A Child's Alaska

by Claire Rudolf Murphy, Charles Mason (Photographer)

Overview

A Child's Alaska is a visual feast for young adventurers who want to see for themselves what makes the Last Frontier so special. From totem poles to summer berry-picking from sled dog racing to wild animals they may see, this educational book will give readers an unforgettable Alaskan experience. Here in words, photographs, and illustrations, young readers will learn and see about how they ride their bicycles on ice and snow, watch the magical dancing trails of the Northern lights in the night sky, and watch a thousand-pound moose eat all the cabbages in the backyard garden.  What is bigger than Texas, California and Montana put together? Alaska, of course. Where do school buses need snow tires and special electric heaters so they can start their engines? Alaska, of course. For children, grand children, and visiting children, this is a great way to learn more about Alaska for young readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780882408590
Publisher:	Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
Publication date:	03/31/2012
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	7 - 13 Years

About the Author

Claire Rupolf Murphy grew up and became a language arts teacher before she began to write her own stories. Through her writing she came to understand the creative process and how to help her students write better. Today, she writes about topics that are close to her heart or intrigue her because it takes a long time to produce a published book. Her  ideas come from many sources including her childhood in Spokane, her  years living in Alaska, her children and their friends, her love of history, even current news items that catch her eye.Claire taught high school and middle school drama, literature, and composition for ten years. She has a degree in history from Santa Clara University, a teaching credential from the University of California at Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing. She and her family lived for twenty-four years in Alaska where she watched her children grow up, and she was first inspired to write. 

Charles Mason has taught photojournalism and photography at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for the past twenty years—a job he has grown to appreciate and love. His photography has won awards including the Oskar Barnack Award at World Press Photo, and Pictures of the Year award among others.  His work has been published worldwide including the New York Times, Outside magazine, Time, LIFE, Aperture, GEO and others. His photography was featured in Pictures of the Year issues in Time and LIFE, Stern, and the Photography Annuals of PDN and Communication Arts.

Read an Excerpt

"In the winter, the earth tilts away from the sun, so the farther north one lives, the colder and darker the winter days. In Barrow, Alaska's northernmost town, the sum doesn't rise above the horizon during December and January, so it's dark all the time except for a couple of hours of twilight every afternoon."

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

There's so much packed into 48 pages that readers will want to re-read and look at the pictures over and over again, seeing and learning something new every time.   —-School Library Journal.

Gr 2 - 5, younger reading aloud. ...Murphy touches on climate, wildlife, and typical activities of Alaskan children. She distinguishes three groups of native peoples (Aleut, Eskimo, and Indian) and describes the wide variety of lifestyles (ranging from life in the city to living in remote cabins) available to Alaskans. Mason's intriging, sharply reproduced, full-color images apear on every page and capture the essence of the Alaskan experience.  —-Kay Weisman, BOOKLIST

The splendor and uniqueness of Alaska are revealed through a combination of photographs and text. Written for children, A CHILD'S ALASKA presents a realistic portrayal of life in Alaska today. Dispelling myths and stereotypes, this non-fiction book invites readers to share in the unique traditions and climatic adaptations of the Alaskan people. Photographs help capture the beauty and spirit of this great state. There is also a glossary that defines selected terms used in this great state.  A CHILD'S ALASKA is a requisite for classroom libraries. It is enjoyable, informative reading, and an ideal resource for thematic units on Alaska or life in arctic regions of the world.  —-Iowa Reading Journal

Editorial Reviews

There's so much packed into 48 pages that readers will want to re-read and look at the pictures over and over again, seeing and learning something new every time.   —-School Library Journal.

Gr 2 - 5, younger reading aloud. ...Murphy touches on climate, wildlife, and typical activities of Alaskan children. She distinguishes three groups of native peoples (Aleut, Eskimo, and Indian) and describes the wide variety of lifestyles (ranging from life in the city to living in remote cabins) available to Alaskans. Mason's intriging, sharply reproduced, full-color images apear on every page and capture the essence of the Alaskan experience.  —-Kay Weisman, BOOKLIST

The splendor and uniqueness of Alaska are revealed through a combination of photographs and text. Written for children, A CHILD'S ALASKA presents a realistic portrayal of life in Alaska today. Dispelling myths and stereotypes, this non-fiction book invites readers to share in the unique traditions and climatic adaptations of the Alaskan people. Photographs help capture the beauty and spirit of this great state. There is also a glossary that defines selected terms used in this great state.  A CHILD'S ALASKA is a requisite for classroom libraries. It is enjoyable, informative reading, and an ideal resource for thematic units on Alaska or life in arctic regions of the world.  —-Iowa Reading Journal

From the Publisher

(Gr 3-6) -- A combination of photographs, illustrations, and text mix and mingle on each page of this lovely volume to create a kaleidoscope of verbal and visual impressions about Alaska's landforms, wildlife, and people. Murphy describes the area's vastness and uniqueness, and presents geography, history, culture, and natural science as they relate to the changing seasons. Although the text is not written from a child's point of view as the title might imply, youngsters and their families are the focus of the book. The montage of appealing, full-color photographs includes shots of native and non-native people of all ages engaged in daily activities, animals in their natural habitats, and scenic views of the natural landscapes. Unfortunately, instead of appearing directly under or next to the relevant picture, the captions are often grouped together with triangles pointing to the photos they describe. There's so much packed into 48 pages that readers will want to re-read and look at the pictures over and over again, seeing and learning something new every time. This "coffee-table'' style book will complement more traditional nonfiction titles. --Roz Goodman, Bering Strait School District Media Center, Unalakleet, AK

School Library Journal