The First Peoples

Gr 1-3–Body, identity, and gender shift with fluid ease in this adaptation of an Inuit cosmogonical tale. Though it’s unquestionably a creation story, the creation is preceded by destruction: an ancient race of giants (mirroring the Greek Titans and the Norse Jotuns) is obliterated by a cataclysmic earthquake and flooding rains. With all life wiped from the planet, new humans emerge from the ground and civilization begins again. Mythology devotees will immediately notice a departure from most world folklore traditions, which feature a man and a woman from the very beginning—here, the two humans that spring up from the soil are both men. Dearly wishing to have children, they sing a magical song that turns one of them from male to female. This fascinating detail is drawn faithfully from the story’s source, the tale of Uumarnituq and Aakulujjuusi, known to multiple Inuit groups. Kajfez provides cool-hued, thick-lined illustrations, visually grounding the plot’s miraculous elements, while Harper’s spare, elegant writing evokes the wonder of myth. The book’s short length means that it may not hold the interest of a large group for long, but comparison with other creation tales from around the world will make for deep and lengthy conversation.