Exciting, especially good for reading aloud, pictures aren't astounding, but they are engaging and spike the curiosity.

Appropriate for all ages. ( )

The villagers of King Island carry their boat across the mountains to get to the freighter and rescue their priest so that they can celebrate charismas. Using third person, the story is descriptive and colorful with illustrations that depict Native Alaskan heritage and customs combined with the influence of western society. Bravery and compassion combine to create holiday spirt.

Related Activity: Find additional storybooks by Jean Rogers and compare her writing style and use of imagery to describe the context of her stories. ( )

Story takes place in King Island, Alaska with winter closing in fast. Their priest is on a freight ship on rough seas and they are worried he won’t make it in time to light the candles for Christmas. The village uses teamwork to carry their walrus skin boats to the other side of the island where there are calmer seas to bring the priest home. They celebrated and feasted alongside the northern lights and Christmas had come to King Island. ( )

King Island Christmas spotlights a northern island village anxiously awaiting the arrival of the one person who can make their holiday shine. Dialogue and simple sentences are relayed in a storyteller style voice; basic vocabulary is spiced with native Yupik names and terms. Earth tone watercolors include native attire and materials that define island life in cold climates.