Overview

From these hands, old to new, a tradition of love passes through. In Alaska, Fall is moose season. When the hunt is over, the community comes together to transform the raw moose hide into something truly special, step by step, with the work of many hands. From stretching and scraping to making brain stew, each part of the process is a celebration! With humor and heart, debut author Karina Iceberg (Aleut/Alutiiq) and award-winning illustrator Natasha Donovan (Métis) share a resonant message of gratitude, community, and shared knowledge as an intertribal Native Alaskan community works together to tan a moose hide.  Features author's note and a note from Heartdrum author-curator Cynthia Leitich Smith.

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9780063254930

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Reviews

""Simple yet utterly joyous--a testament to Indigenous identity that exudes gratitude."" - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ""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."" - Publisher's Weekly (starred review) ""A fascinating glimpse into a time-honored Indigenous practice. Respect and gratitude for the animal are highlighted throughout, from the opening blessing through the using of every part of the moose."" - Booklist

Author Information

Karina Iceberg holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her debut picture book, A Good Hide, publishes with Heartdrum in January 2026. Her work has appeared in two anthologies: Legendary Frybread Drive-In, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Onward: Climate Fiction to Inspire Hope, edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter. Karina is a member of the Aleut (Unangax^) and Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) Nations of Alaska. Natasha Donovan is a self-taught illustrator from Vancouver, British Columbia, with a focus on comics and children's illustration. Her work has appeared in two anthologies: The Other Side, edited by Melanie Gillman and Kori Handwerker, and This Place. She illustrated the award-winning children's book The Sockeye Mother by Brett D. Huson and the graphic novel Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett. She has a degree in anthropology from the University of British Columbia and has worked in academic and magazine publishing. She currently lives in Bellingham, Washington. Natasha Donovan is a member of the Métis Nation of British Columbia.

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