Inuit

Sukaq loves to drift off to sleep listening to his mother tell him stories. His favourite story is the tale of how a raven created the world. But this time, as his mother begins to tell the story and his eyelids become heavy, he is suddenly whisked away on the wings of the raven to ride along as the entire world is formed! This traditional legend from Inuit storyteller Roy Goose is brought to life through co-author Kerry McCluskey's jubilant retelling.

Additional Information
36 pages | 9.25" x 9.25" | Paperback

Join in on the Sun Celebration in Grise Fiord, Nunavut, in this charming bilingual storybook!

Suupi lives in Grise Fiord, Nunavut. After three months of darkness in her community, the sun is finally about to return. Suupi and her friends can’t focus on their schoolwork. Today they will celebrate the return of the sun! There will be a sliding competition, a school performance, and a community feast. But Suupi is nervous about performing with her class in front of so many people. Will she find a way to overcome her fear?

Written by an author from Grise Fiord, a community in Nunavut where the sun doesn’t rise for nine months, Suupi and the Sun Celebration introduces readers to traditions within this Northern community that commemorate the return of the sun each year.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Bilingual Inuktitut and English Edition

Themes: Family, Community, Return of the Sun, Celebrations, Singing, Traditional Songs, Throat Singing, Sun Celebration

This book is part of the Community Connections series.

Additional Information
44 pages | 8.00" x 8.00". Paperback

“Long ago, there lived great giants in the Arctic.”

But where did they go? Learn all about the famous giants of the North, including Inukpasuksuk, Nuvuja, and others. Why do winds from the south bring warm weather? What happens when the giant in the sky gets upset? The Great Giants of the Arctic answers these questions and more using simple language for young readers to enjoy.

This stunningly illustrated bilingual picture book serves as an early-level introduction to the rich, mysterious world of Inuit mythology. Adapted by author and linguist Jaypeetee Arnakak with the intention of teaching Inuktitut as as a second language, The Great Giants of the Arctic can be enjoyed by Inuktitut language learners and curious young readers alike.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Bilingual: Inuktitut and English

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"| Hardcover

Uncover the incredible life story of Germaine Arnattaujuq, a singularly important Inuit artist, in this high interest/low reading level reference book for struggling readers.

Germaine Arnattaujuq is an award-winning Inuit artist. This book tells the story of her life, from growing up at a camp in Nunavut to her education as an artist in Winnipeg and Ottawa and her eventual return to the North. Germaine's incredible drawings, etchings, and illustrations are featured throughout the book, along with archival photographs.

Filled with personal anecdotes and fun facts, this book encourages reluctant readers to discover how Germaine started drawing on gum wrappers as a child and went on to become one of the most well-known artists from the North.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 12 to 18.

This is a Hi-Lo (high-interest, low readability) book.

Additional Information
60 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | Colour Photographs | Paperback

This traditional story, retold by Kugaaruk Elder Levi Illuitok, tells the tale of a Inuk boy who is adopted by little folk­—a magical race of small Arctic people called inugarulliit. The boy’s adopted parents finally allow him to go hunting, where he catches a lemming. The little folk use their abilities to turn the lemming into a polar bear, and the catch is stored at their iglu. The boy’s parents are proud that their son can provide lots of meat to share with the community. This is a magical introduction to a traditional Inuit story for young readers.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
28 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover

A young girl discovers nature’s surprising beauty in this tale from a renowned Inuit storyteller.

When Aggataa goes for a cold winter walk with her grandmother, she’s surprised by a sudden CRAH! All the birds have flown south for the winter except one kind—the tulugarguat, the ravens. They’re the ugliest birds that Aggaataa has ever seen. They look like they slept in their coats—coats that don’t even fit! However, as the winter slowly moves towards spring, Aggataa connects with one small raven in particular.

As the seasons change in full, the ravens leave and are replaced by seagulls, cranes, geese, ducks, and swans—all of them far more elegant than the “Ugly Bird.” But where Aggataa once thought the ravens odd for visiting during the harshest part of the year, she now finds herself watching the horizon, waiting for the return of the most amazing bird.

This touching story by award-winning author Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak reminds us of our lasting connection to nature, while art by celebrated illustrator Andrew Qappik illuminates the enduring magic of the changing seasons.

Awards

• 2020 Top 10 Picture Books of the Year, The Globe and Mail joint winner
• 2020 Kirkus Best Books List joint winner

Reviews
“The illustrations enrich the text and celebrate the heartwarming message that nature is a wonderful gift that we can connect to and relish.”— Storywraps

“Stunningly contemporary and amazingly timeless.”— Kirkus Reviews

“Sparse illustrations of arctic flora and fauna against the unforgiving snow and ice make this picture book immersive.” — Foreword Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Michael's story is about connection to nature and each other.

