What creatures lurk beneath the sea ice? Putuguq and Kublu a two siblings who can't seem to get along- are about to find out! On their way to the shoreline, Putuguq and Kublu run into their grandfather, who has a stern warning for the pair: always beware when playing on the shore, because you never know if a qalupalik, a mythical creature that kidnaps children, is lying in wait under the ice. Kublu is pretty sure their grandfather is just trying to spook them with a scary story from the pasta|.but maybe not?

About the Author
Roselynn Akulukjuk was born in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, in the Canadian Arctic. In 2012, Roselynn moved to Toronto to pursue a career in film and attend the Toronto Film School, where she fell in love with being behind the camera. After finishing her studies and working in Toronto, Roselynn returned home to Nunavut, where she began working with Taqqut Productions, an Inuit-owned production company located in the capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit. Part of Roselynn's love of filmmaking is the ability to interview elders, listen to their traditional stories, and share them with the world. In 2015, Roselynn wrote and directed her first film, the live-action and puppetry short The Owl and the Lemming, on which her book by the same title is based. Her film won Best Animation at the 2016 American Indian Film Festival. Danny Christopher has travelled throughout the Canadian Arctic as an instructor for Nunavut Arctic College. He is the illustrator of The Legend of the Fog, A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds, and Animals Illustrated: Polar Bear, and author of Putuguq and Kublu. His work on The Legend of the Fog was nominated for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustration Award. He lives in Toronto with his wife, four children, and two dogs. Astrid Arijanto is a designer and illustrator who spent her childhood drawing on any surface she could get her hands on: from papers to walls to all the white fences around her parents' house. Since then, her work has appeared in various media and publications across Canada and Asia. She lives in Toronto and spends most of her days designing and illustrating beautiful books. In her free time she enjoys travelling with her partner, exploring the great outdoors, and chasing after their wild and rambunctious puppy, Spanky.

Reviews

"This graphic novel aimed at emergent readers offers a much-needed window into the world of Arctic First Nations families and legends...Colorful, expressive, and highly stylized cartoon illustrations offer broad appeal to kids, especially those interested in creepy creatures. VERDICT A superb addition to beginning reader collections."- School Library Journal, STARRED review

"[T]he depictions of the imagined qalupalik and the Tuniq hunter Putuguq pretends to be are stunning in their monochromatic purple shades. The layout of their village is mapped in the opening pages-the careful inclusion of raised, wood-frame buildings with no igloo in sight adds to the educational value of the story. Ultimately, humor rules the day as Putuguq and Kublu's grandfather tricks them into being safe when they play near the water."-Kirkus Reviews

"This graphic novel for beginners has just the right balance of mischief, excitement, and danger, with enough humor to keep things light. Bright colors, clean lines, and larger panels make for inviting, uncluttered reading. Set in a small town in Nunavut, Canada, this story centers Inuit culture in all aspects but never feels forced or didactic. Rather, readers will get a glimpse into contemporary Indigenous lives that are both different and very much like their own."-Booklist

"More playful than scary, Putuguq & Kublu and the Qalupalik! succeeds in teaching about contemporary Indigenous culture in a non-didactic, humorous way. As a supplementary text, it will easily align to curricula while helping children build their literacy skills. With brightly coloured illustrations and engaging dialogue, it's one of those books that is highly informational without revealing as much to its young readers."-Quill & Quire

"Putuguq & Kublu and the Qalupalik, a thrilling little adventure with believable character dynamics, introduces readers to a creature from Inuit legend through the characters' grandfather's storytelling. Recommended."-CM Magazine

"Rich in folklore and local culture...Colorful panels showcase big imaginations and a fun-loving community far to the north."-Foreword Reviews

Awards
Short-listed for Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards - Shining Willow Award 2019 (Canada) and First Nations Communities READ Indigenous Literature Award 2019 (Canada) and Mosaic Award 2020 and Book of the Year 2020.



Book Information
ISBN 9781772272284
Author Roselynn Akulukjuk
Format Paperback
Page Count 40
Imprint Inhabit Media Inc
Publisher Inhabit Media Inc
Weight(grams) 118g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 152mm * 5mm