"A lively #ownvoices romp into the power of intention—and the hilarity of trial and error."—Kirkus Reviews
When the earth was new, words had the power to breathe life into the world. But when creating animals from breath, sometimes one does not get everything right on the first try! Based on a traditional Inuit story passed forward orally for generations in the South Baffin region of Nunavut, this book shares with young readers the origin of the caribou and the walrus—and tells of how very different these animals looked when they were first conceived.

Maika Harper is a Canadian actress and model born and raised in the Arctic. She briefly studied classical theatre in the BFA program at the University of Windsor before starring in APTN's hit dramatic comedy Mohawk Girls as Anna. She has also made appearances in Kim’s Convenience as Michaela, and most recently on Burden of Truth as Doreen. Her theatrical debut was as an alternate in Treasure Island at the 2017 Stratford Festival and her film debut was The Education of Fredrick Fritzell which was released 2020. In her spare time, she advocates for mental health awareness and mentors youth in Canada with Youth Fusion.

Maika Harper's profile page

Marcus Cutler is a freelance children's illustrator from Ontario, Canada. His work has appeared in magazines, books, apps and more and he has worked with a variety of clients including chickaDEE Magazine, OWL Magazine, Macmillan Publishers and Parks Canada. He is the illustrator of the Lark Ba Detective series, The Owl and the Two Rabbits and The Walrus and the Caribou. He lives in Tecumseh, Ontario.

Marcus Cutler's profile page

• Best Books for Kids and Teens

Inuit author Harper's high-spirited version of this Indigenous oral tale will make a delightful addition to both libraries and personal collections...A lively #ownvoices romp into the power of intention—and the hilarity of trial and error.

The humorous artwork done for every double-page, full-bleed spread shows the resilient, problem-solving Guk in a variety of poses and emotional states as she tinkers with and refines her creations. Brown, blue, and white landscapes of rock, water, and ice form authentic backgrounds.—STARRED, Booklist