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A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North: (New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, ALA Notable Children's Book; Eskimoan)

Author: Peter Sis
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $1.09
You Save: $13.91 (93%)



Used (24) Collectible (5) from $1.09

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 5 reviews
Sales Rank: 375002

Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Pages: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 11 x 9.8 x 0.5

ISBN: 0679843450
EAN: 9780679843450
ASIN: 0679843450

Publication Date: September 14, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Also Available In:

  • Hardcover - A Small Tall Tale From The Far Far North
  • Paperback - A Small Tall Tale From The Far Far North
  • Turtleback - Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North
  • Library Binding - A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North
  • Hardcover - A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North
  • Paperback - A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North
  • School & Library Binding - Small Tall Tale From The Far Far North

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  • Tibet Through the Red Box: Through The Red Box (Caldecott Honor Book)
  • The Three Golden Keys

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
This spectacularly beautiful, inventive picture-book journal of life with the Alaskan Eskimos at the turn of the century is a brilliant leap of the imagination and the embodiment of the aphorism "every picture tells a story." Full color throughout.


Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Not only a children's book...   February 8, 2008
GG (California)
Beautifully illustrated with a great tale to tell. Since receiving this book I've purchased 3 other Peter Sis books...for children and adults.


5 out of 5 stars "WANDERERS . . . anchored ne'er shall be . . ." (Byron)   June 13, 2007
mcHaiku (Brown County INDIANA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

A SMALL TALL TALE of the FAR FAR NORTH by Peter Sis recalls the life & adventures of JAN WELZL, a folk hero in Czechoslovakia where the author was born. In the late 1800s the author's hero Welzl made his way overland from central Europe VIA Siberia and 'the land bridge' to the North American continent. You will both learn and laugh as you follow his adventures!

The editors state "illustrations were done in colored inks, watercolors, acrylic gold & rubber stamps on aquarelle paper, and DRIED IN FRONT OF AN OVEN" . . . All the drawings by Sis are captivating: the Inuit (Eskimo) figures in their tiny format, as well as the animals now so shrunken in numbers. Jan Welzl's odyssey of thirty years is presented in literally spiral-ing form - - a Tall Tale merging into Time Travel, or vice versa? The story of this man is part truth, part invention - like all of Life.

Having learned from the Inuit how to survive, Jan Welzl schemed - in gratitude - to defend his friends from exploitation by foreigners. Thus, the twist to this delightfully TALL tale of Peter Sis. He casts a shining light on the life of his hero who inspired in many these essential elements of his own character: "curiosity, courage, decency and a love of the Arctic."

Is it possible that the inventor of the "Griffin & Sabine" books, Nick Bantock, may have found his inspiration in Peter Sis? To any lover of miniature objects, his artistry is brilliant. It took reviewer mcHAIKU far too long to discover this title, especially being the niece of a climatologist who died in an igloo while doing arctic studies for the Pentagon.

Track this book down & savor it. Read it WITH children & be prepared to search out answers to their questions, stimulating further research as well as inner yearnings for exploration. Allow all children (& the child in adults) to be enchanted by the Unknown. Open your mind to new ideas, and allow every mind, with the poet Byron, to be wanderers in the Universe!



5 out of 5 stars Great children's book   October 14, 2004
Mikin Bilina (Dawson, Yukon Canada)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

Great book and illustrations.
Jan Welzl died here in Dawson City in 1948. Location of his grave was forgotten, but it was re-discovered by Rachel Taber, student of profesor Krejci of University of Alaska in 1987.
The grave was restored by his Czech countrymen in 1994 and is located in Public Cementary just next to R.C.M.P. cementary.



5 out of 5 stars Enchanting....   August 20, 2001
Roz Levine (Virginia)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Peter Sis has blended a little fact with a lot of fiction to create this fascinating story about Arctic explorer and folk hero, Jan Welzl. Born in Eastern Europe, Welzl travelled north looking for adventure and was saved from near death by Eskimos who nursed him back to health and taught him everything they knew about living and surviving in the harsh arctic climate. But when gold is found and the outside world arrives, Welzl worries that his trusting friends will lose their peaceful way of life..... Peter Sis has written a charming and enchanting story that's sure to capture all youngsters' imaginations and send them soaring. His quiet, idealistic, understated text is only outdone by his amazing evocative artwork which mixes maps, panoramas, pictographs and storyboards and children will be mesmerized by their intricacy and detail. With a prologue and epilogue to help fill in both the fact and fancy of the story, A Small Tall Tale From The Far Far North is perfect for youngsters 8-12 and is a captivating story that begs to be read again and again.


4 out of 5 stars A delightful little book...   November 22, 1998
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I'm sorry to see that this delightful, albeit different, book is out of stock. I would never expect it to be a best seller. Nonetheless, the imaginative story and interesting art work are worth a look.


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