A Good Hide

by Karina Iceberg, Natasha Donovan (Illustrator)

From these hands, old to new, a tradition of love passes through.

In Alaska, Fall is moose season. When the hunt is over, the community comes together to transform the raw moose hide into something truly special, step by step, with the work of many hands.

From stretching and scraping to making brain stew, each part of the process is a celebration! With humor and heart, debut author Karina Iceberg (Aleut/Alutiiq) and award-winning illustrator Natasha Donovan (Métis) share a resonant message of gratitude, community, and shared knowledge as an intertribal Native Alaskan community works together to tan a moose hide.

Features author's note and a note from Heartdrum author-curator Cynthia Leitich Smith.

32 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a lot more work than you might think to make a good hide-- in this book, an Alaska Native family treat a moose hide step by step! I learned a lot from this, even as an adult.