Kami and the Yaks

by Andrea Stenn Stryer, Bert Dodson (Illustrator)

Just before the start of a new trek, a Sherpa family discovers that their yaks are missing. Young Kami, anxious to help his brother and father maintain their livelihood, sets off by himself to find the wandering herd. A spunky deaf child who is unable to speak, Kami attempts to summon the yaks with his shrill whistle. Failing to rout them, he hustles up the steep mountainside to search the yaks' favorite grazing spots. On the way he encounters the rumblings of a fierce storm which quickly becomes more threatening. Surmounting his fear of being alone in the midst of treacherous lightning and hail, Kami uses his heightened sense of observation to finally locate the yaks. Reunited with their animals, the astonished family is once again able to transport their gear and guide the mountain climbers into the majestic terrain.

Genres: Picture Books, Disability, Animals, Family, Cultural, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sara the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful children's book about a young boy named Kami who lives with his family in Nepal. His father and older brother are sherpas but, being deaf, Kami is seen more as a hindrance than a help. When the families yaks going missing right in the middle of a terrible storm only Kami, who knows the animals best, is able to find them but how can he convince his father and brother?

This is gorgeous to look at, a wonderful story, and a fascinating window into a part of the world no one in my family really knew anything about. There's also a really interesting afterword that goes into the lives of sherpas and elaborates beautifully on the level of intelligence and dedication it takes to lives in this part of the world.

I love that Stryer is able to convey so much with such a simple story. Kami's journey will be familiar to many children despite the somewhat unusual location. We are all looking for respect and acceptance from those we love and we all struggle in different ways. Its incredibly powerful to see Kami's father realize how valuable Kami is to the family, that he is more than just a disabled child who needs to be watched over.

Bert Dodson's watercolors are just plain beautiful. They're perfectly suited to a story set atop high, cloudy mountains and stormy skies. I'm always impressed when a water color artist is able to attain such a high level of detail as Dodson does, especially in Kami and his families facial expressions. There's a wonderful image of Kami's father hugging him that conveys a really profound level of joy, love and fierce pride. There's a sense of timelessness to Dodson's work, I kept thinking of the ancient Chinese scroll paintings I've seen in museums. Obviously this is very fitting given how long Kami's people have lived and worked in the mountains.

This is very much worth reading and sharing with your own little (and not so little) ones.

[Jessica Trujillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kami and the Yaks written by Andrea Stenn Stryer and illustrated by Bert Dodson tells the story of a boy, Kami, who tries to help his family by setting out on a journey to retrieve their missing yaks. Along the way, Kami faces many struggles, but his determination and will keep him pushing forward to save his family’s livelihood.

According to Children’s Literature, Briefly, a quality text is when the author uses varied language and well-constructed literary elements to fully encompass the reader in the world of the story. Andrea Stenn Stryer uses varied language which consists of sensory details that make the audience feel as if they were on the journey with Kami. For example, during the night where there is a thunderstorm, Stryer describes not only Kami seeing the light from a lightning bolt, but also the smell that came from it as well. This is just one of many examples of the author using descriptive language and sensory details to fully submerge her audience in this story.

For teacher interested in using this well-written book in their classroom, here is a link for a read-aloud which can be projected on your Smart Board. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxQqb...

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winner of the 2008 Schneider Family Book Award for best picture book depicting a disability. Kami lives in the Himalayas and is deaf. What surprised me in this book is that he uses no formal sign language, such as ASL, to communicate. I guess I just assumed that sign language was everywhere. He does manage to communicate, but using his own made-up signs.

I enjoyed this story about how he proved to his father and brother that he could be useful and resourceful, even though he is deaf. I hope someone invents a formal sign language for the deaf people of the Himalayas, so that they can fully participate in their culture and won't be looked upon as useless and unintelligent.

I also liked the way the author so vividly depicted the harsh environment of the Himalayas. The author's note about the Sherpa culture at the end of the book was appreciated.
Recommended for a peek into what it's like to be deaf in another culture!

[Amanda]

Meet Kami, a child who is deaf, but anxious to help his brother and father maintain their livelihood. Do you think Kami ends up saving the day? Follow along and see just what Kami can do. Kami is a great example of a multidimensional character. A multidimensional character is a strong literacy character that is complex and varied in presentation (Kleepcamp, Disability in Children’s Picturebooks). What this means is that a humanizing text will include a character with a disability. Kami is an intelligent working boy, even though he can’t speak, he is more than aware of his surroundings. For example, on page 19 we see Kami using gestures and his body language to communicate to his father and brother. This shows how Kami fits the category of being a multidimensional character because his disability does not stop him from being the intelligent person he is. This book also does not victimize Kami, Kami is shown for who he really is and not just his disability. If you like this book, I suggest this book for fourth grade.

