Juvenile Fiction

Pauloosie loves his pet rock, Miki Rock. Pauloosie’s Anaana, his mother, tells him a bedtime story about what Miki Rock sees, hears, and feels in his Arctic home. As part of the land, Miki Rock sees char and beluga, listens to chirps and howls, and feels the snow and sun.

Through lyrical text and ethereal landscape illustrations by Pelin Turgut, readers are taken on an Arctic journey from the point of view of a most unlikely object—a child’s pet rock.

Two sisters have waited all spring and summer to pick berries with their ningiuq, their grandmother. They've gone fishing, dug for clams, and by the time late summer arrives, it's finally time for berries!

Ninguiq and the girls head out to pick berries, rain or shine—nothing will stop Ningiuq! Through driving rain and early autumn snow the girls and Ningiuq pick as many sweet berries as their buckets can hold. The hard work is all worth it to enjoy the delicious treats Ninguiq creates with her berries.

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.

All Inuit know about the qalupaliit, strange creatures that live under the sea ice and carry away unsuspecting children on their backs. But when one bright young orphan strays too close to the ice, he soon learns that while qalupaliit may be very scary, they are also easily tricked.

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.

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. This complex cautionary tale will leave readers pondering the values of empathy, vanity, and compassion for those less fortunate.

What should you do if you encounter a Qivittoq? Can you outrun the fabled Ikusik? And what is a Tupilak made of?

About 4500 years ago, the first Inuit landed in Greenland via North America, bringing with them stories about the mythical beings that lived alongside them. These creatures and monsters have survived the ravages of time and tide, although they have sometimes had to re-invent themselves to fit the modern world.

This handy pocket guide will help guide you through the do’s and don'ts should you encounter any of these creatures in the Arctic wilderness.

Happy hunting!

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?

This story is dedicated to the author's mother and father, both of whom are residential school survivors.

Told in the voice of a boy and his father by turns, this book takes a thoughtful and heartfelt look at the emotional toll of a child being taken from their family and community to attend residential school. While the child’s internal monologue expresses his fear, confusion, and loss, the father’s monologue conveys his own sadness, fears, and hopes for the future of his child. The narrative gives voice to the things left unsaid between a parent and child experiencing this heart-rending separation. Upon his return to his community, when father and son are reunited, they must start the long process of reconnection.

Based on the author’s family history of residential school separation, this book provides a unique perspective on the difficult cycle of loss, reconnection, and regaining hope for the future.

Akuluk is not excited about visiting her grandparents in Nunavut. She would rather head south for summer vacation, somewhere with roller coasters and cotton candy. There can't be much to do way up there, Akuluk figures. But as soon as she steps off the plane and sees all the exciting animals that the tundra has to offer, Akuluk forgets all about her dreams of going south. On her first full day in Nunavut, she can't wait to travel out on the land with her grandfather to hunt for wild eggs.

As she learns about the different types of eggs, how to collect them properly, and the delicious meals that can be prepared with them, Akuluk knows that this is just the beginning of the exciting things she'll learn about the Arctic.

Little Bo is afraid of the dark. When the other troll children run out into the night to play, he doesn’t dare to follow them. One day at sunrise his best friend Glowy doesn’t return to the cave. If trolls are outside when the sun shines they turn into stone! But even though the sun is about to rise above the distant mountains, Bo runs out to rescue his friend. . . .

“A bilingual sampler—cold of setting but warm of spirit.” — ★ Kirkus

Kudlu's children will not go to sleep until he tells them a story of long ago. Before they will shut their eyes, they want to hear about a time long before Kudlu was born, a time when the world was magic. Before they can sleep, they want to hear about giants, animals disguised as humans, little people the size of lemmings, and all of the other wonderful things that existed way back then.

This beautifully illustrated picture books tells the story of the spirit of the sea, referred to as Nuliajuq, Sedna, Takannaaluk, and many other Inuktitut names.
Once a young woman who refused to marry, the lies and deceit of a treacherous bird and her own father's cowardice lead Nuliajuq to a life of solitude at the bottom of the ocean as the powerful, at times vengeful, spirit of the sea.

