Painted Skies

by Carolyn Mallory, Amei Zhao (Illustrations)

A young child learns about the traditional Inuit mythology behind the Aurora Borealis
 
Leslie is new to the Arctic, and no one told her there would be so much snow, and so many interesting animals to see. Along with her new friend, Oolipika, Leslie soon discovers one of the Arctic’s most unique and breathtaking natural wonders, the northern lights. Having never seen such lights before, Leslie is understandably shocked by them. Oolipika, on the other hand, knows that the ancient lights are more than just colors and that the mischievous, playful spirits that the northern lights hold can be dangerous. This contemporary narrative introduces young readers to an Inuit legend about the northern lights, followed by an epilogue that explains the science behind this amazing phenomenon.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Indigenous, Nature, Fiction

36 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2015

Reviews

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Painted Skies is the story of a young girl’s introduction to one of Nature’s most spectacular events, the Northern Lights. One night, as two friends are playing in the Arctic snow, the sky begins changing colour. When the colours swirl and move closer in ribbons across the sky, Leslie, who recently moved to the far North, starts getting nervous. Her new friend, Oolipika, reassures her and demonstrates what to do to keep them safe from the playful spirits. When Oolipika tells her the Inuit legend and that it’s about the Northern Lights, Leslie’s fear turns to awe.

Painted Skies by Carolyn Mallory is a beautiful picture book with gorgeous illustrations by Amei Zhao. The story is told and illustrated in a way that is interesting and educational at the same time, making it ideal in both an elementary classroom and in a child’s collection.

At the back of the book is an explanation of the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), what causes them and when they occur. I’ve felt the awe of seeing the Northern Lights a few times where I live, and would love to see them up close – the way they are depicted in this story.

[Meredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book rubbed me the wrong way. While I was reading the story, it felt like this:
1. The white girl is scared of this new thing- the Northern Lights
2. The Inuit girl explains the lights as "My Grandmother says..." and retells story. She's not owning the beliefs as hers, they're her grandmother's.
3. End notes explain the "real" reason behind northern lights, exposing the Inuit belief as bogus.

Why do these beliefs have to be presented to children as untrue? Like some novelty? Look at how the mainstream US culture shuns science for myth when it comes to explaining Santa to children. Or God. Why couldn't the author present this Inuit story as "This is the reason we have the northern lights," and let parents tell their children if this is truth for their family or not.
Authors are supposed to write about what they know. This book is a great example of someone ignoring that advice & 'borrowing' someone else's story.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and well written, this book is a great classroom piece to help introduce Canadian/Arctic culture/multiculturalism to young kids. I love how the legends attached to the northern lights are first presented and then the science explained without allowing one to negate the validity of the other. Thinking of buying this one!

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming introduction to the Aurora Borealis for kids.

Two girls are out one night in the snow and look up to see the Northern Lights. Oolipika explains hat they are to her friend Leslie, who has never seen them before.

One of the few books about this phenomenon, it is a solid add to a unit of study about the Earth.

Recommended for PreS-grade 1.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leslie, new to the Arctic, and her friend Oolipika witness the wonders of the northern lights.

[Harriet Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about the legend of the Northern alights.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations in support of a story set in the Arctic and focused on the Northern Lights

[Anastasia Antony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between a 3.57 to 4.3 star rating

[Paula Hollohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I am not a fan of the illustrations but the story is okay. Grades K-4 (it includes a short explanation of the aurora borealis)

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Leslie moves to the Arctic and first sees the night sky she is afraid of the colored spirits. Her friend Oolipika explains they are called Aqsarnit, and are the spirits of great-grandparents and friends. Readers ages five to eight will be dazzled by the bright illustrations and learn the science behind this beautiful phenomenon.

[feux d'artifice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stars are for the art.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative tale about the Aurora Borealis introduces an Inuit legend with science explanations.

[Elizabeth]

The illustrations are really lovely (as one would hope for in a book about the Northern Lights, though it's not just the lights I think are well-illustrated in this book).

I felt like the story was a little lacking -- the back cover says, "Leslie is new to the Arctic, and no one told her there would be so much snow, and so many interesting things to see. Along with her new friend Oolipika [...]," but we're thrown into the story in media res, so we have to infer the backstory (though okay, treating your readers like they're smart enough to infer is probably preferable to info-dumping). And it was maybe trying a little too hard in the first few pages with an arctic style metaphor on each page ("Leslie leapt off the steps, all arms and legs like a young caribou trying to keep up with the rest of the herd. ... They swept their arms and legs up and down as if they were ptarmigans trying to get off the ground and fly away. ... A velvety darkness, blacker than the blackest raven, wrapped itself around them.").