The Arctic wilderness comes to life through vibrant new illustrations in this reissue of a beloved classic that has helped generations of children learn to count in two languages.
A lone polar bear walks the edge of an ice floe on the Hudson Bay. Three killer whales pursue two ringed seals. Five Arctic foxes sniff out six furry siksiks. Rendered in vivid detail by debut Inuk illustrator Kale Sheppard, each scene immerses the reader in the majesty of the Arctic landscape, highlighting seasonal changes, diverse habitats, and the interconnectivity of all living creatures. Numbers explored include 1 to 10, 20, 100, and even 1,000,000, with each number appearing in English and Inuktitut.
In a fully illustrated author's note, Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak invokes the warmth and resonance of traditional Inuit oral storytelling as he shares his family's experience living in the Far North, from extreme temperatures to fishing and foraging skills to epic canoe journeys. The backmatter also includes a glossary and a pronunciation key.