Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story

Written by Aviaq Johnston

Illustrated by Tamara Campeau

 Inhabit Media

978-1-77227-297-0

28 pp.

Ages 0-3

September 2021

Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story is both love song and lullaby, wrapped up in an endearing dialogue between grandfather and young offspring. 

From Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story from Aviaq Johnston, illus. by Tamara Campeau

As a young bowhead whale asks their grandfather to tell them about the wonderful things he has experienced in his 200 years of life, Grandfather Bowhead recalls the marvels of the northern lights, of the animals he's met and friends he's made, of giant icebergs, of geese who travel halfway across the world, of the excitement of swimming mighty currents, and of the hard work he faced. With each request for more tales from Grandfather Bowhead's life, the calf, whom the grandfather calls Little Arvaaq, gets a glimpse of excitement, survival, appreciation and experience. But with each account, Grandfather Bowhead always admits that the wonders of Little Arvaaq are superior and preferable.

From Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story from Aviaq Johnston, illus. by Tamara Campeau

Grandfather Bowhead, tell me a story
of something amazing you have seen.

Little Arvaaq, I’ve seen walruses dive into the
very depths of the ocean to find clams to eat,
but that does not compare to the depth of my
love for you.

From Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story from Aviaq Johnston, illus. by Tamara Campeau

While focusing on an intergenerational relationship, Nunavut's Aviaq Johnston is still able to highlight the extraordinary life of the bowhead whale which is thought to be the longest-lived mammal on the planet. Still, with all the wonders the elder bowhead has witnessed, the wonder that is his Little Avaaq is greater. With reverence and adoration, Grandfather Bowhead tells his stories in richly emotive words but always with the caveat about this bowhead calf. 

Grandfather Bowhead, tell me a story
of the sweetest thing you have seen.

Well, Little Arvaaq, in all my two hundred years
I’ve seen everything you can imagine,
but nothing compares to the sweetness of
your sleeping breaths.

The depth of adoration, amazement and affection from Grandfather for Little Avaaq is epitomized in Tamara Campeau's profound artwork. Digitally rendered, the illustrations of Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story are both realistic and dramatic, depicting the greatness of the bowheads and the other sea creatures in an Arctic landscape of deep waters, massive bergs and vibrant northern lights. Tamara Campeau makes her art truthful, grounded in accuracy, but also ethereal, giving a spiritual essence through her use of colour and line that matches Aviaq Johnston's words.

If I was a grandparent, I would love to share this story with a grandchild to verbalize the depth of devotion and tribute extended between grandfather and young in Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story. After all, such affection should be the standard for all young.

Those Who Run in the Sky

Written by Aviaq Johnston

Illustrated by Toma Feizo Gas

Inhabit Media

978-1-77227-121-8

200 pp.

Ages 10+

April 2017

The young hunter knew that the sky above danced in joy with northern lights.  Since it was rare at this time of year, it meant that this day was going to go well, and that the spirits were on the side of the living, allowing them to carry on with their lives. (pg. 1)

Piturniq, or Pitu as he is often called, is the young hunter, a boy of sixteen who is becoming known as the Great Hunter.  This is his coming-of-age story.

From Those Who Run in the Sky 

by Aviaq Johnston 

illus. by Toma Feizo Gas

As a young man, Piturniq is already acknowledged as a good hunter, helping to provide for his mother, brothers and sister as well as sharing with the family of Saima to whom he wishes to become betrothed. But he senses a disquiet in himself and others towards him, particularly from his mother.  He grapples with his pride, jealousy, annoyance and anger, and the meaning of his nightly dreams of a fox and an old man on an island.  Though he wishes he might be as great as his father, Piturniq is surprised when Tagaaq, the camp leader and son of a shaman mother, suggests Pitu might be the village's next leader.  In fact, Tagaaq tells Pitu that the spirits have whispered to him and told him that Pitu is to become a shaman, though there is much darkness in his future.

