This beautifully crafted picture book celebrates one of the world's most awesome animals: the polar bear. Evocative but simple text by award-winning musician and artist Tanya Tagaq is accompanied by striking art in this classic counting book.
Beginning with 1 proud polar bear standing tall and ending with 10 bears waving goodbye, this delightful counting book shows polar bears in all their forms: slippery and fast, crafty and cool, hungry and proud. Tanya has created a story meant to be read aloud, incorporating simple Inuktitut words and using her keen ear for the musical sound of language.
This book is joyful, powerful, clever and striking — much like the bears who sniff, slide, swim, hunt, play and dance through its pages. And when you get to the last page, you won't be able to resist going back to repeat the journey!
One of CBC Books' Best Canadian Books of 2024 for Kids & Teens One of Quill & Quire’s Favourite Young Readers Titles of 2024 One of the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, Spring 2025
PRAISE FOR It Bears Repeating:
"An intriguing, culturally responsive primer . . . It does, in fact, bear repeating." —Kirkus Reviews
"In her debut for children, Tagaq explores gentler territory while remaining true to her roots." —Publishers Weekly
"Rich language and striking illustrations take this counting book beyond the standard fare. A real treat and recommended." —School Library Journal
"[Both] culturally specific and universal, and rewards repeated readings that are refreshing both literally and figuratively."—Imaginary Elevators
"[A] most worthy addition to home collections as well as libraries serving the pre and early school audience. Highly recommended."—CM: Canadian Review of Materials "The book has great potential for storytime when children are a bit antsy — they can stretch and wiggle right along with the bears." —Hakai Magazine
"Beginning with one proud polar bear standing tall and ending with 10 bears waving goodbye, the delightful counting book shows polar bears in all their forms: slippery and fast, crafty and cool, hungry and proud. Fun for kids to count along while they learn about polar bears and all of their daily activities." —Story Monsters Ink
TANYA TAGAQ is a Canadian (Inuk) throat singer from Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuutiaq), Nunavut, Canada, on the south coast of Victoria Island. She is an author, improvisational performer, avant-garde composer, and experimental recording artist who won the 2014 Polaris Music Prize for her album Animism, a work that disrupted the music world in Canada and beyond with its powerfully original vision. Tanya's most recent album Retribution was released in fall 2016. Her first book for adults, Split Tooth has received numerous accolades and awards. Tanya is also the author of two picture books, It Bears Repeating and I Would Give You My Tail.
View titles by Tanya Tagaq
CEE POOTOOGOOK is the eldest son of the late Napachie Pootoogook and Eegyvadluk Pootoogook, and older brother to the well-known Cape Dorset contemporary artist, Annie Pootoogook. Around 1990, Cee began carving and he developed a solid reputation for his curious and well executed depictions of spirits and transformations. In 2009, Cee gave up sculpture and began work as a stonecut printer. In a very short time, Cee demonstrated an aptitude for the precise and methodical qualities required for the time-consuming work of editioning prints. He has also been drawing for the past several years, depicting the day-to-day activities of community life as well as traditional subjects and wildlife. Cee has exhibited his work across Canada, the United States and Germany.
View titles by Cee Pootoogook
This beautifully crafted picture book celebrates one of the world's most awesome animals: the polar bear. Evocative but simple text by award-winning musician and artist Tanya Tagaq is accompanied by striking art in this classic counting book.
Beginning with 1 proud polar bear standing tall and ending with 10 bears waving goodbye, this delightful counting book shows polar bears in all their forms: slippery and fast, crafty and cool, hungry and proud. Tanya has created a story meant to be read aloud, incorporating simple Inuktitut words and using her keen ear for the musical sound of language.
This book is joyful, powerful, clever and striking — much like the bears who sniff, slide, swim, hunt, play and dance through its pages. And when you get to the last page, you won't be able to resist going back to repeat the journey!
Praise
One of CBC Books' Best Canadian Books of 2024 for Kids & Teens One of Quill & Quire’s Favourite Young Readers Titles of 2024 One of the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, Spring 2025
PRAISE FOR It Bears Repeating:
"An intriguing, culturally responsive primer . . . It does, in fact, bear repeating." —Kirkus Reviews
"In her debut for children, Tagaq explores gentler territory while remaining true to her roots." —Publishers Weekly
"Rich language and striking illustrations take this counting book beyond the standard fare. A real treat and recommended." —School Library Journal
"[Both] culturally specific and universal, and rewards repeated readings that are refreshing both literally and figuratively."—Imaginary Elevators
"[A] most worthy addition to home collections as well as libraries serving the pre and early school audience. Highly recommended."—CM: Canadian Review of Materials "The book has great potential for storytime when children are a bit antsy — they can stretch and wiggle right along with the bears." —Hakai Magazine
"Beginning with one proud polar bear standing tall and ending with 10 bears waving goodbye, the delightful counting book shows polar bears in all their forms: slippery and fast, crafty and cool, hungry and proud. Fun for kids to count along while they learn about polar bears and all of their daily activities." —Story Monsters Ink
TANYA TAGAQ is a Canadian (Inuk) throat singer from Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuutiaq), Nunavut, Canada, on the south coast of Victoria Island. She is an author, improvisational performer, avant-garde composer, and experimental recording artist who won the 2014 Polaris Music Prize for her album Animism, a work that disrupted the music world in Canada and beyond with its powerfully original vision. Tanya's most recent album Retribution was released in fall 2016. Her first book for adults, Split Tooth has received numerous accolades and awards. Tanya is also the author of two picture books, It Bears Repeating and I Would Give You My Tail.
View titles by Tanya Tagaq
CEE POOTOOGOOK is the eldest son of the late Napachie Pootoogook and Eegyvadluk Pootoogook, and older brother to the well-known Cape Dorset contemporary artist, Annie Pootoogook. Around 1990, Cee began carving and he developed a solid reputation for his curious and well executed depictions of spirits and transformations. In 2009, Cee gave up sculpture and began work as a stonecut printer. In a very short time, Cee demonstrated an aptitude for the precise and methodical qualities required for the time-consuming work of editioning prints. He has also been drawing for the past several years, depicting the day-to-day activities of community life as well as traditional subjects and wildlife. Cee has exhibited his work across Canada, the United States and Germany.
View titles by Cee Pootoogook
