The First Book of Eskimos

Written for children the book is filled with simple descriptions of how Eskimos build their igloos hunt for food and adapt to the freezing conditions of the North. It also touches on their clothing tools and social structures providing an educational overview of a fascinating and resilient people. The book contains illustrations and descriptions that aim to both educate and entertain young readers helping them understand the unique challenges and lifestyles of people living in the Arctic. While Brewster’s work was a product of its time reflecting the attitudes and knowledge of the early 20th century it remains a window into early ethnographic efforts aimed at making distant cultures more accessible to children. Today the book can be viewed as a piece of historical literature that helps trace the evolution of how we viewed indigenous cultures and how these portrayals have changed over time.