Freddie the flyer

The story of an Indigenous boy who dreamed of taking to the sky unfolds across the months of the year in this picture-book biography that draws on Inuvialuktun and Gwich'in languages, the power of an unshakable passion, and, as rendered in the gorgeous painted illustrations, the beauty of nature. Freddie had dreamed of flying airplanes ever since he was a little boy, but, as a shy Native boy in the Northwest Territories, that felt like a distant hope. He worked hard throughout his life, though, and that hard work, ultimately culminating in that very dream, drives this narrative. Told month by month, with short prose and a lush illustration on the facing page, the story brings to light Fred's dedication alongside the natural elements in which he flourished. The prose is tight and unadorned, which works well juxtaposed with the deep, vibrant paintings. Add this to collections looking for more Indigenous heroes, stories about pilots, illustrations that look like they came right off a gallery wall, and biographies that expand our understanding of the depth of those around us.

Gr 1--5--As a tribute to the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic, Carmichael's straightforward chronicle is divided into 12 parts, usually one short paragraph each, using the months of the year to relate brief informational essays on his own life. Each month is written in three languages: English, Gwich'in, and Inuvialuktun. Growing up Gwich'in in Canada's Northwest Territories, Carmichael dreamed of becoming a pilot one day. Dropping out of school at age 10, he helped his family and worked until he could afford to attend flying school as a young man. Short vignettes tell of hand-picked incidents during his career as a pilot and business owner. Loreen-Wulf's richly colored illustrations reveal the rugged landscape, different seasons, and various animals, including huskies, musk ox, caribou, even the tracks of a grizzly bear. Carmichael was able to do much good for his community and was honored by having the local airport named after him. At the book's conclusion, there is a concise biography of Carmichael along with a description of what the names of each month mean in the two languages. Unfortunately, this staid autobiography doesn't contain enough kid-friendly substance to hold the attention of children and may be of more interest to adults. VERDICT With few autobiographies for children about Indigenous "firsts," this fills a niche. It is otherwise mostly of local interest or for adults already familiar with Carmichael's story.--Maryann H. Owen

The story of a boy "half Scottish-Irish, half Gwich'in, and one hundred percent shy" and his love of airplanes, set in Canada's Northwest Territories. Telling his tale in the third person along with Metcalfe-Chenail, Carmichael goes from school-age daydreams of flight in the tiny town of Aklavik, Canada, to adventures as a private pilot on the Mackenzie Delta. His exploits range from ferrying a pregnant passenger who goes into labor to braving blizzards to rescue a stranded prospector; in later years, he'd go on to become a locally prominent businessman. In terse narrative sections headed with the names of successive months in English, Gwich'in, and Inuvialuktun, he also details how he transported fur trappers and their dog teams, naturalists studying wildlife of the western Arctic, and tourists visiting the Igloo Church in Inuvik. Further details about his decades of involvement with his multicultural community are summed up in a closing note. Painting on rough canvas, Loreen-Wulf underscores the breadth and beauty of the subarctic landscape with scenes of musk oxen and caribou, broad snowfields, and swathes of seasonal wildflowers beneath twilit skies and bright Northern lights. A multilingual glossary and photos close out the work. Shines with a love of both planes and place. (Picture-book autobiography. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.