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corncobwebs's review against another edition
My favorite part was when the giant throws the polar bear into the ocean - it was unexpectedly hilarious.
elizabethlk's review against another edition
4.0
On The Shoulder of a Giant (the next book in my quest to read as much Inhabit Media as I can get) is based on a traditional Inuit story that I am familiar with, but have not read a full version of, until now. An arctic giant adopts a hunter as his son, believing he is a small child. The story is incredibly cute and full of adventure, and the illustrations are adorable.
I definitely recommend this one for all ages.
I definitely recommend this one for all ages.
canada_matt's review
4.0
In this wonderful retelling of an Inuit folktale, the author tells of Inukpak, a massive giant who roams around the Arctic. He wades through the water and fishes for whales with his bare hands, in search of all the North has to offer. When he encounters a human, he immediately takes him to be a child and adopts him as his own. This man, a hunter by trade, is so baffled that he is unsure what do to, other than listen to the mighty Inukpak. They traverse the North and find themselves in many adventures. These extensive travels might explain how so many different Northern communities have their own giant folktales, which differ slightly, but are bound together by a common GIANT thread. Neo liked learning a little more about this story, especially since it differs greatly from much of the tales we have read together. While I am not sure if there are English translations of all the varied tales, if I can find some, I am sure we will have fun devouring them.
kesterbird's review
5.0
This story is delightfully absurd, and the telling doesn't back away from that. Extra points for the notes in the back
elizabethlk's review
4.0
On The Shoulder of a Giant (the next book in my quest to read as much Inhabit Media as I can get) is based on a traditional Inuit story that I am familiar with, but have not read a full version of, until now. An arctic giant adopts a hunter as his son, believing he is a small child. The story is incredibly cute and full of adventure, and the illustrations are adorable.
I definitely recommend this one for all ages.
I definitely recommend this one for all ages.
tashrow's review
4.0
Based on a traditional Inuit folktale, this picture book shows what happens when a massive giant takes an interest in a small human. Inukpak was big even for a giant. When he walked across the land, he could easily step over rivers and wade the deepest lakes. He could cross the Arctic on foot in only a few days, fishing for whales along the coasts. Then one day he met a hunter, whom he mistook for a little child. Before the hunter knew what has happening, Inukpak had adoped him as a son and placed him on his shoulder. In just a few steps, they were so far from the hunter’s home that he didn’t know how to return. As Inukpak got them dinner in the form of a huge whale, he almost drowned the hunter just from the huge waves that splashed as he walked in the water. When a polar bear attacks the hunter, Inukpak just laughs and tosses it away. In time, the two became good friends, the giant and the hunter.
The stage is set very nicely for this story with an introduction that explains what stories the book is based on and how the author came to know so much about Arctic folklore. The pages after the story expand the topic of Arctic giants even further with explanations of different kinds of giants. The storyline is not as linear as European tales, allowing readers to get a sense of the giant and a different rhythm of storytelling at the same time. The huge and kind giant is full of appeal thanks to his huge sense of humor and the merry way he approaches life in the Arctic.
Nelson’s illustrations are playful and jolly as well. They show the various areas of the Arctic from the seashore to the more inland areas. The size difference between the giant and the human is kept fairly consistent throughout the book, This giant is much larger than most and that adds to the appeal as well. The natural landscapes of the book are thoughtfully done as are the various animals. The lifelike depictions of these elements make the giant all the more believable.
One huge giant and one little man create a great story together and one that can nicely be shared aloud. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
The stage is set very nicely for this story with an introduction that explains what stories the book is based on and how the author came to know so much about Arctic folklore. The pages after the story expand the topic of Arctic giants even further with explanations of different kinds of giants. The storyline is not as linear as European tales, allowing readers to get a sense of the giant and a different rhythm of storytelling at the same time. The huge and kind giant is full of appeal thanks to his huge sense of humor and the merry way he approaches life in the Arctic.
Nelson’s illustrations are playful and jolly as well. They show the various areas of the Arctic from the seashore to the more inland areas. The size difference between the giant and the human is kept fairly consistent throughout the book, This giant is much larger than most and that adds to the appeal as well. The natural landscapes of the book are thoughtfully done as are the various animals. The lifelike depictions of these elements make the giant all the more believable.
One huge giant and one little man create a great story together and one that can nicely be shared aloud. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
brucefarrar's review
5.0
Inukpak, “pronounced ‘ee-newk-pak,’” is a giant so large that he mistakes a whale for a small fish, a polar bear for a lemming, and a full grown human for a tiny child. When a lost Inuit hunter encounters him for the first time, the hunter finds himself unwillingly adopted by the giant—because who’s going to argue with someone that big? Perched on Inukpak’s huge shoulder the hunter learns what the arctic looks like from a gigantic point of view.
This beautifully illustrated tale also has an informative introduction and a five page afterword, “More about Arctic Giants,” so the reader can tell the really big ones like Inukpak, from merely large giants. There’s also information about giant polar bears, and when you might be standing on sleeping giant without knowing it.
A caution to consumers, I found the print in the eBook version illegible under magnification. This is a book that you need to get in a print edition to appreciate the illustrations, and you’ll actually be able to read it.
This beautifully illustrated tale also has an informative introduction and a five page afterword, “More about Arctic Giants,” so the reader can tell the really big ones like Inukpak, from merely large giants. There’s also information about giant polar bears, and when you might be standing on sleeping giant without knowing it.
A caution to consumers, I found the print in the eBook version illegible under magnification. This is a book that you need to get in a print edition to appreciate the illustrations, and you’ll actually be able to read it.
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