The Itchy Little Musk Ox

The patience of a little musk ox is sorely tried when he suffers an itch that he cant scratch. Theres not a tree in sightnothing to rub against for reliefso he wanders away from the herd looking for a branch, a rock pile, anything. On his journey, he meets with three individuals: a buffalo, a wolf, and a Native woman. Through his interaction with each one, he learns something new and affirming about himself before returning to the herd. Endnotes include information about how musk ox were native to Alaska until they were decimated by hunters in 1865, then reintroduced in the early 1930s; biological/behavioral details about the animals; and info about the cottage industry among Native villages in which women knit the qiviut (KIV-ee-oot), the rare underwool, into beautiful, warm garments. Learn more two-page section provides facts and information about the animal and about qiviut, the softest wool in the world which comes from musk ox.

Ever had an itch you couldn’t scratch? If you’re like this itchy little musk ox, that unreachable itchy spot is all you can think about. Impatient and disgusted with his “good-for-nothing” horns, the itchy little musk ox wanders from his herd on the tundra to search for something to rub against. Join him on his adventurous journey into the forest, where he learns the difference between friends and enemies, and discovers that his itch was good for something after all! After the story, read the fun facts about this unique animal of the Arctic and their amazing comeback in Alaska. Also included are the details about the warm clothing that is knitted from its rare underwool, called qiviut (KIV-ee-yute), in a special cottage industry among Alaska Native women.

The patience of a little musk ox is sorely tried when he suffers an itch that he cant scratch. Theres not a tree in sightnothing to rub against for reliefso he wanders away from the herd looking for a branch, a rock pile, anything. On his journey, he meets with three individuals: a buffalo, a wolf, and a Native woman. Through his interaction with each one, he learns something new and affirming about himself before returning to the herd. Endnotes include information about how musk ox were native to Alaska until they were decimated by hunters in 1865, then reintroduced in the early 1930s; biological/behavioral details about the animals; and info about the cottage industry among Native villages in which women knit the qiviut (KIV-ee-oot), the rare underwool, into beautiful, warm garments. Learn more two-page section provides facts and information about the animal and about qiviut, the softest wool in the world which comes from musk ox.