Willie Poll

A teacher lesson plan that accompanies the book, My Little Ogichidaa. Includes comprehension questions, group activities, colouring pages, and more. My Little Ogichidaa is inspired by Indigenous motherhood. It invites readers to explore the compelling dreams and hopes of an Indigenous parent for her soon-to-be-born warrior. The word Ogichidaa itself means warrior in Anishinaabemowin, and this beautifully illustrated book is a tribute to Indigenous families everywhere who are proudly raising their children to carry forward their culture, language, and love with resilience, strength, and kindness. This story is proof that despite colonization, our world is full of Indigenous art, beauty, love, and brilliance. Through the eyes of a mother, readers gain insight into the profound bonds of family and community that are central to Indigenous life. This heartwarming and empowering story is a celebration of Indigenous love and the powerful legacy that it creates.

Educator Information
Find the accompanying student book here: My Little Ogichidaa: An Indigenous Lullaby

Additional Information
12 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Paper Packet 

A lyrical informational picture book about how open-net pen fish farms impact wild salmon and their ecosystems

Salmon are central to their ecosystem and the lives of many Indigenous Nations, but the rapid rise of open net-pen fish farming has threatened these longstanding connections. Salmon have followed the same migration routes for thousands of years, but the fish farming industry has had a deadly impact on their annual journey. Open-net pen farms release harmful waste into the ocean that is lethal to the wild salmon forced to swim through it. Now, the salmon must battle against the human-made destruction of their habitat, and many Nations are advocating for change and creating calls of action to protect salmon for future generations.

As the young salmon journey from their gravel nests to the open ocean, readers learn about the life cycle of wild salmon, the effects of open-net pen fish farms, and the role of salmon as a keystone species.

Boldly illustrated with gorgeous Northwest Coast formline art, rhythmic poetry combines with supportive nonfiction content to illuminate the struggles faced by wild salmon populations.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: J 
Lexile measure: 980L

Additional Information
40 pages | 10.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

Un plan de lecon de l'enseignant pour approfondir le livre, Ma petite Ogichidaa. Peut inclure des questions de compréhension, des activités de groupe, des amorces de conversation, des quiz, des activités d’arts du langage et des pages à colorier. L’histoire Ma petite Ogichidaa est inspirée par la maternité autochtone. Elle nous invite à découvrir les rêves et les espoirs fascinants d’une mère autochtone pour sa petite guerrière qui naîtra bientôt. Le mot Ogichidaa signifie guerrier/guerrière en anishinaabemowin et ce livre magnifiquement illustré rend hommage à toutes les familles autochtones qui élèvent fièrement leurs enfants pour qu’ils perpétuent leur culture, leur langue et leur amour avec résilience, force et gentillesse. Cette histoire réconfortante et inspirante célèbre l’amour autochtone et le puissant héritage qu’il crée.

Educator Information
Recommended for use with ages 7 to 10.

Find the student resource here: Ma petite Ogichidaa: une berceuse autochtone

This lesson plan is available in English: My Little Ogichidaa Teacher Lesson Plan

Additional Information
15 pages | 6.31" x 5.93" | Paper Packet

L’histoire Ma petite Ogichidaa est inspirée par la maternité autochtone. Elle nous invite à découvrir les rêves et les espoirs fascinants d’une mère autochtone pour sa petite guerrière qui naîtra bientôt. Le mot Ogichidaa signifie guerrier/guerrière en anishinaabemowin et ce livre magnifiquement illustré rend hommage à toutes les familles autochtones qui élèvent fièrement leurs enfants pour qu’ils perpétuent leur culture, leur langue et leur amour avec résilience, force et gentillesse. Cette histoire réconfortante et inspirante célèbre l’amour autochtone et le puissant héritage qu’il crée.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

This book is available in English: My Little Ogichidaa: An Indigenous Lullaby

Find a lesson plan for this book here: Ma petite Ogichidaa Plan de cours

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.43" x 11.22" | Hardcover 

Minnow, une jeune autochtone, protectrice des eaux, entreprend un voyage sous l'eau ou elle en apprend de notre famille qui vit dans l'ocean. Quand elle retourne a la surface, elle rassemble sa communaute pour aider a apporter des changements. Cette histoire est racontee en rimes lyriques et aide les enfants a mieux respecter les gens qui protegent les eaux et les terres autochtones, l'environnement et le monde qui les entoure. Elle aide a faire decouvrir l'activisme aux enfants tot dans leur vie.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 10.

