On the first day of school, Nalvana was in gym class when a boy named Davidee
ran into the gym so quickly he was just a blur. All the other kids tried to
race him, but he was faster than all the kids in the class.
“Davidee, you have a superpower!” Nalvana excitedly told him. “You can run
faster than a Ski-Doo!”
“Do you think that’s true?” Davidee asked her, beaming.
“I know it’s true!” said Nalvana. “But I wonder what my superpower is.”
Superpower
Explore the following cover art for the book What’s my Superpower? Do you notice any words that are familiar?
Think about the word superpower. How would you describe what this word means?
Use the following fillable and printable Brainstorm Organizer to record words, drawings, and/or sentences that explain what a superpower means to you. You may also create an audio recording.
What’s my superpower?
Let’s read the story What’s My Superpower?
You might have noticed that there are two names on the cover. One of these is the author. The author is the person who writes the words for a storybook or other forms of text.
The author of What’s my Superpower? is Aviaq Johnston. Let’s learn a bit more about Aviaq!
About the author
What’s My Superpower? was written by Aviaq Johnston. Aviaq Johnston is an Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut. She loves reading, writing, and studying. Aviaq won two awards for a short story she wrote called, "Tarnikuluk" in 2014. She enjoys traveling and spends her time living between Iqaluit and Ottawa.
A map of the three places the author Aviaq Johnston has lived: Ottawa, Iqaluit, and Igloolik. Ottawa is in southern Ontario. Iqaluit is on the southeast coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut. It is much further north than Ottawa. Igloolik is on Igloolik Island in Nunavut. It is further west than Iqaluit.
The person who created the pictures in the book is an illustrator. Illustrations are pictures created by an artist to help readers visualize or better understand the text they are reading. Illustrations can be found in many types of texts including storybooks. The illustrator of What’s my Superpower? is Tim Mack. Let’s learn a bit more about Tim!
About the illustrator
What’s My Superpower? was illustrated by Tim Mack. Tim Mack is an illustrator from Vancouver, British Columbia. He has illustrated several books including What’s My Superpower? He enjoys drawing and using colours and shapes in his artwork.
Teacher Amanda says, 'Let's explore some special words in Inuktitut, the Inuit language, that are used in the story. When they come up in the story, use the following list to help you understand what the words mean.'
- anaana (a-naa-na): mother
- iglu (ee-glue): snow house
- inuksuk (ee-nook-shook): sculpture made with rocks piled on top of each other
- panik (puh-nick): daughter
Let’s get started!
What do you notice about the characters on the front cover of the book? What are they doing?
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in English.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 2 and 3
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 2 and 3
What does the description “winter is always longer than summer” mean?
Press Let’s Check! to reveal a possible answer.
This might mean that where Nalvana lives, the weather is colder for a longer time than it is warm.
How does the author help us understand the town where Nalvana lives?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
The author describes that the town has “quiet” roads and lots of space. Nalvana can ride her bike safely on the road, because there are not many cars around.
As we continue to read, think about how the author describes different spaces and places in Nalvana’s town.
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in English.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 4 and 5
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 4 and 5
Why do you think Nalvana wants a superpower?
Why does she dress in goggles and a cape?
Press Let’s Check! to reveal a possible answer.
Maybe wearing goggles and a cape helps Nalvana feel brave and strong.
Quotation marks
Did you notice that when the characters are speaking, there are marks around what they say?
These marks are called quotation marks. For example, do you notice where the quotation marks are in the following passage:
“Do you think I’ll ever have a superpower?” Nalvana asked.
As we continue the story, see if you can notice where a character is speaking to another character. There will always be quotation marks around their speech.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 6 to 9 What’s My Superpower? in English
Nalvana went home after school and told her mom all about Davidee.
“He was so fast he almost burned the floor of the gym!” Nalvana told her.
“He was like the wind on a blizzardy day.”
“Wow, he really must have super speed,” her mother replied.
“If Davidee has a superpower, does that mean I can have a superpower, too?”
Nalvana asked.
“I’m sure we will find out soon,” her mom said.
Nalvana imagined herself flying in the sky, or talking to animals, or even
breathing underwater.
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 6 to 9
Nalvana tells her mother that Davidee was fast “like the wind on a blizzardy day.”
What are some other ways to describe being fast?
