In My Anaana's Amautik

by Nadia Sammurtok, Lenny Lishchenko (Illustrator)

Overview

Starred reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, and The Horn Book Magazine!

Nadia Sammurtok lovingly invites the reader into the amautik—the pouch in the back of a mother’s parka used to carry a child—to experience everything through the eyes of the baby nestled inside, from the cloudlike softness of the pouch to the glistening sound of Anaana’s laughter. Sweet and soothing, this book offers a unique perspective that will charm readers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772274240
Publisher:	Inhabit Media
Publication date:	05/03/2022
Edition description:	Board Book Edition
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	670L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 2 Years

About the Author

Nadia Sammurtok is an Inuit writer and educator originally from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Nadia is passionate about preserving the traditional Inuit lifestyle and Inuktitut language so that they may be enjoyed by future generations. Nadia currently lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut, with her family.

Lenny Lishchenko is not a boy. She is an illustrator, graphic designer, and comic maker, who will never give up the chance to draw a good birch tree. Ukrainian born and Canadian raised, she’s interested in telling stories that people remember years later, in the early mornings where everything is quiet and still. She’s worked with clients such as Lenny Letter, Power Athletics Ltd. Alberta Venture, and Rubicon Publishing, and is based out of Mississauga, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

"An Inuit baby curled in the pouch of his mother’s parka narrates what he sees and feels, protected from the cold and snuggled safe. Each page of this sensory exploration begins with the title phrase and ends with a feeling that the little boy loves, and the illustrations fancifully translate those feelings into swirling pictures. A cozy peek into a baby’s small world and big imagination." —The Boston Globe

★"The far north has never felt so deliciously warm." — ★Kirkus, Starred Review

★"A baby's perspective of being held in its anaana's (mother's) amautik ("the pouch in the back of a woman's parka where a baby can be carried") is explored in lulling, sensory-rich text and illustrations. This gentle story elevates the feelings of comfort and security that the amautik enables." — ★Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review

★"This gentle story is warm, cozy, and loving—just like being in anaana’s amautik. Readers will carry this gorgeous book close to their hearts." — ★School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Just right for bedtime, it’s an intimate tale that celebrates simple warmth and comfort."—Publishers Weekly

"A tender paean for the youngest readers and their caregivers."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Reading 'In My Anaana's Amautik' is equivalent to receiving a warm and cozy hug...The illustrations beautifully compliment the words and further incite a calm and soothing response. This is a peaceful story that is a perfect read for any little one who is preparing for a short or long sleep.

Danielle Daniel

★ 2019-12-08
The narrator, an Inuit toddler, enjoys being tucked in the hood of Anaana's parka.

In the far north, many women wear parkas that have a hood, or amautik, that also serves as a baby carrier to keep their offspring warm. One toddler, the narrator of the story, explains how being carried this way "feels like being wrapped up in soft clouds." While tucked inside the amautik, the child inhales Anaana's calming scent, like "flowers in the summertime." The narrator thinks of the hood as a tiny iglu, or snow house, that provides cozy protection. The sound of Anaana's laughter comforts the child, but most of all, the child feels Anaana's love. Each spread appeals to a different sense, creating a deliciously cozy and nurturing microenvironment for this lucky tot. Inuit author and educator Sammurtok brings her work preserving Inuktitut to the text, with a spare sprinkling of vocabulary (defined in a closing glossary). The repetition of "In my anaana's amautik" at the beginning of each short paragraph is both lulling and reinforcing of the relationship between child and mother. Canadian illustrator Lishchenko's use of textures and subtle colors blends well with the strong, simple text. Delicate pastels give the Arctic landscape a welcoming beauty, and fanciful depictions of the similes the narrator suggests lend a playful air.

The far north has never felt so deliciously warm. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews