A bilingual (Cree/English) story tells of unexpected drama one winter afternoon when a contemporary Cree family goes ice fishing. Cody and Joe accompany Mama and Papa on the dog sled. They family picnics by the side of the lake and the boys play. Then a tired Joe snuggles with Mama in the sled while Cody goes off with Papa to set the net. That’s when the sled dogs catch whiff of a fox and take off running across the lake. “Mama dug her heels into the snow on both sides of the sled. Joe squealed with glee. 'Whoa!’ Mama screamed to the dogs. 'Whoa, whoa, whoa!’ But the dogs didn’t listen.” Papa must abandon the net and race after the sled to help stop it. But Cody’s dog Ootsie saves the net, to everyone’s surprise and delight. The overall soothing tone of this picture book narrative is punctuated by brief high suspense in a welcome story illustrated by oil paintings that beautifully evoke the cold winter landscape. (Ages 5–8)