Hurry Up, Ilua!

July 15, 2015
A young Arctic ground squirrel enjoying the last few moments of sunshine risks being caught outside when winter falls. Clad in a blue parka, siksik Ilua takes her time, watching the rest of her family scurry about gathering berries and Arctic cotton. The Long Sleep is "more than an hour away," after all. Carrying her little sister in the hood of her parka, Ilua chatters companionably "about things that babies like to talk about," dawdling all the while. But the hour passes more quickly than Ilua anticipates, and like clockwork, the snow begins to fall with the two sisters far from any of their den's 30 entrances. Ilua asks a raven and then an Arctic hare for help, but the snow is already too thick. When a wolf appears, she tremulously asks him for help; thinking that Ilua's whole family "would make a fine meal," he digs away at the snow, uncovering an entrance-whereupon Ilua, thinking quickly, blinds him with the Arctic cotton she has gathered, saving herself and her sister. Hicks' original tale has a pleasing predictability to its structure, and it's enlivened by the genuinely warm relationship between the sisters. Her illustrations feature thick outlines, stylized, rounded figures, and bright, jewel colors for the Arctic sunset. The anthropomorphized siksiks are almost impossibly cute. Girl power and sibling affection combine with the far north setting for a sweetly memorable tale. (glossary) (Picture book. 3-5)

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October 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-An original tale about an adorable squirrel named Ilua who is preparing for hibernation. The little squirrel watches the rest of her family scurry about gathering berries and Arctic cotton. She takes her time, knowing that she will be underground for the next seven months. It begins to snow, slowly at first and then quickly turning into a blizzard. Ilua and her sister, Ivavaa, cannot find their way home. Animals pass by, asking if she is lost, and warn her to be careful. When a cunning wolf comes along, Ilua asks him for help to sniff out her home. Knowing she is in danger, she uses her quick wit and the Arctic cotton she has gathered to blind him and escape. The sisters return home safe and sound. A pleasing, though predictable, tale of adventure and loyalty between sisters. First-time author Hicks's illustrations feature thick outlines and stylized, rounded anthropomorphic characters depicted in jewel tones. VERDICT A heartwarming story about sisters, as well as a cautionary tale about children wandering too far from home.-Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

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