A teacher lesson plan for this title is available: Minnow: la fille qui est devenue mi-poisson plan de cours

This book is available in English: Minnow: The Girl Who Became Part Fish

Additional Information
44 pages | 9.94" x 6.34" | Paperback

A young Indigenous water protector named Minnow goes on an underwater journey; learning from our ocean-living relatives. When she returns to the surface, she gathers her community to help make a change. This story is told in lyrical rhyme and helps children gain a better respect for Indigenous water and land protectors, the environment, and world around them, and helps show children activism at an early age.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 10.

Find a teacher lesson plan here: Minnow: The Girl Who Became Part Fish Teacher Lesson Plan

This book is available in French: Minnow: la fille qui est devenue mi-poisson 

Additional Information
48 pages | 10.83" x 8.58" | Paperback

My Little Ogichidaa is inspired by Indigenous motherhood. It invites readers to explore the compelling dreams and hopes of an Indigenous parent for her soon-to-be-born warrior.

The word Ogichidaa itself means warrior in Anishinaabemowin, and this beautifully illustrated book is a tribute to Indigenous families everywhere who are proudly raising their children to carry forward their culture, language, and love with resilience, strength, and kindness. This story is proof that despite colonization, our world is full of Indigenous art, beauty, love, and brilliance. Through the eyes of a mother, readers gain insight into the profound bonds of family and community that are central to Indigenous life. This heartwarming and empowering story is a celebration of Indigenous love and the powerful legacy that it creates.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Find a lesson plan for this book here: My Little Ogichidaa Teacher Lesson Plan 

This book is available in French: Ma petite Ogichidaa: une berceuse autochtone

Recommended in the Indigenous Books for Schools catalogue as a valuable resource for English Language Arts and Social Studies, in Grades 2 to 4.

Themes: Ancestors, Decolonization, Resilience, Connectedness to Culture, Family

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Hardcover

A poignant and poetic picture book celebrating traditional Indigenous harvesting, foods, and the connections that these build for all our relations.

It’s a special day: the young protagonist in this memorable story is learning her grandfather’s favorite recipe from her grandmother! As each ingredient is prepared for this special dish, readers will be eager to follow along as they are transported back to each instance of gathering, hunting, and harvesting foods in the traditional ways throughout the seasons.

Willie Poll’s poetic voice leads the readers through the seasons and what Mother Earth offers to us in nature in this beautiful celebration of the Earth, our foods, our family, and the importance of grieving those we love. With an emphasis on the importance of thanking the land for what is given to us, sharing with our community, and offering a plate to our ancestors, this gentle and thoughtful tale will resonate with readers young and old alike. Shaikara David’s bright and inviting illustrations carry the cooking experience from the kitchen, to the forest, and back again.

Featuring an author’s note on traditional harvesting practices and a recipe for Nuwish, Our Ancestors’ Kitchen is a joyous exploration of love, food, and culture.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Additional Information
36 pages | 9.75" x 9.75" | Hardcover 

In this beautifully illustrated book, a determined young Anishnaabe girl in search of adventure goes on a transformative journey into a forest on her traditional territory. She is joined by a chorus of her ancestors in red dresses, who tell her they remember what it was like to be carefree and wild, too. Soon, though, the girl is challenged by a monster named Hate, who envelops her in a cloud of darkness. She climbs a mountain to evade the monster, and, with the help of her matriarchs and the power of Thunderbird, the monster is held at bay. Together the young girl and her ancestors beat their drums in song and support, giving the girl the confidence she needs to become a changemaker in the future, capable of fending off any monster in her way.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 11.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover