Arctic Stories

Publisher's Description (Annick Press): 
Acclaimed Inuit storyteller Michael Kusugak weaves a tapestry of tales about ten-year-old Agatha and her accidental heroism in the high Arctic of 1958. The first of Agatha's stories is based on one of Kusugak's real life experiences, when an eerie, black airship flew over Chesterfield Inlet in 1958. A sleepy Agatha "saves" the community from the monstrous flying object.

In the second story, Agatha notices the playful antics of the winter ravens and takes an interest in the many migrating birds. As the seasons change, she begins to favor more beautiful and peaceful birds of spring, until the ravens return.

Author and Illustrator Biography (Annick Press): 
Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak is an Inuk storyteller who grew up in Repulse Bay, NWT (now Naujaat, Nunavut). During his childhood, his family traveled by dog sled, living a traditional Inuit lifestyle. He is the author of many picture books, including Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails, winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award.

He won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature in 2008. He lives in Valhalla, Manitoba.

Vladyana Krykorka has illustrated and designed over 30 books for children. Her work has received numerous awards, including the Toronto Public Library’s recognition of Baseball Bats for Christmas as one of the 100 best children’s books of all time. In the last two years she has conducted art workshops in several Quebec Arctic communities, working with Inuit teachers in the creation of their own books and class materials, as well as textile printmaking techniques.

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Grade 1 - 12

Keywords: Picturebook, Inuit, Inuk, storytelling, Nunavut, tradition, traditional storytelling, heroism, residential schools, ravens, birds, seasons, migration, girlhood, family, arctic, migration, birds, raven, nature stories, folklore, seasons, childhood, skating, community, winter

Year of publication: 1998

Publisher information: Annick Press