The Gift Of The Inuksuk

Unique and as beautiful as a snowflake or footprint, an Inuksut (inNUKshuk,) is one of the stone figures that can be seen dotting the Canadian Arctic region. Many made by ancient hands, the Inuksuit (inNUKsweet) purposes are varied, from earthly uses such as navigation and message centers to those of the spirit, as sites of reverence. Author Mike Ulmer explores the connectedness of all Arctic life in his tale, The Gift of the Inuksuk.To find recipes, games, interactives maps and much more for this title visit www.discovertheworldbooks.com! Author Mike Ulmer keeps an Inuksuk at home--it reminds him of the way the Inuit People of the North live a simple life and consume only what they need. His tale expresses this belief in a warm and simple manner that readers of all ages will appreciate and enjoy. Artist Melanie Rose's charming and lively oil paintings bring great variety and surprising bursts of color to this unique northern story.Mike lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with his wife Agnes Bongers and their three daughters: Sadie, Hannah and Madalyn. When he is not learning about Inuksuk, Mike writes a sports column for the Toronto Sun newspaper. Among Mike's books are M is for Maple: A Canadian Alphabet and H is For Horse: An Equestrian Alphabet. Melanie Rose lives in Mississauga, Canada with her son Liam, and their two cats, Mickey and Meesha. Melanie teamed up with Mike previously on M is for Maple: A Canadian Alphabet. She has also illustrated Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet and K is for Kick: A Soccer Alphabet. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art.

An inuksuk is a stone landmark that different peoples of the Arctic region build to leave a symbolic message. Inuksuit (the plural of inuksuk) can point the way, express joy, or simply say: welcome. A central image in Inuit culture, the inuksuk frames this picture book as an acrostic: readers will learn seven words from the Inuktitut language whose first letters together spell INUKSUK. Each word is presented in English and in Inuktitut characters, with phonetic pronunciation guides provided. The words and their definitions give a sense of the traditions and customs of Inuit life in the Arctic: nanuq is the powerful polar bear of the north; kamik is a warm seal- and caribou-skin boot; and siku is sea ice. Stunning paintings with deep color and rich texture evoke a powerful sense of place and show great respect for the Acrtic's indigenous people. Extra informational text features include an introductory note about the significance of inuksuit in Inuit culture and a nonfiction page that profiles seven different types of inuksuit.

Provides instructions on finding suitable stones, balancing the rocks to make a lasting structure, and choosing the right spot for an inuksuk--a stone structure which is a powerful symbol for the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic.

The mysterious stone figures known as inuksuit can be found throughout the circumpolar world. Built from whatever stones are at hand, each one is unique. Inuksuit are among the oldest and most important objects placed by humans upon the vast Arctic landscape and have become a familiar symbol of the Inuit and their homeland.In author Norman Hallendy’s forty years of travels throughout the Arctic, he developed deep and lasting friendships with a number of Inuit elders. Through them, he learned that inuksuit are a nuanced, complex and vital form of communication. Hallendy’s dramatic color photos of many different kinds of inuksuit and objects of veneration capture not only a sense of wonder and power but reveal the unfamiliar Arctic landscape in all its magical beauty.

An Inukshuk all alone on a hill is very sad until he learns how very important and special he is to the community.

Highlighting the traditional way of life of Canada's Inuit people, I is for Inuksuk is a visual masterpiece from award-winning artist Mary Wallace. Each letter of the word "inuksuk" is represented in an acrostic poem by another Inuktitut word, which, together with Wallace's original paintings, creates a wondrous overview of life in the Arctic. Dramatic full-color illustrations begin each section and readers will delight in seeing how words are written in Inuktitut symbols (one of the official languages of Nunavut). Turn the page to find that the author delves further into the meaning of each Inuktitut word by showing how it is connected with the people and natural environment. Here, Wallace showcases her love and expertise of the Arctic landscape and culture in small vignettes and simple, easy-to-read text. Themes such as Arctic clothing, animals, and travel are explored. For added enjoyment, readers can look for the inuksuit hidden in each section, then turn to the final page in the book to find additional information on the different types of inuksuit and the messages they give. Also included is a pronunciation guide to help readers sound out Inuktitut words.

The history of the Northern Koyukon, Western Gwich'in and Lower Tanana was kept by storytellers for over a hundred and fifty years. This is a fascinating account of their history taken from written records of the early explorers, traders and missionaries and the oral tradition of the Alaska Native peoples themselves.

A lonely old woman adopts, cares for, and raises a polar bear as if he were her own son, until jealous villagers threaten the bear's life, forcing him to leave his home and his "mother," in a retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale.