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RANKIN INLET - Students from kindergarten to junior high were paid a special visit by award-winning children's author Helaine Becker this past month.

Becker grew up in New York City and moved to Toronto in 1985.

Children's author Helaine Becker plays a game with Jason Panika, Dennis Panika and Rayn Pilakapsi, from left, at the John Ayaruaq Library in Rankin Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy of Pascale Visart

She has dual citizenship and has been writing children's books since 2000.

Becker said she loves writing for kids and her career feels like something she was always meant to do.

"I've been fired from every job I've ever had because I'm just plain weird and don't fit in a lot," said Becker.

"Then I landed in this career and realized I'm not weird here because I have a mixture of skills and interests that work.

"It's a blessing to find a place where you know you can contribute, do good work and find joy in what you're doing.

"That gives you a good reason to get up in the morning every day."

The author also made stops in Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk and Yellowknife.

Becker said her visit to Rankin was fabulous.

She said she met many interesting people, learned a lot and had a wonderful time with the kids.

"People often tell me I'm going to be shocked by this or that because I'm going to such and such a place.

"They don't think I know what I'm getting myself into.

"But kids are kids everywhere, and they all react the same way."

Becker's tour was part of Canadian Children's Book Week, which is sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts and the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Authors who have written a Canadian children's book during the past year are encouraged to apply to the tour program.

A total of 30 authors are selected from those who apply and are sent to a different province or territory than where they live.

Becker said she was very lucky to be selected for the program and then picked for Nunavut, which is the most desired location among most of the writers.

She said most people don't get the chance to visit the North if they don't have family living there.

"I was absolutely over the moon when I was selected for Nunavut.

"I had no contact with anyone in Rankin until I landed, so I was all wide-eyed and wondering what was going to happen next.

"But I knew it would all go smooth and wonderful, and it did."

Becker said her approach with children varies, but it's always funny.

She said since she saw kids from kindergarten to Grade 9 during her time in Rankin, every presentation was different.

"Each one involved quite a lot of laughter and good exchanges between us.

"They taught me some things - like how to say thank you in Inuktitut - and I like to think I taught them some things, as well."

Becker said her most interesting exchange happened during her first day in Rankin.

She said a group of Grade 8 students couldn't understand why she was so happy to be there, when they all found Rankin so boring.

"That's what Grade 8 students say to you, no matter where they're from, because life is so boring when you're in Grade 8.

"They thought growing up in New York must have been pretty exciting and were shocked to hear me say it was boring."

Becker told the kids she was extremely excited because she was about to see something that night she'd been wanting to experience her entire life.

The students came up with numerous possibilities, but none were the right answer.

"They were totally surprised when I finally told them it was the Northern Lights and that was the point.

"They live in this fascinating place, get to see something most people view as one of the wonders of the world, and take it for granted.

"One of the tricks in life is to be able to see what's around you and recognize the wonder we all have.

"Where we live is only boring because of our own perspectives."

Becker said it was wild to see the looks on the kids faces when they honestly could not guess what was going to be so special for her.

She said the looks were even more startling when they realized something they take for granted was about to be one of the highlights of her life.

"My dad grew up in Manhattan but never went to the Empire State Building, so go figure.

"We all take for granted what we have and it's at its worst when you're around 14 years of age.

"That's because in your mind, you've already seen it all, done it all and have all the answers.

"It's a stage of life we all go through and can't avoid, but it's a great thing anytime it gets shortened."