In My Anaana’s Amautik

In My Anaana’s Amautik is a series of poetic descriptions, told through a child’s perspective, of how it feels to be bundled close in their mother’s amautik – a pouch for carrying babies found in the back of a woman’s parka. From the softness of a bed of cotton grass to the safety of a tiny, personal igloo, the narrator paints a beautiful picture of how it feels to be snuggled and secure against their mother. This book may not have a plot in a traditional sense, but it does weave a story of maternal love and tradition through its lyrical imagery.

The predictability of the text, combined with the lovely metaphors, makes this an ideal bedtime story. While the message is one of the connection between mother and child, it also builds some wonderful connections between cultures as any child can relate to the feeling of calm, safety, and peace you get from being close to a loved one (not necessarily only a mother). While the vocabulary may be new, the emotions are not, and, as this story lulls a little one to sleep, it will expand their understanding of how we are all bonded by our similarities, not divided by our differences. My only criticism of the text is the repetition of the titular phrase. The block of text on every page both begins and ends with ”in my anaana’s amautik”, and, while there is something to be said for repetition to build familiarity, with the limited word count in a picture book, it’s too much.

If Sammurtok’s prose is the sweet after dinner treat enjoyed before bed, Lishchenko’s illustrations are the cherry on top. Full-page spreads awash in soothing colours and layered illustrations help the reader to immediately access the feelings being described. The palette is rich with variety, and, though the colours are not saturated, they really grab and hold the eye. The art evokes the warmth and comfort of the experience described in the text with its soft, textural beauty. In My Anaana’s Amautik is a book to be savoured, and, while it could definitely be enjoyed read aloud to a group, it begs to be read cuddled close with the little ones we hold most dear.