The Great Giants of the Arctic: Bilingual Inuktitut and English Edition

by Jaypeetee Arnakak (Adapted by), Neil Christopher (Adapted by), Kaja Kajfez (Illustrator)

Overview

“Long ago, there lived great giants in the Arctic.”

But where did they go? Learn all about the famous giants of the North, including Inukpasuksuk, Nuvuja, and others. Why do winds from the south bring warm weather? What happens when the giant in the sky gets upset? The Great Giants of the Arctic answers these questions and more using simple language for young readers to enjoy.

This stunningly illustrated bilingual picture book serves as an early-level introduction to the rich, mysterious world of Inuit mythology. Adapted by author and linguist Jaypeetee Arnakak with the intention of teaching Inuktitut as a second language, The Great Giants of the Arctic can be enjoyed by Inuktitut language learners and curious young readers alike.

Discover other traditional stories in our collection! The Story of the Lemming and the Owl, The Story of the Loon and the Raven, and The Story of the Fox and the Wolf are all available.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774506608
Publisher:	Arvaaq Press
Publication date:	07/16/2024
Edition description:	Bilingual Inuktitut and English Edition
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.38(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Jaypeetee Arnakak is a linguist, translator, and educator. He spent many years many years as a policy analyst specializing in Inuit culture, language and education issues. He is the editor of Unikkaaqtuat Qikiqtaninngaaqtut, a collection of thirty-three versions of traditional stories, transcribed and edited from oral recordings of ten Inuit elders from two High Arctic communities, Arctic Bay and Igloolik. He has also adapted several traditional Inuit stories into children's storybooks.

Neil Christopher is an educator, author, and filmmaker. He first moved to the North many years ago to help start a high school program in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. It was those students who first introduced Neil to the mythical inhabitants from Inuit traditional stories. Together with his colleague, Louise Flaherty, and his brother, Danny Christopher, Neil started a small publishing company in Nunavut called Inhabit Media Inc., and has since been working to promote Northern stories and authors.

Kaja Kajfež was born in the small but charming city of Varaždin, Croatia in 1992. She developed a love of drawing as child and later invested in a graphics tablet that steered her work into the digital realm. Kaja's artistic passion together with her interest in computer technology led her to obtaining a degree in Multimedia, Design, and Application at the UniversityNorth in Croatia. During her college years, she began freelance work and was eventually able to establish her own studio that specializes in illustration, lettering, and surface pattern design. Besides doing her dream job, she loves to take long walks in nature, explore different historical periods, flip through old picture books, listen to online concerts, and spend time with her dog.

Editorial Reviews

This adaptation allows young audiences, who are not Inuit, to experience this Story of the Inuit, providing them with a window into the rich cultural heritage and storytelling Traditions. Through this collaboration, Arnakak and Christopher not only preserve and honour these Traditional Stories but also make them accessible and engaging for a broader audience, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Inuit culture.

Debra H.