New children’s book explores joy of picking berries with family

Spending time together on land the ‘real joys in life’, says co-author

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

Berry picking with family is an activity many Nunavut families take part in every summer, and it’s what is at the heart of It’s Time for Berries!, a new children’s book published by Inhabit Media, penned by wife and husband team Ceporah Mearns and Jeremy Debicki.

The book is inspired by the relationship between their two daughters and their grandmother, Mearns’ mom.

Picking berries, clam digging, making jam, baking muffins are all part of the Nunavut summer experience.

“We spend a lot of time with our daughters and ningiuq (grandmother), and we do all of those things. Each season we are out berry-picking or claim digging or out fishing, these are things my mom lives to do, our girls love to do with my mom,” said Mearns, who lives in Iqaluit but is originally from Pangnirtung.

Mearns remembers her mom would go out berry-picking even in the rain to ensure there were always berries to use with jam, muffins, cheesecake and other goods.

“She really loves that, so we wanted to capture that in our book,” she said.

Mearns added her daughters growing up would come to understand the different seasons and when the family would go out harvesting for berries, fish, clams, or other foods from the land and she hopes other kids can relate to that.

“I hope it resonates, the illustrations just capture it so perfectly,” she said. “I grew up spending time doing those things with my grandmother and my daughters are so lucky to be able to do that with their grandmother.”

She really hopes It’s Time for Berries presents an opportunity for families to spend time together. Whether it’s reading the book itself, or inspiring others to go out and forage for berries.

“I hope children and fami- lies enjoy reading that together and also just enjoy spending time together. Hopefully, it’ll inspire families to go and spend time out on the land and harvest the fruits of our land,” she said.

“The joy that comes from picking berries and harvesting clams, going out fishing, those are the real joys of our lives that we can do to spend time with each other and I know many other families feel that way.”

It’s Time for Berries!, can be found on the Inhabit Media website and on Amazon. It is available in both Inuktitut and English, as well as in hardcover and paperback forms.

The book was illustrated by artist Tindur