Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

By: Robin Currie
Illustrated by: Phyllis Saroff
Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN: 978-1628558791
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: October 12, 2016

Winter is coming and the arctic animals have to get ready. Soon the sun will go down for three months and it will get very, very cold. Like the other animals, Tuktuk the collared lemming needs to find a way to stay warm. What will he do?

One day, Tuktuk hears a commotion outside his burrow. Poking his head out of his hole, he sees a sled, pulled by dogs rushing by. As it glides along, it hits a bump and a furry kamik (waterproof boot) falls off the sled. Tuktuk waits for the dogs and sled to disappear across the snow and then he hurries over to the boot. The fur-lined boot will be perfect in his nest and will keep him warm and cozy all winter. But as he starts to drag the boot toward his burrow, Putak the polar bear spots him and declares that the boot will be perfect for him. How will Tuktuk outwit the big, powerful polar bear? And what about the other animals getting ready for winter? They too, will want the boot. Tuktuk will have to think quickly if he wants to keep the boot for his burrow.

Arbordale Publishing has become synonymous with quality, educational books that are carefully wrapped up in fun stories that children will want to read. Tuktuk is no exception to this and like the other books from this publisher, the illustrations are amazing and add so much to the story. Children will love following along with Tuktuk to see if he can outwit the polar bear, fox and caribou. At the back of the book are four pages “For Creative Minds” that include information on “Polar Seasons,” “Arctic Skies,” “Arctic Vocabulary” and “Life in the Cold.” If you haven’t yet checked out these books, be sure to pick up Tuktuk for your little one or classroom – I’m sure you’ll be hooked.

Quill says: A beautiful book full of facts and entertainment.