The Spirit of the Sea provides young readers with an authentic retelling of one of the most important, powerful legends in the canon of Inuit traditional stories.

In this traditional story from the Western Arctic, a kind giant adopts a human boy. One night, after a meal, the giant gives the boy one job, to watch for grizzly bears while he sleeps. Each time the boy sees a bear, he wakes the giant. But the giant is so big he is not concerned with any regular grizzly. That is until a giant grizzly appears and the giant must fight to protect himself and his adopted son!

Told in a manner faithful to the original traditional story, passed forward for generations, this thrilling tale will delight young readers looking for adventure.

“All aboard our little boat!

We’ll sail all night.

Let’s see where we float!”

Full speed ahead as two siblings sail off for dreamland! Before these two can settle down under the covers, they cruise off onto the Arctic Ocean to bid goodnight to narwhals and guillemots, minkes and belugas. They sail past clouds shaped like polar bears and marvel at the multitudes of stars that twinkle between them. Before dawn pulls them back to their own cozy bedroom, they snack with the seals on the bow of their ship, waving goodbye as from dreamland to daytime they go.

Big or small, sweet or savoury, with stew or with sprinkles, there are tons of ways to enjoy bannock!

This sweet and simple rhyming book explores a food that is a popular tradition with Inuit and other Indigenous people, and has some fun along the way. What’s your favourite way to eat bannock?
Try it at home with the included bannock recipe!

Written by Inuk/Dene writer Masiana Kelly, this sweet and simple narrative celebrates this delicious food!

USBBY OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL BOOK 

"[A] wonderful and touching story" — New York Time Book Review

"A breath of warmth from the far north"— Kirkus Reviews

Susan and her sister, Rebecca, love watching their mother write letters to people in other camps. Their mother has one precious pencil, and she keeps it safe in her box for special things. One afternoon, their mother leaves the iglu to help a neighbour, and Susan, Rebecca, and their brother Peter are left with their father. They play all their regular games but are soon out of things to do—until their father brings out the pencil! As Susan draws and draws, the pencil grows shorter and shorter. What will their mother think when she comes home? Based on author Susan Avingaq’s childhood memories of growing up in an iglu, this charming story introduces young readers to the idea of using things wisely.

When Lemming overhears some children singing about Christmas, she can't help but wonder about this new holiday. Qimmiq the sled dog knows all about Christmas. It's the time of year when Santa brings presents to put under your tree! 

But...what is a tree? There aren't any trees where Lemming lives, in the treeless Arctic, so she decides to go on the hunt for a tree in order to have her very first Merry Christmas. 

Filled with charming holiday illustrations featuring sweet Arctic animals, this book offers a warm and inviting new take on beloved Christmas traditions.

When a poor farming family loses their only cow, Bukolla, the parents send their son to look for it. After much searching, the boy discovers Bukolla and frees her. But, they are soon pursued by ogres! The boy and his cow work to escape the ogres—with some magical help from Bukolla.

Tanna’s Puppy is the third installment of authors Rachel and Sean Qitsualik‑Tinsley’s acclaimed series of children’s books that explore Rachel’s childhood experiences with Arctic animals. 
Training dogs has been a strong Inuit tradition for generations. Sled dogs in Inuit communities are valued working animals with a clear and important purpose. Tanna has always known that dogs are not pets. They are not meant to live in houses. Then one day, Tanna is given a puppy to raise. Tanna is sure her father will not let her keep Dandy as a pet. She eventually convinces her father to let Dandy into the house, just as a test. Will Dandy’s love for her owners win Father over to having a dog as a pet?
A heartwarming tale of the unique realities of Northern life and the changing definitions of what it means to be a family.

Praise for the Tanna's Animals series!

"Based on Burt Award–winning, Inuit-Cree author Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley’s childhood memories of growing up on Baffin Island, this outstanding picture book shares essential teachings on the importance of responsibility, patience, and respect."—★ Quill & Quire, Starred Review

"Tanna’s Owl by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang (Inhabit Media, 5-7) perfectly captures the sense of connection between the Inuit and the Arctic environment they live in."— The Globe and Mail

In a surprising and heart-warming story, Etua Snowball shares his childhood experience of meeting and befriending a baby caribou.

