make a great addition to a school, class or public library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
October 13, 2018
I love the art on every page, which immerses us fully in the frozen north, with icy water, puffins or sea parrots, Native communities and polite customs.
A boy who doesn't walk like everyone else accompanies his father in a canoe on a journey. On the way he learns the legend of the Fish-Boy and how people who helped him prospered while those who were unkind came to a sticky end. Good principles include hospitality, respect for elders, appreciating the contribution of those less able, and how different communities survive extreme climates.
This short book will be enjoyed by kids and adults. Great to spark class or family discussions.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
A boy who doesn't walk like everyone else accompanies his father in a canoe on a journey. On the way he learns the legend of the Fish-Boy and how people who helped him prospered while those who were unkind came to a sticky end. Good principles include hospitality, respect for elders, appreciating the contribution of those less able, and how different communities survive extreme climates.
This short book will be enjoyed by kids and adults. Great to spark class or family discussions.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
July 16, 2019
🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠
Fish-Boy tells an Inuit folk tale with beautiful art and poet text. It is the story of a very special boy gifted in friendship who journeys with his new father. On their travels they experience many hardships and unwelcoming villagers. Teaches lessons of hospitality, kindness and living with an open heart. 5/5
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Vanita Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Fish-Boy tells an Inuit folk tale with beautiful art and poet text. It is the story of a very special boy gifted in friendship who journeys with his new father. On their travels they experience many hardships and unwelcoming villagers. Teaches lessons of hospitality, kindness and living with an open heart. 5/5
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Vanita Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
September 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Vanita Books for the ARC.
Vanita Oelschlager did it again! Honestly her children's books are great.
The art by Mike Blanc is stunning, I am especially in awe of that map on the first two pages. Beautiful. I always do love a fantastic book filled with art.
This story is set in the Arctic region of North America. The Inuit people talk of unbelievable folk tales to explain the mysteries of our world.
In Fish-Boy: An Inuit Folk Tale, Oelschlager, Vanita tells us a story that was passed down by a wise Inuit elder. It's a story with a little magic and a boy on a journey with his father.
Can I just repeat myself about the whole art thing? The art is just soft and digital all at once, it reminds me of some of my favourite kid's books from the 90s that were vintage because my mum collected them. The art done in a lot of vintage children's books are intricate in their details and sense of softness that every child needs.
Can we talk about how well this is written, just for a moment? It's obvious research has been done, and it's obvious there is passion about the subject in this children's book. I can imagine, right now, seeing a mother reading this to her children as they trace the art with their hands.
The overall point to the plot/story was a good one, one that will teach children to be kind and care for one another.
This is my favourite book so far, from Vanita. Absolutely wholesome.
Vanita Oelschlager did it again! Honestly her children's books are great.
The art by Mike Blanc is stunning, I am especially in awe of that map on the first two pages. Beautiful. I always do love a fantastic book filled with art.
This story is set in the Arctic region of North America. The Inuit people talk of unbelievable folk tales to explain the mysteries of our world.
In Fish-Boy: An Inuit Folk Tale, Oelschlager, Vanita tells us a story that was passed down by a wise Inuit elder. It's a story with a little magic and a boy on a journey with his father.
Can I just repeat myself about the whole art thing? The art is just soft and digital all at once, it reminds me of some of my favourite kid's books from the 90s that were vintage because my mum collected them. The art done in a lot of vintage children's books are intricate in their details and sense of softness that every child needs.
Can we talk about how well this is written, just for a moment? It's obvious research has been done, and it's obvious there is passion about the subject in this children's book. I can imagine, right now, seeing a mother reading this to her children as they trace the art with their hands.
The overall point to the plot/story was a good one, one that will teach children to be kind and care for one another.
This is my favourite book so far, from Vanita. Absolutely wholesome.
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