Trilingual book will delight children and adults

Finding books about Nunavik used to be a hard task — but the small Quebec publishing company, Les éditions du soleil de minuit, is doing its part to make Nunavik better known by publishing material for even the youngest audiences, in French, Inuttitut and English.

A recently released children’s book, which adults will also enjoy, is called L’Echo du Nord (Echo of the North). In French and Inuttitut, L’Echo du Nord tells the story of a young boy called Tugaarq.

Tugaarq, who is good, smart and sweet, “bon, intelligent et doux,” learns to listen to the sounds of nature, while overcoming an ear infection.

Neige froide
Que rechauffe le soleil
Ecoute ma voix
Elle semble toute petite, si petite
Mais j’entends l’amour
Et tu es l’Echo du Nord
Cold snow
Heated by the sun
Hear my voice,
So very, very small,
But I hear love:
And that is the echo of the North.

The text, translated by Lucie Michaud into French, was originally written by Emily Novalinga, a poet, storyteller and writer from Puvirnituq.

Novalinga says her story is meant for children and adults.

“It talks about the importance of taking care of our health, of taking time to listen carefully and to hear carefully: to hear others, nature, ourselves. When we are open to all the wonderful things, which surround us, we feel good, we can make wise choices, and our life is healthier and happier. And above all, our life is our music.”

Illustrations by Claude Thivierge catch the magic and mood of the young hero of the story and of Nunavik.

The publishing house also features many other books inspired by Nunavik, which are widely used by the Kativik School Board. Diane Groulx, a former teacher in Nunavik, who now runs the Les éditions du soleil de minuit, is the author of several books listed by the company.

Recently-published books for the 6 to 12 age group in the “To Discover” series include Découvre — Discover —Le Nunavik. In this book, with French and English texts, Miari, an Inuk woman from the past, is drawn into the living room of Max and Alex by a soapstone polar bear.

She tells these twins about a tragedy that happened to her family, as way of recounting the region’s history. The book’s main appeal lies in its games and stories, which tell kids about everything from Inuit games to Nunavik’s Pingualuit crater.

For more information about books published by Les editions du soleil de minuit, consult its web page www.editions-soleildeminuit.com.

L’Echo du Nord 24 pages, $7.95
Découvre — discover le Nunavik
32 pages, $6.95