After a chance encounter with a herd of caribou, a fawn follows a young boy back to his cabin. The boy and fawn spend the summer together exploring the northern landscape, picking berries, and swimming in the lake. Then one day the boy and fawn get an unexpected visitor, and the boy must learn how to say goodbye to his furry friend.

This tenderly told follow-up to the acclaimed To My Panik: To My Daughter highlights the unique beauty of a mother-son bond. In this lovingly told book, a mother recounts for her son all the things she loves about him, connecting each attribute to an element of the Arctic landscape or Inuit traditional life. Her son is strong, like a polar bear carrying its cubs across the frozen sea. He is gentle, like a delicate blade of cottongrass. He’s as steadfast as the spark that lights the campfire, and as invigorating as a sip of icy river water. This beautiful narrative of connection and love will warm the hearts of all readers.

The Grumpy Faces are a gang of whimsical woodland and Arctic creatures that care deeply about their habitats and encourage creativity wherever they go. In their first literary adventure, Polar Bear, Fox, and Wolf head out on a journey to find some snacks. On their way, they must learn how to be kind and understanding of each other, and work together toward their goal.

Cute and heartwarming, The Grumpy Faces are sure to bring a smile to every reader’s face, while also helping kids understand their emotions and how to navigate the differences they see in those around them.

Based on an ancient Inuit traditional story, this beautifully illustrated picture book tells of the appearance of the first humans on earth, and how from them all the peoples of the earth emerged. From a mound of simple dirt, through magic and intention, the world we know today slowly takes shape across the page.

Retold with loving care by Inuit author and actress Maika Harper, The First Peoples is both mythical and magical, an ancient tale brought to life for new generations.

Piujuq is a kind young woman who loves to take long walks on the tundra and dance by her favourite lake surrounded by butterflies. But one day, she encounters a stranger on her walk. When this person asks a favour of Piujuq, she happily obliges, and that kindness leaves Piujuq stuck in the body of a caterpillar. Alone, and thinking that no one could ever love her because of how she looks, Piujuq does not return to her camp. Instead, she lives a lonely life on the tundra as a caterpillar. Until one day, when another stranger appears . . .
Based on a traditional Inuit story, this tale of inner beauty, kindness, and magic is a perfect addition to any young reader's bookshelf.

Siasi is always reminded by her parents to help others. In Inuit traditional values, helping others keeps the community strong and healthy.

Whether it’s helping her father with the fishing nets, making sure her little sister stays safe on her bike, or just helping to keep the house clean and tidy, Siasi learns that helping others can be fun and also feels pretty good inside!

Nanuraq and Jeela can’t wait to visit their grandmother at her cabin!

The cabin is cozy with the smell of bannock and a qulliq glowing. Grandma explains how she made the qulliq herself! Before long, the kids are pointing out other neat things around the cabin, like wooden dolls, bone toys, and pincushions. The kids learn that Grandma has made all of these items out of found objects.

Through exploring the cabin with their grandmother, the kids learn about the importance of being creative and not being wasteful.

Kiviuq, one of the greatest and most important characters in Inuit mythology, is said to have travelled over land and sea overcoming obstacles and successfully defeating various fearsome foes. In Kiviuq and the Mermaids, young readers experience one of Kiviuq's most heartpounding adventures: an encounter with a group of frightening mermaids. With only his qayaq to keep him out of their clutches, Kiviuq must think fast to defeat these angry creatures of the deep!

Even though she at first feels that she will never be able to reach her destination, she keeps her grandmother's assurance that her "destination is not running away; it will be reached eventually" in mind and ends up enjoying the journey that at first seemed so daunting.

Kiviuq, one of the greatest and most important characters in Inuit mythology, is said to have traveled over land and sea, overcoming obstacles and successfully defeating formidable foes. In Kiviuq and the Bee Woman, Kiviuq faces one of his most frightening opponents yet: Iguttarjuaq, a bee in human form. Known as the Bee Woman, she is a fearsome figure who is said to cook and eat humans. Trapped in her tent, Kiviuq must use all his powers to get to his qajaq and escape the Bee Woman!