What a beautiful and poetic picture book that's not only great for children. My daughter and I enjoyed it a lot.

Sparse in words but full of wonder, Magic Words is an Inuit creation story that has been passed down orally and then written as a poem, now translated by Edward Field and accompanied by Mike Blanc's gorgeous illustrations. Aimed at children between 4 and 12 years old, children and their parents alike will enjoy this book.

Magic Words invites us to imagine a time when humans and animals shared one language, when humans could become animals and animals could become human. We're shown the magic of words, the power of speaking something into being.

Just like Vanita Oelschlager's forthcoming book Fish-Boy it was Mike Blanc's illustrations that sparked my interest in this book. I'm no artist but there's something about Mike's style that makes me want to linger over each illustration and I don't know if I can describe this accurately but it is as though there is both a simplicity and depth to his artistry. You can glance at a page and know it's a beautiful image but as you look closer you discover more and more intricacies.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you very much to NetGalley and Vanita Books for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback. Between Magic Words and Fish-Boy I've had a small taste of Inuit culture but I'm hungry for more and will be on the lookout for future publications by Vanita Books.

Magic words is a poem with beautiful illustrations that captivates the imagination. It is about the mythical relationship between the ancient Inuit people and animals. When you read this poem to children, it will awaken their imagination. Just listening to the poem and looking at the illustrations will make them come up with fascinating questions:

What if I could talk with animals?
What if I could magically transform into an animal?
What if the person I am talking to, is actually an animal in human form?
What if a single word spoken by me is so powerful that it magically becomes alive and manifests in front of my eyes?

The poem leaves all the questions and answers open to explore for the reader. That is what makes the book so interesting.If you want to learn about your children, read the poem to them, take a step back, give them some time, and then let them lead the dialogue. Be open to their ideas. After all, it is their imagination.

At home, this poem is perfect for bedtime. In a school setting, I can see it being used interdisciplinary in many subjects. Overall, Magic Words deserves 5 stars.

Brilliant colourful artwork is the strength of this book. The story makes the point that for traditional Inuit people the animals and the people were in harmony but I wish there was more substance to the story than what is here.

I don't know about you, but I thought the magic words were "Please", "Thank you" and "Sorry". But no, apparently all words are magical. This book would teach children (and adults) to think things through before speaking because words have consequences. I love a children's book that is not only entertaining but also teaches morals.

As for the art, that was the first thing that caught my eye. The illustrations are spectacular. Even if you don't like children's books, I'd still recommend this one because the art is simply stunning.

The illustrations make Magic Words stand out; each page is beautiful, vibrant, intricate, and fun to look at. I read this with my kids, ages 6 and 3, they were captivated by the detailed pictures. I enjoy reading books that provide a glimpse into other cultures that my kids are unfamiliar with and this book sparked their interest. The story is very simple, yet intriguing. It leaves an open end for readers to explore their own ideas and imaginations, and invites them to learn more about the stories that are touched upon in the book.

This book has beautiful artwork that inspire feelings of mystical energy and fantasy. The story starts out very intriguing and my kids (3 and 6) were very interested. But then, we yurned the page, and it was over. It ended abruptly and what seemed prematurely. Iy was the setup for a great story, but then it just stopped mid-way. I recognize this is a translation, but my kids couldn't get past the incompleteness it left them feeling.

This beautiful work of visual and literary artistry will surely be enjoyed by both children and adults. The fact that us, humans, and animals are one and the same is a lesson everybody should learn.

Hear the world being called into existence as is gently whispered straight into your heart. A book for children and adults. Illustrations are wonderful. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ebook for review.

I am always in awe of picture books that teach children about different cultures. And, I absolutely adore this retelling. Ink drawings have been digitally colored and will help children better understand the Inuit who live along the far northern seacoasts.

The story begins from Rasmussen expedition. And, while we see creative mixes, we also see the Inuit dressed in their caribou skins, which they wear to keep warm and dry. But, the story delves much deeper than that. Hunting and trapping are necessary for Inuit survival. There are images of walrus, polar bear, and of a young hunter, which appears to depict the 'rights of passage'. And, we also see images of potlatching practices.
Magic Words is a wonderful way to introduce children to the lifestyle of the Inuit.

I really love the idea of this book: a translation of some inuit history, with the illustrations capturing the art of inuit wisdom. The illustrations really are fantastic, but this book and its words are quite hard to get your head round. It may appeal to younger children based on the illustrations alone, but the text is difficult to understand. This is more of a work of art than a story, and even myself (certainly not a child!) had to re-read several times to get the full gist of the text. A great concept, but the execution not so much.

The illustrations are simply marvelous! They are highly engaging and captivate the eye.

I enjoy that this is a translation of an old Inuit story of creation, it's magical and shows a different culture's views. The idea was kind of lost on my six year old as I read it to him, but I explained it.

The drawback was that it was so short. I read this at bedtime and my son was not impressed by the length as it is only a few pages. However, it was a unique read! I also think this would be a great book for those that are just beginning to read.

This beautiful book takes an old Inuit creation myth and brings it to life. Teaching about other cultures is so important and Magic Words gives kids a look into an ancient Inuit poem and the artwork of this part of the world. This book would work with a class or a parent/child reading time. It is easy to understand, look at and would be a great source of discussion for little ones. Great!

This book is SO beautiful. The art took my breath away. It really captures what's happening in the poem. I could see myself reading this again and again with my kids. So simple, yet so beautiful.

This poem translated from the original Danish is a beautiful and vivid reinterpretation of 'Magic Words' a poem previously told through the ancient oral tradition of the Inuits. Mike Blanc's striking illustrations are bold and colourful and truly lift the words of Edward Field off the page. I found myself rereading the poem several times in order to study the images to make sure I didn't miss the symbolism contained in each one, This is my first introduction to the poetry of the Inuits and I will certainly be searching out more.

I would recommend this for story time or for educators who are teaching the form of poetry and world literature in general.

What a beautifully illustrated story. The pictures were interesting, bringing me into the world of the Inuit. The words seemed calming and easy to read. The story moved along nicely. The only thing I could say, was I wish it was longer. Four stars for Magic Words.

Review published on April 21st, 2017

A truly, truly, gorgeous book that tells a truly, truly, simple story.

This book felt magical. The poetry was lyrical and dreamlike and the illustrations were wholly original and really quite beautiful. I read it and enjoyed it on my own, but I'm looking forward to reading it with my children as well and letting them see/experience the gorgeous artwork.

I wish the book was longer. Great pictures and an interesting story.

This picture book gives us a modern translation of an old Inuit Creation story that was translated and turned into a poem by poet Edward Field. The poem shows the intimate relationship that the Inuit have with their natural environment, and it shows, among other things, a world where humans and animals can share bodies and souls and where the real and the imaginary can mix together.

I would recommend this book not only because of the beautiful illustrations, but for the poem as well. The poem is lyrical and beautiful and paints an amazing picture of the Inuit culture. In a way I also found the poem to be magical and very peaceful, like a dreamy nighttime story. I would not only recommend this for children, who could find much joy from this book and could learn about another culture, but for the parents as well, who I think could find pleasure in the artwork and in the peaceful flow of the poem.