Books About Inuit

The Best Inuit Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about inuit? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Inuit

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1972

Julie of the Wolves

By Jean Craighead George, John Schoenherr (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Julie of the Wolves series

A girl lost in the Alaskan wilderness must choose between her human past and a new life with wolves.

Newbery Medal (1973)

176 pages· 35,999 words· Est. 5 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 61,958 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Miyax, known as Julie to her friend, escapes a dangerous village life only to find herself lost in the Alaskan tundra. Accepted by a wolf pack, she learns their ways to survive. As she grows to love her new family, Miyax faces a heart-wrenching choice: return to civilization or embrace her life with the wolves. Torn between her Eskimo heritage and the modern world, which path will she choose? This gripping tale of survival and identity explores the bonds between humans and nature.

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 1985

Very Last First Time

By Jan Andrews, Ian Wallace (Illustrator)

An Inuit girl faces darkness and rising tides under the ice.

32 pages· 1,016 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 425 ratings

$18.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Eva, an Inuit girl, embarks on her first solo journey beneath the sea ice to gather mussels. As the tide turns, she finds herself alone in the dark, her candle extinguished. Will she find her way back to safety, or will the sea claim her? Experience Eva's courage and discovery in this gripping tale of tradition and survival.

Sale price

$759

Picture Book · Ages 0–3 · 1972

On Mother's Lap

By Ann Herbert Scott, Glo Coalson (Illustrator)

A boy learns there's always room for love on his mother's lap.

32 pages

4.2/5 Goodreads · 467 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: A young Inuit boy grapples with sharing his mother's lap with his baby sister. As he navigates feelings of jealousy and love, he discovers the warmth and comfort of a mother's embrace is boundless. Will he find peace in this newfound understanding of family and belonging?

Sale price

$1520

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 1997

The Polar Bear Son

By Lydia Dabcovich

A polar bear raised by a woman faces danger from jealous villagers.

40 pages· 546 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

4.1/5 Goodreads · 211 ratings

$16.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a remote village, a lonely old woman finds solace in raising a polar bear cub as her own. But as the bear grows, envy brews among the villagers, threatening their unique bond. When the villagers' jealousy turns dangerous, the bear must leave the only home it has ever known. Can their love endure the separation, or will the villagers' envy tear them apart forever? Discover the heartwarming and bittersweet journey of love, sacrifice, and survival in this retelling of an Inuit folktale.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2005

Ice Bear

By Nicola Davies, Gary Blythe (Illustrator) · Read and Wonder series

A polar bear battles to survive in a warming Arctic.

32 pages

3.8/5 Goodreads · 911 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In the frozen Arctic, a solitary polar bear navigates a world threatened by global warming. As a powerful hunter and tender mother, she faces the challenge of survival in a changing climate. Witness her journey through poetic storytelling and stunning illustrations, capturing the essence of her majestic life. Will she adapt to the harsh realities of her icy home, or will the warming world prove too great a challenge?

Sale price

$1498

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2010

Immi's Gift

By Karin Littlewood

Two children, worlds apart, connect through mysterious objects found in water.

32 pages· 291 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

4.0/5 Goodreads · 255 ratings

$15.95Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In a snowy northern land, a girl finds colorful wooden objects instead of fish. Far away, a boy on a sunny beach discovers a wooden bear washed ashore. How are they connected? This enchanting tale explores the unexpected bonds that link us across distances, as vibrant illustrations bring to life the contrasting worlds of ice and sun. What secrets do these mysterious objects hold, and how will they bridge the gap between two distant lives?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1994

Julie

By Jean Craighead George, Wendell Minor (Illustrator) · Julie of the Wolves series

Julie must balance tradition and change to protect her wolves.

256 pages· 43,185 words· Est. 6 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 6,109 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Julie returns from the wilderness to find her father has abandoned Inuit traditions for modern ways, threatening her beloved wolves. Can she bridge the gap between old and new without endangering them?

A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North

Sale price

$1425

Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 1993

A Small Tall Tale from the Far Far North

By Peter Sís

A daring trek from Europe to the Arctic tests survival against nature's extremes.

The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (1993)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (1994)

350 pages

3.8/5 Goodreads · 167 ratings

$15.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Jan Welzl embarks on a treacherous journey from Europe to the Arctic, facing the harshest elements. With the guidance of Eskimos, he must navigate the icy wilderness. Will he survive the unforgiving landscape, or will the Arctic claim another soul? Discover the resilience and courage needed to conquer nature's most formidable challenges.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 0–3 · 2020

In My Anaana's Amautik

By Nadia Sammurtok, Lenny Lishchenko (Illustrator)

Experience the world through a baby's eyes, nestled in a mother's parka.

24 pages

3.8/5 Goodreads · 227 ratings

$16.95Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Nestled in the warmth of her mother's amautik, a baby discovers the world from a unique vantage point. Feel the cloudlike softness and hear the laughter that fills this intimate journey. This soothing tale invites readers to experience the simple joys and comforts of life through the eyes of a child, offering a heartwarming perspective that will enchant readers of all ages. What wonders await in the gentle embrace of a mother's love?

Sale price

$958

Picture Book · Ages 6–7 · 2013

When I Was Eight

By Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Gabrielle Grimard (Illustrator)

An Inuit girl defies harsh school conditions to learn to read.

32 pages· 1,348 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud

4.8/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 801 ratings

$9.95Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Eight-year-old Olemaun defies her father's warnings and leaves her Arctic home to attend a residential school. There, she faces harsh treatment from nuns who try to break her spirit. Despite having her hair cut and being forced into menial chores, Olemaun's determination to learn to read remains unshaken. Her resilience draws the ire of a particularly stern nun, but Olemaun's unyielding spirit shines through. Will she overcome the challenges and achieve her dream? Discover the true story of a young girl's fight for education and the power of literacy in 'When I Was Eight.'

The Bookroo Book Club