A BABY ON MY BACK

A young Inuit girl watches over her infant cousin.

Silu’s aunt “has a lot to do, as all mothers do,” so she suggests that Silu take the new baby for a walk. Silu puts on her aunt’s amaut, a special jacket that has a pouch in the back for carrying a baby, and off they go. As they walk, Silu sings to the little one (“Calm, quiet, and in a deep sleep, / my little packed baby”), who eventually falls asleep peacefully. After an hour, Silu returns to her grateful aunt and enjoys some delicious bannock. Low on conflict but high on love and tenderness, Mearns’ (Inuk) sweet and simple story is rooted in a family’s mutual trust and care. The book features several Inuktitut words that are explained in an appended glossary. Peturs’ expressive, cartoonish illustrations shed light on the custom of “packing” a baby. A close-up image of the baby’s face captures curiosity and wonder, while Silu’s aunt’s house and surrounding coastal landscape are particularly beautiful, especially as the sun sets on the water behind the mountains. The story effectively depicts a treasured ritual and tradition in Inuit culture while emphasizing the protagonist’s valued place in her family.

An affectionate depiction of multigenerational family care.