• Age: 9 to 18
• Grade: 4 to 12

Inuksuk Journey is the page-turning and visually stunning chronicle of Mary’s summer trip to the Arctic, inspired by her long-held fascination with the ancient Inuit symbol of the inuksuk. An engaging mix of travel journal and gorgeous artbook, Inuksuk Journey combines the best of travel writing with breathtaking paintings showcased in large format across the pages of this book. Her “you-are-there” journal, lavishly illustrated with photographs, sketches, and artifacts, includes encounters with Arctic wildlife, hunting, fishing, and living off the land, and visiting undisturbed relics of Inuit life dating back thousands of years. The knowledge she gains from her Inuit guides allows deep insight into the various forms of the inuksuk and its many purposes. Readers are offered an amazing view of the geography, people, and culture of the Far North, both ancient and modern. Each trip day that Mary experienced inspired striking paintings of the land, sea, sky, wildlife, and the people and culture of the Arctic.

Mary Wallace is an award-winning artist and art therapist who spent almost twenty years teaching arts and crafts at the Haliburton School of Fine Arts. Her previous title The Inuksuk Book won the 2000 UNESCO International Youth Library White Raven Award, the 1999 National Outdoor Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association’s Silver Birch Award, the Norma Fleck Award for Non-Fiction, and the Atlantic Library Association’s Hackmatack Book Award. She lives in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Mary Wallace's profile page

• Short-listed, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-fiction

Wallace is particularly affecting in her understanding of the transience of life in the Arctic and the intense connection the people have with the land and its wildlife…lavish artwork and expressive text create a landscape for children to wander into and get to know.

Professionally Speaking

...a lively mix of story and art that convey's [Wallace's] deep love and respect for the land and people of the Arctic. This book will give children a good idea of this part of the country, offering both an introduction and a deeper exploration of Canada's north.

Canadian Children’s Book News

Seeing the landscape with its towering Inuksuks through her eyes is riveting, as the colors, textures, shapes, and messages come alive and hook the reader to create a personal relationship with the lure of the Arctic and the Inuit...A Canadian treasure delighting audiences of all ages - not to be missed.

Resource Links

Highly engaging and inspiring.

Kids Read blog

…personal photos, sketches, and comments give readers an intimate portrait of life in this place…Readers will be fascinated by this firsthand account of true adventure.

School Library Journal

Inuksuk Journey is carefully crafted and beautifully told...a fantastic resource for those who wish to understand aspects of life in the north as seen through the eyes of a non-native.

CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials

Inuksuk Journey: An Artist at the Top of the World

This beautiful book is a record of artist Mary Wallace’s eight-day journey deep into the Arctic tundra to explore and experience the traditional Inuit way of life. As Wallace explores the history and traditions of life in the far north, she introduces the reader to the beauty and richness of this apparently barren landscape and her recognition of the connectedness of the Inuit to their environment. Her diary entries express her sense of wonder and are illustrated with photographs and sketches. Each day’s entry is followed by a two-page reproduction of Wallace’s artistic impression of the experiences of the day.

Wallace is the author/illustrator of The Inuksuk Book, which won the White Raven Award from UNESCO and the National Outdoor Book Award.

Inuksuk Journey: An Artist at the Top of the World

Join artist and writer Mary Wallace on the trip of a lifetime as she ventures to the far north on her “amazing Arctic adventure.” The author of The Inuksuk Book and Make Your Own Inuksuk has long been fascinated with this ancient form of communication. Although she has journeyed to the Arctic, never before has she camped out with Inuit guides, living off the land, and exploring the land and sea of Nunavut. This book is her travel journal, full of photos, artifacts, sketches and paintings.

Her story begins in Cape Dorset where she and her sister meet their guides and prepare for the journey ahead. They explore some archaeological sites in the area, discovering remains of the Thule people, ancestors of the Inuit. Then, they board the boat that will take them to their campsite. For several days, they camp out, fishing and hunting for food and visiting Inuksugassait, the “place of many inuksuit”, the oldest site in the eastern Arctic. It is a magical place that inspires Wallace to ponder the vast reaches of the land and marvel at the people who call this land their home. Looking at her photos, I was struck by how different this treeless land is from much of the rest of Canada. It truly is a unique place.

The book is beautifully designed, with Wallace’s vivid oil paintings covering a double-page spread at the end of each section. The story flows nicely in short chapters that shouldn’t overwhelm the reader, while providing lots of interesting detail. It is a lively mix of story and art that conveys her deep love and respect for the land and people of the Arctic. This book will give children a good idea of this part of our country, offering both an introduction and a deeper exploration of Canada’s north.