Tagaaq takes Pitu under his wing, teaching him through his stories, including those of his shaman mother and a great shaman who disappeared from the world after the deaths of his beautiful wife and children.  Though both Pitu and Saima are eager to wed, the boy is instructed to wait until he completes his lessons.  But all must wait after a winter hunting trip leaves Pitu alone in the harsh environment and entering the spirit world.  Here Pitu struggles to survive, seeking shelter and food, and then combating supernatural demons, wolves, qallupilluq and more.  But it is also here where Pitu meets the fox, Tiri, who is Pitu's tuurngaq (a shaman's spirit guide), and the old man, an angry and brittle shaman named Taktuq, who will help the boy grow into the shaman he is destined to become.

From Those Who Run in the Sky 

by Aviaq Johnston 

illus. by Toma Feizo Gas

Though Those Who Run in the Sky is Piturniq's journey of becoming a man with the courage and faith to serve his family and his community, as well as attend to the spirit world, it is also a story of an Inuit lifestyle of long ago.  The details provided by Aviaq Johnston, a young Nunavut writer, deal with hunting practices, family and adoption, summer and winter camps, relationships with other communities, and the creatures of the supernatural world, and they become the rich fabric of Piturniq's story.  The traditions of this Inuit culture wrap Pitu' story in a reality that needs to be shared with all youth, Indigenous and otherwise.  It's a glimpse into a time that might once have been shared through the storytelling tradition.  Thankfully Those Who Run in the Sky, which refers to the spirits chasing after a walrus head and thus producing the northern lights, can now share the stories in a text for all to read.

The black and white illustrations by Ottawa animator and digital artist Toma Feizo Gas that dot the text of Those Who Run in the Sky deepen the surreal nature of Pitu's journey, adding to the story without taking over.  With text as lavish in historical and emotive detail as is provided by Aviaq Johnston, Those Who Run in the Sky did not need more.

With the publication of Those Who Run in the Sky, which was recently nominated for the 2017 Governor General's Award for Young People's Literature (Text), the northern lights must be dancing with joy.

What's My Superpower?

Written by Aviaq Johnston

Illustrated by Tim Mack

Inhabit Media

978-1-77227-140-9

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

July 2017

Every child wants to fit in but also wants to excel at something.  Nalvana is no different. But while she enjoys playing outdoors and riding her bike in her "small town where winter is always longer than summer" (pg. 2), she thinks about having superpowers and wears a yellow blanket and snowmobiling goggles as her costume.

From What's My Superpower? 

by Aviaq Johnston 

illus. by Tim Mack

But, when she sees her friends doing extraordinary things, which she always commends them on, like running fast or flying through the air, sculpting with snow and stone or holding their breath underwater, Nalvana is perplexed by her own lack of superpower.  Over and over again, she tells her mother about her friends' amazing strengths and asks what hers might be.  Her mother, unruffled, encourages Nalvana to be patient, sure that her superpower will be revealed in time.

From What's My Superpower? 

by Aviaq Johnston 

illus. by Tim Mack

Just as might be expected, Nalvana's superpower was always evident.  It is as natural as breathing for her so she just needed to have it pointed out.  Fortunately, her mother can see the truly gifted child Nalvana is.

From What's My Superpower? 

by Aviaq Johnston 

illus. by Tim Mack

Ensuring that Nalvana's superpower is not one of the athletic or other overt skills that are normally so admired in our current society that revere celebrity and personality, Aviaq Johnston has made her story one of inclusivity, not exclusivity.  Everyone has a superpower if we look beyond winning awards and competitions.  Everyone has a strength or two that sets them above the rest.  And Nalvana's superpower truly makes her a superhero to others.

Aviaq Johnston's story about Nalvana is also about her milieu which is the basis for her experiences.  The little girl compares Davidee's speed to a Ski-Doo or to the wind on a blizzardy day, and expounds on Joanasie's snow sculpting and inuksuk building similar to his dad's skill as a carver.  Her Arctic home is as unique as the young girl in its offerings.  Tim Mack embeds Nalvana's story in that community, right down to her husky puppy.  And though the palette of turquoise blue-green, golds and salmon may appear more southwestern than northern, it's plays up the natural world in which Nalvana's journey of discovery takes place.

I may not tell you the answer to Nalvana's question of What's My Superpower? but suffice it to say it is something remarkable and terrific, and her mother, her friends and now readers will all know what it is.