Inuit

Simonie loves to dance! When he sees a sign for Taloyoak’s annual Christmas Jigging Dance Contest, he can’t wait to enter. But practising is hard work, and Simonie starts to worry that he won’t do a good job in front of all his friends and neighbours.

Luckily, with a little advice from his anaana and ataata, and some help from his friends Dana and David, Simonie learns how to listen to the music and dance the way it makes him feel. When the time comes for the contest, he’s ready to dance his very best.

Based on the annual Christmas dance contest in the community of Taloyoak, Nunavut, this heartwarming picture book shows how a lot of hard work—and a little inspiration—can go a long way.

Educator Information
Ages 5-7.

Additional Information
30 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

When Tanna's father brings home an abandoned owl, she is not eager to take care of the needy, ugly little bird. Tanna must wake at 4:00 AM to catch food for the owl. She must feed it, clean up after it, all while avoiding its sharp, chomping beak and big, stomping talons.

After weeks of following her father's instructions on how to care for the owl, Tanna must leave home for school. Her owl has grown. It has lost its grey baby feathers and is beginning to sprout a beautiful adult snowy owl coat. As she says good-bye to the owl, she is relieved not to have to care for it anymore, but also is a bit sad.

This heartwarming story based on the author's own life experience teaches young readers the value of hard work, helping, and caring -- even when the thing you are caring for does not love you back.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for Grades K-2 in the areas of Language Arts and Social Studies.

Themes/Subjects: Connection to Land, Owls, Seasons, Animals, Responsibility, Caretaking.

This book is part of the Tanna's Animals series.

This book is available in French: Le Hibou de Tanna

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 10.00"

When two rabbit sisters ignore their parents' warnings and decide to play outside on the open tundra, a hungry owl soon spots them and decides they will make a delicious meal. As a chase ensues, the sisters must act quickly, using the owl's own greed against him in order to get away.  

A traditional Inuit story and cautionary tale, this book presents a centuries-old narrative for a new generation of readers. 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3-5.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.00" x 9.00"

When the earth was new, words had the power to breathe life into the world. But when creating animals from breath, sometimes one does not get everything right on the first try! 

Based on a traditional Inuit story passed forward orally for generations in the South Baffin region of Nunavut, this book shares with young readers the origin of the caribou and the walrus—and tells of how these animals looked very different when they were first conceived.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Included in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 1 to 3 for English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.50" x 9.50"

What do you see around you?

In this interactive book, children are challenged to look around the room and find the objects shown in the pictures. Children are encouraged to move and touch the things they find. This makes learning fun while supporting early language development.

Educator & Series Information
Bilingual: English and Inuktitut

Recommended Ages: 0-3

This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills. 

Additional Information
20 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

Learn about transportation in the Arctic!

This book features traditional and modern ways of getting around in the Arctic.

Educator & Series Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 3 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is LB.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Indigenous perspectives; Community engagement; History; Heritage

Recommended for ages 3-6.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 6.00" x 8.00"

Can you help Ukaliq and Kalla find things?

In this search-and-find book, children are encouraged to find objects hidden in different scenes.

Educator & Series Information
This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

This is a Search-and-Find book, which helps children develop their observational skills and reinforces early literacy skills and language development.

Recommended Ages: 0 to 3

Dual-Language: English and Inuktitut

Additional Information
14 pages | 10.00" x 8.25"

Can you help Ukaliq and Kalla find things on their camping trip?

In this search-and-Find book, children are encouraged to find objects hidden in different scenes.

Educator Information
This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

This is a Search-and-Find book, which helps children develop their observational skills and reinforces early literacy skills and language development.

Recommended Ages: 0 to 3

Dual-Language: English and Inuktitut

Additional Information
16 pages | 10.00" x 8.25"

I have a lot of things!

This book describes items a child in Nunavut might have.

Educator & Series Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 5 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is A.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Indigenous perspectives; Identity

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

What do you do in your community?

This book describes different activities children do in an Arctic community.

Educator & Series Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 7 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is C.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Indigenous perspectives; Community engagement; Roles and responsibilities

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
16 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Utak is from Nunavut. Peace is from Ghana, West Africa. They may be from different parts of the world, but many of the things they like to do are the same!

This book features common activities children might like to do, along with beautiful photographs of Nunavut and Ghana.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. The Nunavummi Reading Series is now offering books that explore a global perspective. This is one of those books, focusing on a child in Africa and another in Nunavut.

This book is a level 7 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level: C.

Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Identity; Indigenous Perspectives.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information
16 pages | 7.80" x 7.80"

What kinds of vehicles do people use in the North?

This non-fiction book introduces children to some of the means of transportation Nunavummiut use in the Arctic.

Educator Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 9 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is J.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; History; Heritage.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
20 pages | 6.00" x 8.00"

Find out how to build an iglu!

In this book, Grandpa explains to his grandchild how we make iglus today, how and why they were made traditionally, and stories about iglus.

Educator Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 11 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is O.

Curriculum Connection: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; Environmental Awareness; History; Heritage.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
32 pages | 9.00" x 7.00"

One beautiful spring morning, a group of friends go seal hunting so they can make a delicious stew. Hungry and tired, they begin to think they’ll have to give up . . . until they finally spot a seal!

This fun book brings to life a popular song by the one-of-a-kind band The Jerry Cans.

The fast-rising Northern stars The Jerry Cans create music inspired by their hometown of Iqaluit, Nunavut. With their unique mix of Inuktitut alt-country, throat singing, and reggae, The Jerry Cans are a distinctly Northern, one-of-a-kind group. The band members perform many of their songs in Inuktitut and are passionate about preserving the language, even as the North and their home community of Iqaluit evolve. They are committed to representing Northerners and to challenging common misperceptions they have encountered about life in the Arctic; their music evokes the contemporary North and the spirited people who reside there. It is not only their political motives, but their rapidly developing reputation for getting elders and young people dancing, that has forced people to start noticing this high-energy group. This truly unique band will take you on a stroll through the streets of Iqaluit to share a glimpse of life in Arctic.

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 5-7.

Delivered in a dual-language format of English and Inuktitut.

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Authenticity Note: One of the members of The Jerry Cans is an Inuk accordion player and throat singer. This book has received the Authentic Indigenous Text label because of its content, the Inuktitut language, and the fact that it is written in part by an Indigenous person. It is up to readers to determine if this book is authentic for their purposes.

Nilak has a lot of fun during the Arctic winter!

Nilak, a young polar bear, has fun sliding down hills and playing games on the sea ice, such as pretending to be an Arctic explorer or a tuniq from long ago!

Educator Information 
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic.  It is a Level 7 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is E.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; Environmental awareness; History; Heritage.

Recommended for ages 4-6.

Additional Information 
16 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"