One by one, several Arctic animals offer Kulu their virtues: 'Arctic Hare, with rock willow and roots,/ came to show you love so easily./ You became a best friend, baby Kulu, loving to give.' Set in the world of the first peoples of the Arctic, the book hints at the idea of treating the Earth, its plants, and animals as a single living entity and suggests that a family's wishes for its children gain power from being spoken out loud. 'Sweetest Kulu,' Kalluk begins, 'on the day you were born, all of the Arctic Summer was there to greet you.' Neonakis paints baby Kulu (whose gender is indeterminate) nestled against its mother, whose long brown hair swirls around the baby like waves in the ocean. The lyrical lullaby begins on the day Kulu was born with, 'all of the Arctic Summer was there to greet you.' Each animal bestows on the baby something special, from heritage to instinct. Neonakis's artwork, while indebted in some places to conventional animation (the baby's button nose and rosebud mouth have a distinctly Disney feel), offers a genuinely folklike sensibility and strong, dynamic compositions. Dream a little, Kulu, this world now sings a most beautiful song of you. Debut author Kalluk presents a series of warm. Debut author Kalluk presents a series of warm affirmations for a newborn (the name 'Kulu' is an Inuktitut term of endearment). Inhabit Media (IPG/Trafalgar Sq., dist.), 16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-92.

Sweetest kulu