Brainstorm some words and use one in a sentence. Complete the Being Fast Activity in your notebook or use the following document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts. You may also draw pictures.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 10 to 13 What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 10 to 13
The days began to grow colder, but that did not stop Nalvana from going to
the playground to play with her friends.
One day, Nalvana saw her friend Maata swinging so high that it looked like
she was going to loop around the swing set. Nalvana and her friends all
stared at Maata, amazed.
Then suddenly, Maata was flying from the swing! She landed so far away that
Nalvana was sure that Maata had flown through the air.
“You can fly! You can fly!” Nalvana said.
Maata smiled widely. “Really?” she asked.
“Of course!” Nalvana said. “If you keep practising, someday you’ll be able
to fly all the way around the world!”
When Nalvana went home that day, she told her mom about the amazing flying
girl she had seen at the playground.
“She was flying?” her mom asked.
“Well, she was jumping very far,” Nalvana explained. “But I think she’ll be
able to fly for real if she keeps trying.”
Nalvana started jumping around the house, off the couch and the tables,
trying to see if she could be like Maata.
“I don’t think your superpower is flying, Panik,” her mom said. “But don’t
worry, we’ll figure out what your special talent is soon.”
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 10 to 13
Can you think of any other non-magical superpowers? Which one of these would you like to have? How would it come in handy in your life?
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in English.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 14 and 15
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 14 and 15
Joanasie has the same special talent as his dad: they are both carvers.
Think about the things you are good at. Does anyone in your family or group of friends have the same talent?
Did You Know?
Did you know?
Nalvana meets her friend Joanasie, who has learned carving from their father. Did you know that the Inuit have been carving items from bone, stone, and ivory for thousands of years?
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in English.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 16 and 17
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 16 and 17
When Nalvana's anaana calls her panik (puh-nick) what does that mean?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Panik (puh-nick) means daughter in Inuktitut.
Do you speak another language at home or with family or friends?
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in English.
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 18 and 19
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 18 and 19
Nalvana realizes that her friends all have their own special superpowers. Can you name some of the superpowers her friends have?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
- Davidee can run really fast
- Maata can fly
- Joanasie can make things
- Adamie can hold his breath for a really long time
Do you know anyone who can run fast, jump high off a swing, make things, or hold their breath underwater?
What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 20 to 25 What’s My Superpower? in English: Pages 20 to 25
Nalvana was happy for her friends. They had all found the things that they
were good at. She liked to tell them they had superpowers, and she liked to
see them smile. They all seemed so happy to have a special talent.
But Nalvana wished she knew what her superpower was.
“Anaana,” Nalvana said when she came home from school one day. “I still don’t
know what my superpower is. Am I ever going to figure it out?”
Her mom gave her a big smile.
“I think I know what your superpower is, Panik,” she said.
Nalvana looked up at her mom, excited but confused. “What is it? Can I fly
like Maata? Or am I really strong?”
“No, Panik, can’t you see?” her mother asked as she hugged Nalvana
close. “Your superpower is making people feel good about themselves.”
Nalvana smiled. “I think that’s a good superpower to have,” she said.
Explore the following audio clip to hear the story in Inuktitut.
What’s My Superpower? in Inuktitut: Pages 20 to 25
Anaana says that Nalvana’s superpower is “making people feel good about themselves.”
How does Nalvana show respect towards her friends and make them feel good throughout the story?
Do you think that’s a good superpower to have? Why or why not?
Let’s check!
Now that we have finished the story, what do you think is the main idea or message that the author wanted to share?
Record your thoughts and share with a partner, if possible.
Press Let’s Check! to reveal a possible answer.
The main idea could be that everyone is special or unique and everyone has their own superpower.
Nalvana learns about her own superpower at the end of the story, but an important lesson she teaches us is about respect. She respects and cares for her friends, and she supports them and encourages them.
How might you show respect to others?
Share your thoughts with a partner, if possible.
Putting it all together
Esma is creating a painting. She is painting a portrait of herself. She has a picture of herself in the middle. She has painted the words, 'I am' above her head. Below her head, she has filled it with words to describe herself. She chose the words strong, kind, brave, talented, and hard-working.
Brainstorm words and actions you might use to show kindness to others and yourself.
Complete the Showing Kindness Activity in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Inuktitut vocabulary review
Let’s review the Inuktitut words that we learned in the story!
For each Inuktitut word select the correct English meaning.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.