Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me A Story
ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕖᑦ ᒥᖅᑯᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᐹᖅ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ, 200-ᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂᒃ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ. ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦᑎᐊᕚᓗᖕᒥ, ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᖅ ᐊᕐᕚᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᕐᖑᑕᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ, ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐆᒪᓂᕐᒥᓂ—ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᖅᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᑉ ᓇᓪᓕᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᕐᖑᑕᕐᒥᓄᑦ.
ᑕᑯᒥᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᖅᑐᒐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓕᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂᓗ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕈᒥᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ, ᓈᒻᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᒥᑭᔪᓛᓄᑦ.
Bowhead whales are the longest-living mammals on the planet, living over 200 years. In this heartwarming story, a grandfather bowhead recounts to his young grandchild calf all the beautiful, amazing, and surprising things he has seen in his lifetime—all while assuring the little calf that there is nothing more wondrous than the love a grandfather has for his grandchild.
Richly illustrated and lovingly told, this book is a warm and inviting read, perfect for sharing with any little one.
Written by Aviaq Johnston | Illustrated by Tamara Campeau
Hardcover (English) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-297-0 | $17.95 | 9.5″ x 9.5″ | 28 pages | Full-colour illustrations | Ages 0–3 |
Board Book (Inuktitut) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-328-1 | $16.95 | 8.5″ x 8.5″ | 28 pages | Full-colour illustrations | Ages 0–3 |
Paperback (Inuktitut) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-460-8 | $16.95 | 9.5″ x 9.5″ | 24 pages | Full-colour illustrations | Ages 0–3 |
Praise
“Grandfather Bowhead digs deep into his past to share some of his marvellous experiences with Arvaaq, his new grandchild…Campeau’s illustrations bring the greens and blues of the ocean to life as a perfect complement to Johnston’s text.”—The Globe and Mail
“Together with painterly illustrations in monochromatic blues of the ocean, this underwater tale shows the wondrous love of a grandparent for his grandchild…Tender words of affection are perfect for sharing with any young child or grandchild.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The expansive illustrations, awash in marine blues and greens, capture the drama and majesty of the Arctic while also showcasing the tender relationship between the whales. A lovely choice for preschool storytimes.”—Booklist
“Attention, grandparents! Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me A Story is the sweetest story you could share with your grandchild this season…Painterly illustrations in a palette of blues adds to the calm, dreamy tone of the book. Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me A Story is a powerful, emotive book that beautifully articulates a grandfather’s love for his grandson.”—Hakai Magazine
“This is an indelible picture book in which Grandfather Bowhead’s affection for Little Arvaaq is palpable. Its sweetness will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. It’s a perfect bedtime story for young ones and is an ideal pick for grandparents to read to their grandchildren.”—Seattle Book Review
“Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me a Story is both love song and lullaby, wrapped up in an endearing dialogue between grandfather and young offspring.”—CanLit for Little Canadians
“[A] story that will pull at your heart strings…Highly Recommended.”—CM Magazine
Awards
Best Books for Kids and Teen – The Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2022