• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 2
• Reading age: 6 to 8

All Viivi wants for her ninth birthday is a pair of kamiks. How can she show her parents that she’s ready?
This book uses a sequential story to introduce children to kamiks, a traditional boot Inuit have worn for hundreds of years. An explanatory note helps children understand what kamiks look like and why they are worn.

Nadia Mike is an Inuit educator, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Regina. Although Nadia has lived in many communities across the North, she considers Iqaluit, Nunavut, her home. Nadia has two daughters, Leah and Jaime, who constantly teach her to be less serious and enjoy every day. These two girls have also reminded Nadia of the importance of children’s literature, and having stories with settings, characters, and themes that show children that their lives and cultures are important enough to be in books. Nadia loves to travel, cook, sew, and drink strong coffee. In 2014, Nadia published her first book, an Inuktitut-language first-words board book. In 2016, she published Leah’s Mustache Party, her first picture book, followed by Ukaliq and Kalla Go Fishing in 2017.

Nadia Mike's profile page

Ali Hinch has worked as a full-time illustrator in educational children’s literature since getting her degree in illustration from Sheridan College. She’s had the opportunity to work on a variety of unique projects outside of book illustration ranging from designing puppet concepts and assisting on set building to working with musicians and artists to design CDs and promotions. Currently living in Toronto, she spends a lot of time drinking iced coffee and making new dog friends.

Ali Hinch's profile page