National Network for Equitable Library Service

The bear sleeping safely in her den, kohkom telling a story by the fire, the trees crackling with cold--we are all connected to the seasons and the cycle of nature. The calming rhythm of the words echoes the rhythm of the land in this timeless picture book about the moon calendar of the northern Cree. Its warmly rendered watercolour illustrations bring Saskatchewan's North to life. When the Trees Crackle with Cold is written in English and the northern Plains Cree Y dialect, inviting Cree and non-Cree speakers alike to explore the traditional moon calendar.

An engaging look at how the animals, people, and seasons within an ecosystem are intertwined. To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the grizzly is an integral part of the natural landscape. Together, they share the land and forests that the Skeena River runs through, as well as the sockeye salmon within it. Follow mother bear as she teaches her cubs what they need to survive on their own. The Mothers of Xsan series uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life.

The legend of Kaugjagjuk--a mistreated orphan who gains the strength to stand up for himself with a little help from the Man of the Moon--is a traditional Inuit tale told throughout the Arctic.

Re-imagined for modern audiences by emerging Inuit writer Marion Lewis, and brought to life by Kim Smith's beautiful illustrations, this version of the Kaugjagjuk story gives young readers a chance to experience this traditional tale that has been carefully passed from storyteller to storyteller for generations.

With a simple layout and easy-to-follow format, this beautiful book introduces young readers to a dozen birds that call the Arctic home. From the Long-tailed Duck and the Red-throated Loon to the Snowy Owl and the Rock Ptarmigan, this picture book features migratory birds as well as those that live in the Arctic year-round and is filled with fun, useful facts, including where to look for eggs and nests during the short Arctic summer and how to recognize each bird's call.

During the short Arctic summers, the tundra, covered most of the year under snow and ice, becomes filled with colourful flowers, mosses, shrubs, and lichens. These hardy little plants transform the northern landscape, as they take advantage of the warmer weather and long hours of sunlight. Caribou, lemmings, snow buntings, and many other wildlife species depend on tundra plants for food and nutrition, but they are not the only ones. A Walk on the Tundra follows Inuujaq, a little girl who travels with her grandmother onto the tundra.

This book provides easy-to-follow directions for completing a successful aglu hunt. An aglu is a seal breathing hole found on the sea ice, and aglu hunting is a time-honoured traditional hunting method used by Inuit for generations. Experienced hunter Willam Flaherty guides novice hunters through the basic principles of this ancient style of hunting, including: How to pack a qamutiq; How to dress for long hours on the ice; How to identify and assess agluiit; How to endure long waits by the aglu; How to correctly shoot and butcher a seal.

Arctic Little Folk introduces young readers to the fascinating, strange, and amusing world of Arctic dwarves, fairies, elves, and gnomes. These tiniest inhabitants of the Arctic tundra are told about in folklore across the Arctic.

The iglu, a traditional winter shelter built in the Arctic for centuries, is a vital part of Inuit culture. The qamutiik, a traditional sled used for hunting, is an essential tool whose versatility and dependability have allowed it to endure over time. In How to Build an Iglu and a Qamutiik, Solomon Awa provides thorough how-to instructions on building iglus and qamutiiks, along with general background information on their construction and importance to survival.

Experience the exciting world of arctic giants through traditional tales from around Nunavut. Based on elder interviews from more than one hundred years ago, these stories reveal the fearsome giants that once stalked the arctic. From enormous beings strong enough to pick up a walrus with one hand, to massive creatures that towered over mountains and could carry humans on the lace of one boot, these Inuktitut language stories will introduce readers to a vast array of arctic giants.

At the age of three, Arthur Biyarslanov fled with his family from the war-ravaged frontier of Chechnya. Narrowly escaping bullets and a bomb that destroyed the car in front of his family, Arthur and his brother ran to the border and forded a freezing river to safety. He became a refugee first in Azerbaijan, and ultimately in Canada. In spite of these difficult experiences, and the trials that confront any child refugee in strange lands, Arthur thrived on the discipline and camaraderie of sport, taking up first competitive soccer and then boxing.