Kayla Williams is a mixed Inuit artist, author, and designer from Goose Bay, Labrador. Her father’s family is Nunatsiavut Inuit, and her mother is Scottish/French. She spent many of her summers growing up on the coast of Labrador in Cartwright with her grandmother, connecting to her culture and learning how to live off the land. She writes and illustrates children’s books that celebrate Indigenous identity, ensuring young readers see themselves in stories. She also paints murals that reclaim Indigenous narratives and brighten public spaces in Labrador. Through her work, Kayla shares the beauty and resilience of Labrador’s people. When she’s not creating, she’s raising her two children and running her artistic business, Big Land Design. Illustrated by Thamires Paredes who lives and works as a freelance illustrator in Brazil and has a great passion for telling stories through her art. Hush my sweet one, close your eyes, let me tell you a story of the Labrador skies. This poem, written by Labrador Inuit author-illustrator Kayla Williams, takes readers on a lyrical journey through the skies of Labrador, showcasing all the beauty that makes “the Big Land” unique. From snowmobiles gliding through silent forests to the snowy crunch of fur mukluks on the ice, the sights and sounds of Labrador are lovingly recreated for young readers. This is our home of Labrador, the most beautiful place we could be! This book contains colour illustrations.