The art in this story is an authentic depiction of the Arctic landscape and provides the Inuit names for the birds.

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.50" x 6.90" | Paperback

In very early times, there was no night or day and words spoken by chance could become real. When a hare and a fox meet and express their longing for light and darkness, their words are too powerful to be denied. Passed orally from storyteller to storyteller for hundreds of years, this beautifully illustrated story weaves together elements of an origin story and a traditional animal tale, giving young readers a window into Inuit mythology.

Educator Information
Recommended in a Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools resource list as being useful for grades 2-5 in these subject areas: English Language Arts, Social Studies.

Useful as a read-aloud, independent read, or information resource for students.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 8.00" | Paperback

As Owl swoops down and blocks the entrance to a lemming den, he is sure that he has a tasty meal in the little animal he has cornered. But this lemming is not about to be eaten! This smart little rodent will need to appeal to the boastful owl's sense of pride to get away. This fun and cheeky tale is accompanied by full-colour still photographs of custom-built characters on a hand-built set.

Educator Information
This book is available in French: Le hibou et le lemming

Additional Information
36 pages | 9.00" x 7.00" | Paperback

In this retelling of an Inuit traditional story from the Western Arctic, a doll made by a poor old woman who is cast aside by her camp magically comes to life. The boy, with the beak of a raven from the materials the doll was crafted from, lives and is raised as the old woman’s son. When he is finally old enough to venture out on his own, he embarks on an epic journey to fight a beast from the depths of the ocean to create his own island world.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.50" x 9.50" | Hardcover

Wolf wants to know how Fox catches so many fish. Fox thinks Wolf is trying to play a trick on him. Wolf claims he will catch many more fish than Fox ever could. Can Fox teach Wolf a lesson about being boastful and greedy?

Discover this engaging retelling of an Inuit traditional story, which has been simplified for young readers to enjoy.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Bilingual: Inuktitut and English

F&P Level: L

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

Etua Snowball shares his childhood experience with the unlikeliest of friend—an Arctic wolf pup that he meets at a remote camp where the boy spends his summers.

As the child and the pup become more comfortable with one another, they go hunting, walking, exploring, and catching butterflies together across the tundra. With the end of summer approaching, the young boy knows he must soon return home. Will he gain enough trust from the pup to be able to pet it before he leaves?

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Inspired by a true story!

This book is part of the My Wild Arctic Friends series.

Additional Information
28 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover

When a mother and daughter find a polar bear cub alone on the sea ice, the daughter cannot bear to leave it behind. Finding no mother bear in sight, the two adopt the cub and raise it as the girl’s brother.

The cub and the girl become fast friends—even if the cub’s bear sense of smell always means he wins at hide-and-seek! The cub hunts for the community, and they never want for food. But the cub continues to grow, and eventually he is no longer a fuzzy little cub, but a powerful full-grown bear. Some in the community become fearful of the bear, but the girl and her mother love him just the same.

That is, until one day, the bear returns from a hunt with another bear by his side. The mother soon learns that they need to let the cub go, in order for him to live the happy life they want for him.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 9.50" | Hardcover

Team Tuktu and Friends is up to bat! Ukaliq is excited to spend the day with his friends, but he’s nervous about playing Inuktitut baseball. What if he isn’t any good at it? Tiri is fast, Nanuq is strong, and Tuktu has good aim. What if Ukaliq can’t even hit the ball? As the game ramps up and Ukaliq steps up to the plate, will he be able to discover his own unique baseball talent?

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 - 5.

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.

Ukaliq Learns to Play Inuktitut Baseball shows children that everyone has their own unique skills.

F&P Level: L

Bilingual: English and Inuktitut

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Paperback

Ukpik, une jeune fille qui habite dans le Grand Nord canadien, est ravie de découvrir l’existence d’objets pratiques qu’un capitaine a apportés avec lui en bateau.Mais bientôt, elle commence à se demander si leur introduction dans son campement est un signe que son mode de vie va changer.Ce magnifique album sur la vie familiale et communautaire, écrit par la musicienne primée Susan Aglukark, charmera les jeunes lecteurs.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3+

This book is available in English: Una Huna? What Is This?

Unikkaaqtuat is the Inuktitut word meaning "to tell stories."

This definitive collection of Inuit legends is thoughtfully introduced and carefully annotated to provide the historical and cultural context in which to understand this rich oral tradition. Fascinating and educational, this little-known part of Canada's heritage will captivate readers of all ages. As a work of historical and cultural preservation, this textbook will be invaluable to those studying Inuit.

Additional Information
320 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | 100 b&w line drawings | Hardcover | 2nd Edition