I Am A Rock

"In soft-edged scenes that foreground the Inuit-cued parent and child alongside Miki Rock, Turkish illustrator Turgut connects domestic moments with sprawling landscapes, while sensory lines from Inuit author Qilavaq-Savard links Pauloosie—and readers—to the land through Miki Rock’s experiences."

* Publishers Weekly *
"Ashley Qilavaq-Savard gives us a story of companionship and feeling that speaks to consciousness and awareness...It may be Pauloosie's Anaana who is giving that life to Miki Rock but, as a reader of I Am a Rock, I am convinced, as I'm sure Pauloosie is, that life exists within that rock."

"Lyrically naming the myriad beautiful animals and plants, the turning of the seasons, and the ways in which the world provides sustenance and joy for the Inuit people makes for the perfect lullaby. "

* Canadian Review of Materials *

In this story, Pauloosie and his mom engage in imaginative play and consider their community from the point of view of his pet rock, Miki Rock. They imagine Miki Rock saying that he lives on the shoreline and notes the animals and weather that come with each season, revelling in what makes each time of the year different and special. While cyclical change is constant for Inuit, the weather, the seasons, the rocks, and the waterways need to be respected and protected. In order to live in harmony, it is important to understand and respect seasonal changes, especially if one is counting on the gifts of the land and water with fishing, hunting, or gathering. Regardless of where one lives, familiarizing oneself with local natural areas is how one lives in relation with the land.

* Alethea S., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schoo