Resource Guide Bundle: From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books 2023 Edition
Details:
The 2023 Edition of From Sea to Sea to Sea features a collection of 25 of the best Indigenous picture books published in Canada between 2020 and 2022.
To learn more about IBBY Canada and this list of picture books, visit https://www.ibby-canada.org/indigenous-picture-book-collection/
This bundle does not include the From Sea to Sea to Sea resource Still This Love Goes On.
Title availability may fluctuate. Scroll below to learn more about the resources included from this list at this time. Books that are in reprint or out of print are not included in the bundle price and will not be included in your order.
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Resources
Synopsis:
With crisp, luminous illustrations by celebrated Indigenous artist Roy Henry Vickers, and a simple rythmic text, this sturdy board book introduces the alphabet using iconic imagery of the West Coast, creating a book that will be cherished by young readers and their families.
Starting with colourful sea anemones waving in the ocean current, and closing with a snoozing grizzly bear (Zzz), this board book supports both early literacy and children's awareness of the natural world.
Publishers Weekly described Vicker’s previous collaboration with Robert Budd as “a gorgeous glimpse of the distinctive landscapes and creatures of the Northwest, [that] will enchant residents and nonlocals alike.”
Educator & Series Information
This book is a part of the First West Coast Books series.
Recommended for ages 3 and under.
Key Topics / Concepts: ABCs, Alphabet, West Coast, Indigenous, Canadian, Earth Sciences, Water, Literacy Development, Early Learners, Indigenous Artwork.
Additional Information
28 pages | 7.25" x 5.00" | Boardbook
Synopsis:
The beaver is busy...
This delightful children's picture book tells the story of amik, the beaver, who works on his dam throughout the day while nature and the activities of other animals carry on around him. At the end of a long day, amik returns to his den to be with his family.
Along with its beautiful cut-paper illustrations, Amik offers the chance for children to learn words and phrases in the Ojibwe language, as the text appears in both English and Anishinaabemowin. A fun, colourful and engaging book for children ages three through six.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6.
Dual-language: English and Anishinaabemowin
Additional Information
20 pages | 9.00" x 8.00" | Board Book
Synopsis:
In this book, kids will learn how wolverines raise their babies, where they live, what they eat, and other interesting information, like how they use their distinctive scent and how they became known as the gluttons of the animal kingdom!
Reviews
"Niptanatiak shares the scientific facts about the animal in a very accessible and simple way, so despite its factual nature this book feels like anything but a boring textbook. A key focus of the facts is how the wolverine engages with its surroundings and other animals, making it a great way to introduce young readers to the Indigenous concept of relationality." - Excerpt from IBBY Canada's From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books - 2023 Edition
Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the non-fiction Animals Illustrated series, which mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books on Arctic animals. Each volume contains firsthand accounts from authors who live in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal.
Themes: Nunavut, Inuit, Indigenous, Arctic Animals, STEM
"A key focus of the facts is how the wolverine engages with its surroundings and other animals, making it a great way to introduce young readers to the Indigenous concept of relationality" - From Sea to Sea to Sea 2023 Edition
Recommended Ages: 6 to 8.
Available in French: Carcajou
Additional Information
28 pages | 6.50" x 9.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Rooted in Indigenous teachings, this stunning picture book encourages readers of all ages to consider the ways in which they live in connection to the world around them and to think deeply about their behaviors.
Addressing environmental issues, animal welfare, self-esteem and self-respect, and the importance of community, the authors deliver a poignant and universal message in an accessible way: Be a good ancestor to the world around you. Thought-provoking stanzas offer a call to action for each one of us to consider how we affect future generations. Every decision we make ripples out, and we can affect the world around us by thinking deeply about those decisions.
Awards
- 2023 Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award
- 2023 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards - Children's Picture Book
Reviews
"Be A Good Ancestor is a story rooted in Indigenous teachings that ask readers to examine how they connect to the world around them and think deeply about their actions' consequences. The story looks at environmental issues, animal welfare, self-esteem and self-respect, and the importance of community making the delivery of a universal message accessible." - The Dalai Lama Center
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.
This book is available in French: Laisse un bel héritage.
Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
When Nekaloakyok was a young girl, she loved going berry picking with her Granny Nalvana. Based on the memories of the author, this book tells the story of a family trip picking akpiks and other berries at Four Mile Bay, near Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Join Nekaloakyok as she reflects on childhood memories and special moments spent with family.
Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. This book is a level 13 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series. Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level is O.
This is a story about tradition and multi-generational relationships based on the author's life growing up in Coppermine (now Kugluktuk). Inuktitut glossary included in endpages.
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.
