Tanna's owl

In an unnamed Inuit community, Tanna is given a baby owl. It's not the cutest animal she's seen, but she takes raising Ukpik (Inuit for snowy owl ) seriously. She gets up at 4 a.m. to feed it; she catches lemmings for it to gobble; and she lifts it into the sky so that it might feel the sensation of flight. As the summer draws to a close, Tanna returns to school, leaving Ukpik behind with her father. By the time she comes back home, the owl has grown and flown away. Despite an occasionally awkward turn of phrase, this story gives a well-rounded picture of caring for a wild animal that doesn't diminish the hard or unpleasant aspects of that experience shown to great effect in Kang's simple yet expressive illustrations. However, it also reinforces the Inuit belief that no one owns an animal. Based on Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley's own childhood experience, this #OwnVoices story accessibly incorporates aspects of the authors' Inuit-Cree (Rachel) and Scottish-Mowhawk (Sean) ancestry and expertise in Arctic traditions.--Julia Smith Copyright 2020 Booklist

When Tanna's father brings a lone baby owl to their home, Tanna discovers how much work it is to care for it.One summer, Father returns from a hunting trip with an abandoned baby owl that needs care. Even though "it's somehow cute," Tanna is not impressed, particularly when she has to get up before dawn to catch lemmings for the owl to eat. Inside the house Tanna also has to line the floor with newspapers because Ukpik, as she names the owl, poops often. As time goes by, Ukpik demands more and more food, and Tanna and her siblings grow tired of catching lemmings as it grows and loses its cuteness. When summer ends, Tanna has to go away to school, and although she worries about the unfledged owlet, she is "happy not to get up at 4:00 a.m." When she returns home the following summer, Tanna is in for a big surprise. The heartwarming text is based on Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley's (Inuit-Cree) own childhood experiences, according to an opening note, including a stint in residential schools that is mentioned only glancingly in the story. (Sean Qitsuallik-Tinsley is of Scottish-Mohawk descent.) The backmatter gives readers more information about the authors and includes Inuktitut pronunciation guidance. Kang's use of a soft, muted palette pairs well with the text to make the story come alive for readers.Ably demonstrates to young readers the value of doing a difficult but important job. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.