I was so happy to get some Inuit picture books sent to me and I wanted to learn more about the Inuit.
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. The Inuit languages are part of the Eskimo–Aleut languages also known as Inuit-Yupik-Unangan and also as Eskaleut. from Wikipedia
Many of the picture books on this list have Inuit words — Inuktitut — which is the traditional oral language of Inuit in the Arctic. “Spoken in Canada and Greenland, as well as in Alaska, Inuktitut, and its many dialects are used by peoples from region to region, with some variations. … Other peoples to use this written system were the Alaskan Yupik and Inupiat, and the Siberian Yupik…
Today, Arctic peoples from different regions speak their own dialects of Inuktitut, Yupik, and Inupiaq languages. The differences may be as minor as tone or sound variations or may include different word usage altogether.” from Library and Archives Canada
@shinanova Katajjaq, throat singing @kayuulanova #katajjaq #inuit #throatsinger ♬ original sound – Shina Nova
Let’s celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with these Inuit Picture books! What are your favorites? Thanks for sharing!
Inuit Picture Books
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joose
The Inuit culture and Arctic wildlife are highlighted in this board book of the familiar question that children like to pose to their parents.
The little girl probes her mother’s love for her with different scenarios to test her: breaking Ptarmigan eggs, putting lemmings in her mukluks, running away, or turning into a polar bear. No matter what, the mama assures her daughter that she will love her, no matter what, forever and for always. [board books, ages 1 and up]
To My Panik // To My Daughter by Nadia Sammurtok, illustrated by Pelin Turgut
This is an Inuit version of Guess How Much I Love You? A mama assures her young daughter of her unconditional love, using references to the natural world of the tundra. This is a beautiful and timeless book to pair up with the other well-known classic, Guess How Much I Love You? [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Little Bear: An Inuit Folktale retold by Dawn Casey, illustrated by Amanda Hall
An old woman finds a freezing bear cub on the ice edge. It had no mother so she took him home and raised her like her own child. The village embraced the polar bear as he grew up, big and strong. The polar bear was gentle with the children and hunted on behalf of the village. One day, when the men went hunting with the polar bear, another village happened upon the bear and hunted him, wounding him before his villagers could call off the hunter. The old woman nursed her polar bear back to health and told him to return to the wild. It’s a difficult goodbye but every year, they meet in the winter. Polar bear son and mother. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
In My Anaana’s Amautik by Nadia Sammurtok, illustrated by Lenny Lishchenko
An amautik is the fur parka worn by women with a built-in pouch just below the hood to carry a baby or toddler. Children up to two years of age stay warm and cozy with their mamas (anaana). In this story, the child carried in his or her mother’s amautik feels loved and warm. Use this book to talk about how babies and toddlers are transported in other cultures. I used a Baby Bjorn for my kids and my husband carried our toddlers in a special backpack called a Kelty. [picture book, ages 0 and up]
Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis
Celina Kalluk, an acclaimed Inuit throat singer, wrote this love song to a newborn baby who is blessed by gifts from all the animals of the artic. “Kulu” is a word of endearment in Inuktitut. [picture book, ages 0 and up]
How Nivi Got Her Names by Laura Deal, illustrated by Charlene Chua
Learn about the Inuit Kinship Naming Practices: many Inuit are born with a multitude of names, as opposed to the more common Western way of naming with a first name, middle name, and last name.
Nivi’s full name is Niviaq Kauki Baabi Irmela Jamsie. Each of her names was chosen carefully to reflect the many connections she has from influences past and present. For example, because she’s adopted from another family through Inuit custom adoption, her second name reflects her birth mother, Kauki.
Baabi, a special family friend, appeared in her mother’s dream, and his name, through her, keeps his spirit alive. Inuit kinship and naming customs, tuqlurausiit, are further explained in the forward and endnotes. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
A Symphony of Whales by Steve Schuch, illustrated by Peter Sylvada
A beautiful and haunting story about a Siberian girl who comes up with a plan to save hundreds of beluga whales trapped by ice.
