Long ago, when giant polar bears known as Nanarluit roamed the far north, an Inuit hunter discovered that his home and family were in danger from one of these fearsome creatures, sleeping underneath the ice near his iglu. Knowing full well that he lacked the strength to defeat such an enemy, the hunter cleverly set out to even the odds, slowly icing over the Nanarluk's aglu, or breathing hole. When his ursine adversary attempted to emerge from his watery home and kill the hunter, he had first to dig his way through his unexpectedly smaller aglu, giving the hunter time to seriously injure him...

Published by Inhabit Media, an Inuit-owned publishing house based in Iqaluit, Nunavit, The Giant Bear: An Inuit Folktale is a wonderfully engaging story about the triumph of brain over brawn, and the use of cunning and strategy to defeat a much more powerful enemy. Inuit elder Jose Angutinngurniq heard this story from his grandfather, and retells it here for the benefit of all. Illustrator Eva Widermann, who seems to have undertaken a number of project for Inhabit Media, creates vivid and colorful artwork to accompany the tale. Recommended to folklore lovers young and old, to anyone searching for stories with an Inuit background, and to young children who enjoy exciting tales of adventure. ( )