Kamik Takes the Lead

Kamik Takes the Lead is the fourth instalment in the Kamik series of books. This time, Jake works with his uncle, or akkak, to spend four seasons training his very own dog sled team for racing. His akkak teaches him to train the dogs in summer so they can get strong, in the fall to learn to run for longer distances, and the winter to carry a heavy load. He also learns how to properly care for the dogs and provide them the right kind of food and affection. Then, in spring, they are ready to race with Kamik in the lead spot.

This book does a really good job in showing the traditional knowledge that has been passed through families and generations in Nunavut as well as the special relationship between Inuit people and their sled dogs. There are many more subtle lessons in this book as well, like respect, patience, the value of hard work and responsibility.

The illustrations in this book are done by a different illustrator than the previous book, but they are equally as beautiful. The characters are a little softer with bolder lines, but the markings on Kamik are consistent with the previous book, and the overall style is very similar. The seasons are clearly shown by the presence or absence of snow, contrasting the brown and green earth below. As in the previous books, the text is a grey colour and a little bit light. The font is a hand-written style which might be difficult to follow for a young child first learning to read. However, Kamik Takes the Lead would be an excellent addition to any school, community or personal library, particularly in Canada, for children to learn about Inuit culture.