“This is based on the true story of the rescue of beluga whales by the people of the Chuchki peninsular.” From Mom2girls [picture book, ages 4 and up]
I Am Loved by Mary and Kevin Qamaniq-Mason, illustrated by Hwei Lim
Indigenous children account for 52.2 per cent of children in foster care in private homes, according to 2016 census data. Indigenous children make up only seven per cent of the youth population in Canada. from CBC News
This is a story of an Inuit boy who now lives with a foster family. He reminds himself that he is loved by his mother (Anaana) who can’t care for him because she needs to get well. He also misses his large extended family.
This story is a reminder that more Indigenous kids are in care now than under the residential school system. “Foster care is modern-day residential school system: Inuk MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.”
Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me A Story by Aviaq Johnston, illustrated by Tamara Campeau
A Bowhead whale tells the depths of his love to his grandson. The Bowhead whale is believed to be the longest-living mammal in the world with a life span of more than two hundred years! The Bowhead whale is named for the shape of its skull which can break through sea ice of up to seven inches! It is the only baleen whale endemic to the Arctic. [picture book, ages 0 and up]
The Shaman’s Apprentice by Zacharias Kunuk, illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith
A very sick man needs to be healed and the shaman and her apprentice, her granddaughter, must travel to the supernatural underworld to discover his cure. This story of folklore/mythology reminds me of the Greek and Roman gods Hades and Pluto. The story also reflects the Inuit values of sharing, courage, and forgiveness. [picture book, ages 8 and up]
How I Survived Four Nights On The Ice by Serapio Ittusardjuat, illustrated by Matthew K. Hoddy
The artic with its harsh climate is a dangerous place to be in the depths of winter. The Inuit, they are taught survival skills to withstand even the worst situation. Serapio shares his personal story of survival in which not just his survival skills but his mental fortitude enabled him to endure four nights on the ice without shelter. In the endnote, the author says that he attended residential schools that focused on stripping him of his Inuit identity. His story is also one of preserving his culture with the skills and mental attitude that enabled him to survive his predicament but also pass on his knowledge to the next generation. [graphic novels, ages 8 and up]
Putuguq & Kublu and the Attack of the Amautalik! by Roselynn Akulukjuk and Danny Christopher, illustrated by Astrid Arijanto
Putuguq and Kublu visit their grandparent’s house where caribou stew is waiting for them, their favorite! Their grandparents tell them a story about how a little orphan girl outwitted the amautalik, an ogress who steals children. Kublu and Putuguq act out their own version of the amautalik for their grandparents. In this play, Putuguq has his own secret weapon … stinky socks! Their grandparents are delighted with this new version of an old folktale. [graphic novel, ages 7 and up]
Niitu and Chips by Babah Kalluk
A playful story of two best friends, Niitu, a little boy, and Chips, a seal. They decide to go ice fishing, and it’s a struggle for Niitu. Chips waits patiently but finally decides to help his human friend with a fish gift. The two best friends head home after a fun day together. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
As I Enfold You in Petals (The Spirit of Denedeh, Vol. 2) by Richard Van Camp and Scott B. Henderson, illustrated by Donoval Vaciuk
Curtis has returned to Fort Smith, newly sober and motivated to save his town. His grandfather had the help of the Little People who healed the sick but they vanished when he died. Curtis offers, Benny the Bootlegger, a gift in return for his grandfather’s house and hopes to get the Little People to return so he can rebuild hope in his community. This graphic novel references Inuit culture through the traditional tattoos featured on the characters. [young adult graphic novel, ages 12 and up]
p.s. Related posts:
Native American Residential Schools #OwnVoices Book List
Native American Folklore & Creation Stories by Native Americans
A Selection of #OwnVoices Native American Stories
Top 10: Best Native American Books for Kids
Native American Book Lists For Kids
Books for Kids to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Plimoth Plantation: Learning About Native Americans
Contemporary Native Americans in KidLit and the Kid Lit Blog Hop
Native American Picture Book of the Day Exploration
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BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
“Mama, Do You Love Me?” was a favorite in our house when my daughter was young. Just seeing the cover brings back such happy memories. I look forward to reading the rest of the books on this list!
Lovely book list! Thanks for sharing in the Big Giant Linky.