Robert Munsch is a Canadian author and a favourite of our family so the chance to get to read a copy of one of his beautiful books that focuses on Canada’s most northern peoples through Netgalley was not something we wanted to miss out on! A Promise is a Promise is an amazing combination of beautiful imagery and stroytelling that is not to be missed. Based on an Inuit legend meant to keep the children away from dangerous ice conditions the Quallupilluit is a beautifully scary creature that comes to take children who come near the ice cracks in the sea along away. Promising never to take one who is with their parents children are taught to never venture out alone. That is until Allashua misbehaves and makes a promise as… A Promise is a Promise! 

I have to admit we are biased… we have not read a Robert Munsch book that I we haven’t loved. A Promise is a Promise did not disappoint. The illustrations are amazing and the story beautiful. The lesson is learned but at the same time the legend it brought to kids who have no background in Inuit culture without loosing all of the context. The next time we cover the Inuit people we are going to have to read this one again. 

Sadly my Kindle app version did not have the illustrations but when I loaded it up on my Kindle Fire it was fine, but with small print. I would suggest purchasing a paper copy of this book. But enough from the adult point of view… here is what my kids have to say, and as usual beware of spoilers! 

Trinity: I learned you should always do what my mommy and daddy say. The book was pretty nice. I liked the dancing best. 

Emanuel: You always should listen to your mom and dad. My favourite part was the singing of Quallupilluit. 

Gavin: I liked the characters because I liked their pointy blue hair – it looks like feathers (the Qallupilluit). I thought the cracks were cool. I would love to read this again. 

Zander: It was a pretty good book. I want to know why the kid didn’t listen. My favourite part was when they tricked the Qallupilluit with candy, dancing and bread. I would read this again, probably. 

Be sure to check Robert Munsch’s page for a list of all his amazing books HERE. 

A Promise is a Promise