In My Anaana's Amautik

Starred reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, and The Horn Book Magazine!

Nadia Sammurtok lovingly invites the reader into the amautik—the pouch in the back of a mother’s parka used to carry a child—to experience everything through the eyes of the baby nestled inside, from the cloudlike softness of the pouch to the glistening sound of Anaana’s laughter. Sweet and soothing, this book offers a unique perspective that will charm readers of all ages.

Nadia Sammurtok is an Inuit writer and educator originally from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Nadia is passionate about preserving the traditional Inuit lifestyle and Inuktitut language so that they may be enjoyed by future generations. Nadia currently lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut, with her family.

Lenny Lishchenko is not a boy. She is an illustrator, graphic designer, and comic maker, who will never give up the chance to draw a good birch tree. Ukrainian born and Canadian raised, she’s interested in telling stories that people remember years later, in the early mornings where everything is quiet and still. She’s worked with clients such as Lenny Letter, Power Athletics Ltd. Alberta Venture, and Rubicon Publishing, and is based out of Mississauga, Ontario.

• The Boston Globe Best Books of 2020Short-listed 2020
• American Indians in Children's Literature's Best Books of 2020 2020
• Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book AwardShort-listed 2020
• Best Books for Kids and Teens 2020

"An Inuit baby curled in the pouch of his mother’s parka narrates what he sees and feels, protected from the cold and snuggled safe. Each page of this sensory exploration begins with the title phrase and ends with a feeling that the little boy loves, and the illustrations fancifully translate those feelings into swirling pictures. A cozy peek into a baby’s small world and big imagination." —The Boston Globe

★"The far north has never felt so deliciously warm." — ★Kirkus, Starred Review

★"A baby's perspective of being held in its anaana's (mother's) amautik ("the pouch in the back of a woman's parka where a baby can be carried") is explored in lulling, sensory-rich text and illustrations. This gentle story elevates the feelings of comfort and security that the amautik enables." — ★Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review

★"This gentle story is warm, cozy, and loving—just like being in anaana’s amautik. Readers will carry this gorgeous book close to their hearts." — ★School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Just right for bedtime, it’s an intimate tale that celebrates simple warmth and comfort."—Publishers Weekly

"A tender paean for the youngest readers and their caregivers."—Booklist