The Moose of Ewenki

Keywords: translation, wildlife, nature, death, empathy

When a Mongolian elder named Gree Shrek hunts a female moose by mistake, her young calf is left behind. Saddened by her loss, Gree Shrek names the calf Xiao Han (“Little Moose”) and the moose and man form an authentic attachment. Xiao Han accompanies Gree Shrek as the hunter-gatherer herds reindeer, sets up camp, forages for food in the forest, and visits his peoples’ village, where many fun adventures happen. But as the little moose grows bigger, Gree Shrek knows he must return his companion to the forest.

Richly detailed, painterly illustrations by Chinese fine artist Jiu’er bring authenticity and beauty to this thoughtful book, which illuminates the traditional and vanishing way of life for the Ewenki peoples of Inner Mongolia.

Gerelchimeg Blackcrane is a multi-award-winning, bestselling author from Inner Mongolia, China, who has published dozens of books for children, some which have sold as many as five million copies in China. He currently lives on the Hulunbuir Grassland in Mongolia.

Jiu’er is an award-winning fine artist and sculptor, and the first female Chinese artist to be featured in the book list of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). She lives in Beijing, China, along with her Mongolian hunting dog, whose name is Huhe.