The Giant and the Grizzly Bear

This Inuit tale revolves around a giant and his adopted human boy living together and contending with bears. As the giant traverses the tundra, he stumbles upon a recently abandoned human camp and discovers a little boy, left behind by his family, near the campsite. The giant then adopts him, taking him to live in his tent. With the onset of autumn, bears emerge in search of food before hibernation, actions that coincide with the giant's preparations for the long winter ahead. Before settling to sleep, the giant instructs the child to keep watch for bears and to wake him if he spots one. While playing outside the tent, practicing archery and pretending to hunt, the boy suddenly sees a bear and promptly awakens the giant. For the giant, a regular-sized bear poses little threat and is easily killed. The boy learns to safeguard both himself and the giant while also preparing the bear meat. After eating the bear meat, the giant returns to sleep, telling the boy to wake him only if a giant bear appears. Eventually, a giant bear arrives, one so large that it blocks the plain between the mountains. Awakened by the boy, the giant prepares for the thrilling fight by securing the child in his boot to ensure his safety. The ensuing battle is intense, causing rocks to tumble down the mountainside and the earth to shake. Post-battle, as the giant tends to his wounds, he contemplates traveling to find the boy’s human family, fearing that he might be unable to care for the boy after this arduous battle.

The illustrations in the book beautifully depict the Western Arctic, the northern landscape of Canada.

This Inuit traditional story illustrates the affection between the giant and the little human boy, who care for each other deeply. The Giant and the Grizzly Bear also portrays the Inuit lifestyle and the northern Canadian landscape while emphasizing hunting practices. Additionally, the book educates readers on the Inuit word "Kamik", explaining its meaning and pronunciation at the end.