The Legend of the Fog

Publisher's description (Inhabit Media, 2011): 
In this traditional Inuit story, a simple walk on the tundra becomes a life or death journey for a young man. When he comes across a giant who wants to take him home and cook him for dinner, the young man's quick thinking saves him from being devoured by the giant and his family, and in the process releases the first fog into the world. Qaunaq Mikkigak is Inuk.

Written by Cape Dorest Elder Qaunaq Mikkigak and Marilyn Baillie Picturebook Award-nominated author Joanne Schwartz, this action-packed Picturebook brings a centuries-old traditional tale to life for modern readers.

An educator resource in both English and Inuktitut published by Inhabit Media can be found here: https://inhabitmedia.com/2022/08/12/the-legend-of-the-fog-educators-resource/ 

Creator biographies (Inhabit Media): 
Qaunaq Mikkigak was an Elder, artist, and throat singer from Cape Dorset, Nunavut. She was born in 1932 in the Cape Dorset area and grew up on the land in a traditional Inuit community. She was featured in the books Inuit Women Artists: Voices from Cape Dorset and Cape Dorset Sculpture. She collaborated with author Joanne Schwartz on picture book versions of two traditional Inuit tales, The Legend of the Fog and Grandmother Ptarmigan.

Joanne Schwartz‘s first picture book Our Corner Grocery Store was a Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award Finalist. Joanne had the honour to collaborate with Inuit Elder Qaunaq Mikkigak on two picture book versions of traditional Inuit tales, The Legend of the Fog and Grandmother Ptarmigan.  Her recent picture book Town is by the Sea, illustrated by Sydney Smith, was a Governor General’s Literary Award nominee and won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Joanne has been a children’s librarian for more than thirty years. She lives in Toronto.

Danny Christopher has travelled throughout the Canadian Arctic as an instructor for Nunavut Arctic College. He is the illustrator of The Legend of the Fog, A Children’s Guide to Arctic Birds, and Animals Illustrated: Polar Bear, and author of Putuguq and Kublu. His work on The Legend of the Fog was nominated for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustration Award. He lives in Toronto with his wife, four children, and a puppy.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Grades 3 - 7

Keywords: tundra, traditional Inuit story, Oral tradition, Inuit, storytelling, winter, raven, tundra, evil spirit, journey, pretend, deceit, river, anger, explode, fog, legend, wits, outsmart, Nunavut

Year of publication: 2011

Publisher information: Inhabit Media