Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story

Summary of Book

"When Jake finally gets a puppy to call his own, all he can think about is the fast, strong sled dog that his puppy will become. But Kamik is far from an obedient sled dog. He won't listen, he tracks mud all over the house, and he's a lot more work than Jake ever thought a puppy could be! But after a visit with his grandfather, who raised many puppies of his own while living out on the land, Jake learns that Inuit have been raising puppies just like Kamik to be obedient, resourceful, helpful sled dogs for generations.

Inspired by the real-life recollections of an elder from Arviat, Nunavut, this book lovingly recreates the traditional dog-rearing practices that prevailed when Inuit relied on dogs for transportation and survival."

Author Biography

Donald Uluadluak was an elder from Arviat, Nunavut. He was born in Arviat and raised by his grandparents, when Inuit were nomadic and depended on game for survival. He was an elder advisor for the Nunavut Department of Education for several years. After he retired, he began recording memories and recollections from his life to publish as books for future generations. Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story is the first book to be based on these fond memories. He was passionate about teaching the younger generation so that they would in turn pass on the knowledge he shared.

Illustrator Biography

Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and lived in France and Montreal. She now lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. Her father, an artist himself, was a great influence on her. She grew up surrounded by paintings, and it became second nature for her to express herself through art. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and artwork. Qin has always loved to illustrate the innocence of children and has developed a passion for children’s books. She has illustrated numerous picture books for publishers in Canada, the United States, and South Korea.