Tom McLeod

The first in The Land Is Our Storybook collection, a projected ten-book series exploring the land and peoples of Canada's Northwest Territories, The Delta Is My Home is narrated by eleven-year-old Tom McLeod, a young Gwich-in and Inuvialuktun boy from Aklavik, a small town located in the Mackenzie Delta.

Copiously illustrated with color photographs, a map, and some of Tom's own drawings, and containing many informational asides, this brief, 26-page book follows Tom as he shares the story of some of the activities of his community. From hunting with his father Ian, a renewable resource officer and member of the Gwich'in Land Use Planning Board, to attending Moose Kerr School with his sister Ocean, Tom's days are full and happy. Great emphasis is placed on treating the land with respect, and using resources responsibly, but readers should be aware that hunting and fishing are an essential component of life in the north, and are treated as positive aspects of the culture.

I was excited to discover this series, not only because it provides a window into communities with which young Canadian and American readers may be unfamiliar, but because each installment is told from the native perspective. These aren't books about First Nations peoples, but books by them, and that makes them a valuable cultural resource for children's libraries!… (mehr)