[Sean Congemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family of Sherpa realize that their most valuable possession, the yaks, have not come back. In hopes of helping his family, a young deaf boy, Kami, sets out to find the them. Using his other heightened senses, Kami locates the yaks but cannot convince his father to take him seriously with his gestures since he cannot speak. Kami's will power fuels the story and in the end, Kami helps his father get the Yaks back. One of the main themes in this book is stereotype. Kami's father did not take him seriously at first because he was deaf and could not speak, but if it wasn't for Kami, the Yaks might not have ever of been found. This just goes to show that we are all equal, and we can all help, even if you have a disability. The illustrations in this book have lots of detail. To the rocky cliffs, or the landscape in general, the illustrations really put a picture in your head of where Kami and his family are from.

[Maddie Hasemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kami and the Yaks" is a wonderful picture book! The story focuses on a young boy, Kami, searching for the yaks that roam the mountains, but on this particular day, he discovers that one of them is stuck. He rushed back home to get help from his father and brother to explain the problem, but he struggled to communicate because he is deaf. After many attempts, his family finally understands and rescues the yak. "Kami and the Yaks" won the Schneider Family Book award with its story of Kami's experience with deafness and the theme of perseverance. The detailed illustrations capture the setting of the story, the Himalayan mountains in Nepal nearly 500 years ago. Under the genre of fiction, this story is a must-have for any classroom! Students can read an entertaining story, yet learn from it. Overall, the story was engaging and a fantastic read!

[Makenna Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kami and the Yaks is a children’s picture book. The author is Andrea Steen and the illustrator is Bert Dodson. The plot of the book is written about a young boy named Kami who lives in the Himalayas mountains. The story talks about his determination to help provide for his family. Kami is determined to help find his family some yaks. Along the way he faces hardships and challenges. The themes in this book are friendship, loyalty, and courage. Kami's courage and bravery helps lead him to his end goal. This book is a group read because it entertains the audience while introducing the importance of animals and nature. The illustrations are gentle and soft but still tell a story. One of my favorite spreads is when it’s snowing. This stands out to me because it gives the audience a realistic image of Kami on his journey.

[Sophia Paschal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you scared of storms? “Kami and the Yaks” is about a deaf boy named Kami who wants to help his family. The setting of the book is the Himalayan Mountains. The conflict is that during a storm, the family's yaks go missing. The illustrations on pages 7-8 show the moment that Kai realized the yaks were gone and without hesitation went to search for them. The young boy set off in the middle of a storm despite being afraid. Then on pages 13-14, the spread shows Kami finding the yaks after searching through the storm. The theme of this book is that disabilities do not make someone incapable of achieving something or being successful. This realistic fiction book won the Schneider Family Book Award. This is a great motivational read, don’t miss out.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this as part of our Nepal study. We loved that the main character is deaf (not something we find represented very often in children's picture books) and that the book embraces and illustrates part of the Nepalese community and way of life.

Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Himalayas, a young deaf Sherpa boy named Kami searches for his family’s missing yaks during the early morning dark. Kami’s father and brother need the yaks by sunrise for work, but they are looking in the wrong spot. With his whistle, Kami finally locates the yaks in the blustery storm. Can Kami get the yaks home before sunrise? This picture book is filled with stunning watercolour illustrations of mountains and animals.

[Ashtin Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sweet and calming. It’s about a boy named Kami who is deaf and lives in the Himalayas with his family. When their yaks go missing before a storm Kami uses his skills to help find them. I liked how the story showed him as capable and brave without making a big deal out of the fact that he’s deaf. The pictures are beautiful and really bring the setting to life. It’s a quiet but powerful story about courage and communication, as well as family.

[Abby Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at Kami, a young book who wanted to help out his family find their yaks. Kami is deaf and shows the length to which he was willing to go to bring the yaks home! This story is unbelievable and heart warming of how Kami persevered and did what he set out to do, a good example for young children.

[Collin A · Rating 3 out of 5]

they say that when you lose a sense that you gain it somewhere else and it is enhanced. I think this is a classic casse of that and what leads them to finding their missing yaks. The pictures were different and i really enjoyed that about the book. sometimes non traditional pictures. I think that everybody needs to learn about disabilities.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kami is the younger child in a Sherpa family. He's also deaf. That doesn't keep him from searching for his family's missing yaks.

Love the Asian feel to the illustrations and how persistent Kami is in his search.

[Gavin McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Kami must help his family by herding the yaks. One of the themes of the book is disability as Kami is deaf. The book is about achieving against obstacles. Published April 1st, 2007. Schneider Family Book. Fiction.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely picture book about a young deaf boy from a family of Sherpas in the Himalayas. A touching story about one boy's persistance saving the day. An interesting introduction to both Nepalese culture and persevering dispite limitations. Plus, my daughter thought the littlest yak was cute.

[Lindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was unlike anything that I had ever read before. The book was long, the illustrations were beautiful, and the plot was quirky.

