Thanks to the Animals (Board Book)

CLASSROOM GUIDE

Chickadee Award Nomination

Georgia Young Readers’ Choice Finalist

Top Ten Native American Books for Elementary Schools, AICL

The board book edition of a beloved Native American tale.

When little baby Zoo Sap falls from his family’s sled, he is all alone in the deep snow of the forest. His family, journeying to their winter home, doesn’t realize he

has fallen out, but his cries summon the animals, who know they must keep him warm. One by one the fox, bear, moose, squirrel, and other animals settle around him, sharing their warmth. A warm and comforting bedtime story with a message of reverence for the natural world.

Allen Sockabasin was a Passamaquoddy citizen who devoted much of his time to teaching and preserving the Passamaquoddy language. A master musician, he wrote, performed, and recorded Passamaquoddy stories and songs. He was a tribal governor, a member of the tribal council, director of child welfare for his tribe, and a health educator. He was the father of six children and wrote Thanks to the Animals when his youngest, Zoo Sap, was a toddler. Allen died in 2018.

Audio version of the story being told by the author in the Passamaquoddy language: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLWIJapLTUGKZ3bwzElI_VzTrEpcZJ9V4d&v=jNR04bWRic4
Allen Sockabasin is a Passamaquoddy who devotes much of his time to teaching and preserving the Passamaquoddy language. A master musician, he has written, performed, and recorded Passamaquoddy stories and songs. He has been a tribal governor, a member of the tribal council, and director of child welfare for his tribe, and a health educator. He is the father of five grown children and a young son named Zoo Sap.

Rebekah Raye is an artist beloved for her bird and animal paintings and sculpture, derived from her affinity with the natural world around her at her studio in East Blue Hill, Maine. She has been interested in animals and art since she was a child in Eastern Tennessee, and now in addition to creating her own works of art, teaches workshops for children and adults.
“This delightful story is a wonderful example of the very best American Indian traditional storytelling.” - Joseph Bruchac, Nulhegan Abenaki author and storyteller

“A tale for the seasons!” - Native Peoples

“A perfect bedtime story.” - Multicultural Review

“Weaves a powerful story of paternal love while expressing the mutual respect between his Passamaquoddy culture and the natural world.” - School Library Journal

From School Library Journal: PreSchool-Grade 2–As the cold weather sets in, Joo Tum and his family dismantle their log house, load their bobsled, and prepare to move north to their winter home in the deep woods. Squirrels, birds, and rabbits look on benevolently. When all is ready, the family nestles into a heap of sealskin coats and blankets, and they set off. While the other children sleep, baby Zoo Sap falls off the sled and is left behind. His frantic cries soon alert the animals of the forest, who gather around him in a warm, loving nest of fur and feathers. Before long, Joo Tum notices that the baby is missing, and walks all night to retrieve his son. Sockabasin weaves a powerful story of paternal love while simultaneously expressing the mutual respect between his Passamaquoddy culture and the natural world. His spare, straightforward prose calls to mind the gentle rhythm of a well-worn family bedtime story. Raye’s luminous watercolor-and-ink paintings evoke the wintry majesty of rural Maine. Facial expressions are captured with warmth and subtlety as the family members experience excitement, fear, relief, and joy. In addition to being a lovely story, Thanks to the Animals gives a fascinating glimpse into a culture not often seen in picture books. An author’s note provides further information about the Passamaquoddy tribe, including the names for the animals introduced in the book. – Rachael Vilmar, Atlanta Fulton Public Library, GA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

“… quiet, gentle tale…enhanced by the warm water-color-and-ink paintings…a perfect bedtime story.” - Multicultural Review, Summer 2006

“…Passamaquoddy storyteller…charming children’s story…tale of separation, unselfish care, and reunion.” - Central Maine Newspapers, October 30, 2005

“…beautiful tale…exquisite illustrations..animal drawings are quite detailed…perfectly depict the characteristics of each creature.” - Library Media Connection, February 2006

“…beautiful, simple story of survival and the kindness and concern of all creatures…to the very young and helpless.” - Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children’s Media, February 2006

“…sweet story…watercolor illustrations…beautiful foil to the text…end of book lists names of each animal in Passamaquoddy.” - Bangor Daily News, July 25, 2005

“…sweet tale…illustrations are cute…can read it to your child at bedtime…It will be a favorite.” - New Pages, Children and Young Adult Book Reviews, May 20, 2006

“Beautifully illustrated and, with brevity, expressing love of family and the natural world…Mesmerizing as folklore encompassed in present…” - Maine Sunday Telegram, February 26 2006

“We recommend…charming story…accompanied by luxuriant watercolor pictures.” - Portland Magazine, December 2005