A Good Hide

An Indigenous community works together to tan a large hide by hand in this captivating portrait of joyful collaboration. Making her picture book debut, Aleut-Alutiiq author Iceberg employs animated, sometimes humorous language, enlivening a step-by-step set of instructions into a jubilant account that starts with giving thanks and ends with using the final material. After Auntie leads a blessing, the large group scrapes the hide (“till our hands are raw”), soak and stretch it (“Pull, tug!”), beat it on each side (“We’re back, drumming”), and layer on both urine (“Next, we pee on it!/ PEE! Yep, all of us!”) and a stew made of the animal’s brain (“Plop the brain in the pot—/ let’s get it nice and hot”). Pencil and digital illustrations from Métis artist Donovan (Borders) employ saturated colors as the smiling contemporary group, wearing warm layers, take part in the multistep process. Together, text and image offer a sense of communal care as “from these hands, old to new,/ a tradition of love passes through,” resulting in “a good hide.” An author’s note offers further context. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)