[Mark]

COCC

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The deaf culture references were very limited. I liked the bit of adventure included, but this is not a must-read. The illustrations are very well done and kept my attention.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to teach children about the Shirpa lifestyle in the high mountains. I loved the beautiful photos as well. I wanted more details and stories when I was done reading this book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kami is a deaf boy who goes looking for his father's missing yaks. A happy ending!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and beautiful illustrations

[Jenny Kwon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kami and the Yaks is about a little boy named Kami who is deaf. Kami, his father, and his uncle all live in the mountains where their job is to care for the people on the mountains and its animals. One rainy day, Kami realizes that the yaks went missing and it is his mission to find them before a bad thunderstorm hits. When he finally finds the yaks, he realizes that one of the yaks has its leg stuck in the crevice of two heavy rocks. He rushes to tell his father and uncle but struggles to do so because he is unable to speak. Standing in front of them, he tries his best to demonstrate and use body language. His father had no idea what he was trying to say but his uncle understood. Together, they all run up the mountain to save the yak.

This book will be very interesting to children. The descriptive text allows for children to understand the rich plot behind it. It also includes a very rich problem with a resolution that children would love. The illustrations are colorful, but most importantly, corresponds very well to the text on each page. The illustrations would allow children to guess what’s going on in the story even if the text was not read. Children would fully be able to see the struggles that a deaf person experiences through Kami. It was portrayed very well without Kami’s life being oversimplified.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kami, the hero of our story, is a deaf boy who manages to save his family's yaks from an approaching storm. I liked that the hero was deaf, and liked even more that Andrea Stenn Stryer didn't make a big deal out of this--it was just part of who Kami was. Ultimately, the story is about communication. Kami needs help in order to save the yaks, and he has to communicate to his father that the yaks are in danger, and he has to communicate the nature of the danger that they're in.

My niece and nephew both liked this book, and I think that's because the struggle to communicate to and with adults is something that all children experience at various points in their lives. They appreciated Kami's resourcefulness and success in figuring out how to communicate with his father, and they appreciated that Kami's father also appreciated Kami's resourcefulness and success. It feels good to be successful, and even better to be understood and valued.

Oh, and lovely illustrations, too!

[Hayle Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this picture book! It was rich in many aspects; I really enjoyed it. The illustrations were very detailed, and I think all readers would enjoy this story. This book had a great story. I thought it was great that the author incorporated a little boy with a disability, because there will always be a child out there that can relate to his story in one form or another. Another aspect that I enjoyed about the book is that it was original, I have never read a book of this sort before. The illustrations also helped the entire book come to life, which is very important to do in children’s books. I will one day read this book to my class, and then have a discussion about what the children thought, what stood out to them?

Stenn-Strver, A. (2007) Kami and the yaks. Palo Alto, California: Bay Otter Press.

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kami is a young Sherpa boy who lives in the Himalayas. His family takes care of a heard of Yaks, which are used for carrying packs for mountain climbers (among other things, I'm sure). One day, Kami, who is deaf, realizes that the yaks have not come back from the mountains. Despite a brewing storm, Kami goes to find them. A neat story on persistance and bravely, and beautifully illustrated in sepias and blues. A couple times, the text was a bit lost, especially the white text on a lighter or "busy" background. It's not a problem with a single, or one-on-one read, but may make this book a bit of a challenge for a larger storytime.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so early in the morning that the sun isn't even up yet. Kami's father and brother have gone to retrieve the yaks so they can load them up for travel. A problem arises: where are the yaks? They are nowhere to be seen. Kami thinks he might be able to find them. He blows his whistle to see if that brings them in. When that doesn't work he begins to walk, trying all of the yaks favorite places. He finally finds them in a valley behind the crags. Success! All the yaks are there. However, the smallest one has a leg stuck between two large rocks. Kami runs back to get his father and brother and lead them to the yaks. Kami does all this by himself, despite the fact that he's deaf.

[Nicole Holloway]

This book is about a boy who helps to find his family's four yaks that they need to make a living. His father and brother were off trying to find them and Kami wanted to help to find them. He ends up finding the yaks and making his father and brother very proud. Andrea Stenn Stryer does a great job in making the story very suspenseful and keeping the readers trying to guess what will happen next. This book does a great job at leaving the readers feeling like they can do great things even when they may have weaknesses or things that might keep them from helping. It is very inspiring and uplifting.

[Kristyan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful tale about a Sherpa boy named Kami and his family in the Himalayas. Kami is a special boy because although he is deaf, he still manages to work and help his father to find the yaks that go missing during a storm. This is a very interesting story that introduces readers to a seldom-referenced culture while teaching them to overcome limitations. I appreciate the author's note at the end of the book about the history and lifestyle of the Sherpa people, and I would read this book to my social studies students during a lesson on Himalayan culture.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Young Kami and his family are sherpas. Their lives depend on their yaks. Kami's father and older brother are about to head out on a trek but the yaks are missing. Kami thinks he knows where they are - but every place he looks turns up empty. A storm is approaching and Kami knows he must find them soon -- finally! There they are! But there's a problem - one of the young yaks has his leg caught. So Kami must rush home to get help. AND try to make his father and brother understand him.