Arctic Circle

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By Robert Leonard Reid (David R. Godine Publisher, $27.95)

The blurb: "Every year without fail, caribou from the Yukon and Alaska set off in early April to a small corner of Alaska to give birth to their young. The journey -- an ordeal of mountains and blizzards, ravenous wolves, scant forage and river crossings with ice chunks the size of pick-up trucks -- is the longest migration of any land animal on earth. Despite these formidable obstacles, the females find their way to the calving grounds on the coast of the Beaufort Sea, deliver their calves in June and then begin their long journey home."

Excerpt: "The smells here are blissful; the views are long and calming. Is it any wonder that the geniality of this place will live in the female's memory, to drive her on her perilous journey again next year and then the next and then the next? To bring one's calf into the world in such a place! Izhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit, the Gwich'in call it: 'the sacred place where life begins.' But sacred to whom? To the Gwich'in only? Or might the calving grounds be sacred to all who go there?"

Bridges to Statehood

By Judy Ferguson (Voice of Alaska Press, Big Delta, $28)

The blurb: Yugoslav names are so identified with Alaska that they are not thought of as Croatian, Slovenian or Montenegrin. These immigrants contributed greatly to Alaska's development as well as prospering along with Alaska's opportunity: Peratrovich, Stepovich, Burtrovich, Hajdukovich, Miscovich, Begich... and countless others. This story of Alaska has never before been told.

Excerpt: "John Peratrovich, a Croatian-Italian fisherman called 'Dago John,' was born on the Dalmatian coastline about 1859. He jumped ship from the Dalmatian coast and landed in San Francisco. As an expert seiner, he began looking for work. Word got around the canneries that John Peratrovich knew how to mend seine nets. ... (When he) arrived in Klawock about 1876 ... the local Tlingit chief asked the 17-year-old seiner to show the people the art of seine netting. ... The chief had a 42-year-old daughter, Catherine Snook Skan. In Tlingit matriarchal culture an older woman traditionally married a younger man."

Magical Masks

By Home Base After School Students (Anchorage Home Base After School Program)

The blurb: This is the first book in a writing project for the program. A group of Alaska students chose the theme of masks to share what they know about Alaska with other children. It tells the story of two young twins from Africa who travel to New York, then around Alaska, discovering the people and the masks of their cultures.

Excerpt: "Jordan and Sarah climb back up into their fort. 'Let's see what happens when we put on the bear mask,' says Jordan curiously.

"Jordan puts on the bear mask. POOF!

"The twins are now in Northwest Alaska, far above the Arctic Circle, in the Inupiat Village of Shismaref.

"BOOM! BOOM! The sound of drums is becoming louder. We, Sarah and Jordan, are surrounded by dancers performing to the heart beats of seal drums being played by skilled drummers. The dancers wave their arms, moving to the rhythm, telling stories with their movements, stories of adventures and the importance of nature in their lives."

-- Mike Dunham, Anchorage Daily News

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