Go Home, River by James Magdanz
illustrated by Dianne Widom
This is the simple story of a young boy's first time traveling with his family to a fair to trade, but it is also so much more. The author imagined what such a trip would have been like for an Inupiat family in 1875, before European contact.
The boy's experiences are awe-inspiring, but told in a quiet gentle voice. We learn a great deal about the natural life in their home and the water cycle (though without the scientific terms like evaporation).
The illustrations are based on painting using octopus ink and are wonderful. Even without a lot of color, they make me want to travel in the far north.
