Putuguq and Kublu and the Qalupalik!

ᑭᓱᑕᖃᖅᐸᒃᐸ ᓯᑯᑉ ᐊᑖᓂ? ᐳᑐᒍᖅ ᑯᑉᓗᓗ–ᓇᔭᒌᒃ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᐅᑏᓐᓇᖅᐸᓐᖏᑦᑑᒃ-ᖃᐅᔨᓂᐊᓕᖅᑑᒃ! ᓯᒡᔭᓕᐊᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐳᑐᒍᒃ ᑯᑉᓗᓗ ᐹᖅᓯᕘᒃ ᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔪᐃᓪᓗᓂ: ᓯᒡᔭᖅᓯᕐᓂᐊᕌᖓᕕᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᓱᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᖃᓗᐸᓕᖕᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕋᕕᑦ, ᓯᑰᑉ ᐊᑖᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᑎᒡᓕᒃᓯᓲᖅ. ᑯᑉᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᑦᑐᖓᑕ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓵᕆᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖓ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᑐᖃᕐᒥᑦ . . . ᐃᒻᒪᖄᓕ ᐋᒃᑲ?

What creatures lurk beneath the sea ice? Putuguq and Kublu—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 snatches 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 past . . . but maybe not?

Written by Roselynn Akulukjuk and Danny Christopher | Illustrated by Astrid Arijanto

Paperback (English) ISBN: 978-1-77227-228-4 | $9.95 | 6″ x 8″ | 44 pages | Full-colour illustrations throughout | Ages 5–7 | F&P Level P |

Paperback (Inuktitut) ISBN: 978-1-77227-222-2 | $8.95 | 6″ x 8″ | 44 pages | Full-colour illustrations throughout | Ages 5–7 | F&P Level P |

Praise

“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

Shortlisted — Shining Willow Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Awards, 2019

Shortlisted — First Nation Communities READ Award, 2019

Shortlisted — Mosaic Award, Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards, 2020

Shortlisted — Book of the Year, Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards, 2020