Tagaq, Tanya. I Would Give You My Tail. Qavavau Manumie, Illus. Tundra, 04/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1774880579. GRADES Preschool-2. OUTSTANDING.
A new baby is coming! As his Inuk mother goes into labor, her son Kalluk sets off on a journey to his grandmother’s camp to bring her back to help. Along the way, he encounters a variety of creatures and environmental features, and inquires why each is so happy. The hares and the baby foxes he meets are so happy that they would give each other their tails if they could! The responses from the water in the brook and the wind also inspire mindfulness and gratitude for their contributions to life and the interconnectedness of the whole natural world. Although the trek back is not easy for his grandmother, the process deepens their bonds of generational kinship. When he meets his new baby sister, he enumerates how he will take care of her, “But mostly: I would give you my tail if I could.” Facing each page of text, the charming, expressive, and emotionally evocative illustrations are simply drawn in muted, earth-toned colored pencil with black outlines. The title verso includes a translation and pronunciation guide for the four Inuktitut language terms used in the story. This book is an essential addition to any children’s library that aims to include diverse indigenous authors. A sweet and tender choice for a read-aloud, especially when seeking themes of gratitude, thanks-giving, and gift-giving.
Karen Quest—Independent