School Library Journal
Gr 2-4
Igvillu is a small terrier who dreams of being a sled dog, and when she is adopted by an Inuit storyteller and taken to the North to live, she believes her dreams will come true. Then she meets a gruff sled-dog leader who threatens to kill her and puts that dream behind her. Later that evening, her master is watching The Wizard of Oz , her favorite movie, and she recognizes that small dogs can be heroes, too. Dog lovers will enjoy this story of dreaming big and just may learn about life in Nunavut, as the story and illustrations contain details that can dispel misconceptions about life in the great Northern reaches of Canada. Full-color paintings filled with motion complement the black-and-white scratchboard silhouettes that frame the text. Libraries needing additional material on modern Inuit life will want this title.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada
The Toronto Star
"Kusugak writes with sly irony, poking fun at the romantic fantasies of 'The North' that one finds in adventure stories...Igvillu is an endearing pooch and her master has a marked resemblance to Kusugak - something kids might enjoy noticing...Some Inuktitut words and explanations for Arctic features give the story added substance."
Tucson Unified School District
"A lovely story...My children loved this book as we own a Cairn and can totally relate to the dog's spunky personality. Recommended."
The Georgia Straight
"Vladyana Krykorka's swirling, aurora-bright illustrations blend with a charming story for young children."
St. Albert Gazette
"This humble children's narrative is a great read and a visual treat for any child or parent."
Horn Book Magazine
"The story's sly confluence of fantasy and reality, tradition and modernity, is captured in Krykorka's candy-colored pictures that blithely swoop from Igvillu's dreams to the equally spectacular Nunavut landscape."
The Bookmark (BCTLA)
"An endearing story for elementary children... [that] subtly includes Inuit life, both in words and illustrated landscapes, as a way to introduce the reader to Inuit culture."
CM Magazine
"A charming story that meshes the reality of life in the north and the imaginary world of a dreamy little pet. Kusugak writes fluently but manages to retain some of the cadence of a traditional storyteller. Krykorka's stunning illustrations evoke a world of the tundra in both summer and winter. Highly recommended."
Resource Links
"This story is engaging and richly evocative of the Arctic landscape...a solid Canadian pick for all collections."
The Globe and Mail
"Delightful picture book."
Quill & Quire
"[It] will appeal to young dog lovers, not only because Igvillu himself is so charming, but because his story evokes the essential conflict of childhood-the need to venture out into the big, cold world to explore, while never straying too far from the warmth and safety of home."