Curriculum Connections & Keywords: Inuit traditions and ways of life; Indigenous History; Heritage; Memoir; Family
Additional Information
50 pages | 9.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Richly illustrated and lovingly told, this book is a warm and inviting read, perfect for sharing with any little one. Bowhead whales are the longest-living mammals on the planet, living over 200 years. In this heartwarming story, a grandfather bowhead recounts to his young grandchild calf all the beautiful, amazing, and surprising things he has seen in his lifetime, all while assuring the little calf that there is nothing more wondrous than the love a grandfather has for his grandchild.
Reviews
"Together with painterly illustrations in monochromatic blues of the ocean, this underwater tale shows the wondrous love of a grandparent for his grandchild...Tender words of affection are perfect for sharing with any young child or grandchild."—Kirkus
"The expansive illustrations, awash in marine blues and greens, capture the drama and majesty of the Arctic while also showcasing the tender relationship between the whales. A lovely choice for preschool storytimes."—Booklist
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 0 to 3.
Includes an Inuktitut pronunciation guide and fun facts about bowhead whales.
Themes: Indigenous, baby whale, bedtime book, Arctic, Iqaluit
Additional Information
28 pages | 9.50" x 9.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
"Gorgeous, shimmering, heartfelt." — Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW
"[Tasha] Spillet-Sumner's tender free-verse tribute to the joy of welcoming a new baby should resonate with any caregiver who has excitedly awaited a child's arrival... [Michaela] Goade's ethereal watercolor and mixed-media illustrations soar across the page, overflowing with gorgeous touches... I Sang You Down from the Stars will make a beautiful gift for an expecting family as well as a read-aloud to assure children they are loved." — Shelf Awareness
Recommended for ages 2 to 5.
32 pages | 9.00" x 10.25"
Synopsis:
Based on Haida artist Robert Davidson's own experiences with Tsinii (his grandfather), this beautiful story highlights intergenerational knowledge and authentic learning experiences.
Off the northern tip of Haida Gwaii, a boy goes fishing with his tsinii, his grandfather. As they watch the weather, jig for halibut, and row with the tides, there’s more to learn from Tsinii than how to catch a fish.
Written by the creators of Potlatch as Pedagogy, this book brings the Haida Sk'ad'a Principles to life through the art of Janine Gibbons.
Reviews
Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.
This book is part of the Sk'ad'a Stories series.
Keywords & Themes: Haida, Haida Gwaii, Family, Elders, Intergenerational Knowledge, Fishing, Outdoor Activities, Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Harvesting, Coast.
Additional Information
40 pages | 8.12" x 9.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
A magical children’s picture book, written in Cree and English, depicting the transformation of a barren landscape into a rich natural world where an elderly couple can spend their remaining days.
Rooted in the historical displacement and relocation of members of the Chemawawin First Nation from their ancestral homeland, The Move is a bilingual story of two Cree Elders adjusting to life in their new environment. The story presents two contrasting landscapes of the old community—the homeland of the Chemawawin People—and the new community of Easterville, which at first appears barren and lifeless. Gradually, the couple begins to incorporate their old customs and traditions into their current surroundings. Family members begin to visit, and eventually nature begins to bloom all around them. Through traditional Cree storytelling techniques and vivid imagery, the new landscape springs to life and becomes a true community, filled with life and happiness.
Reviews
“kā-āciwīkicik / The Move is a small treasure. A wonderful story about memory, land, and kinship, and how language is integral to our relations with each other and with the land and all living things. This is a moving story of hope, wonderfully illustrated in tones that feel like earth, and with translation into Cree it invites us in, like a crackling fireplace in a log cabin, to sit with a cup of tea in hand and learn the old stories.” —Paul Seesequasis, bestselling author of Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun
“My experience reading kā-āciwīkicik / The Move was profound. From the dreariness of relocation and searching for hope to finding happiness in reconnecting to culture—this story is both educational and poetic. Doris, Don and Alyssa balance healing in two worlds and do it beautifully through words, storyline, and graphics.” —Shayla Raine, author of The Way Creator Sees You
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Dual-Language: Cree and English.
Additional Information
48 pages | Paperback
Synopsis:
Shawna Davis invites the reader to explore each of the four seasons through her beautiful words and lush, unforgettable, beaded illustrations.
We begin in Gwooyim (Spring) when the Majagalee, the Sim Algyax word for “flower,” are just beginning to sprout. We then move on to Sint (Summer) when Grandmother Sun stays in the sky a bit longer. Next there is Xwsit (Fall), just as Summer begins to get sleepy, and Maadim (Winter) where the snow has fallen and the freezer is full.
This is a story of nature, its importance to our lives, and why it must be cared for and respected.
Toonasa Jordana Luggi’s lovely, rich, and nearly tactile photographs are the perfect complement to Shawna’s hand-beaded artwork and wonderful, hand-cut paper backgrounds.
Includes Pronunciation Guides.
Reviews
“...simple, evocative poetry is culturally specific, rooted in a deep love of the land and the people around her but it’s also relatable to readers of different backgrounds. The lyrical verse in Majagalee makes it an ideal read-aloud book.... Majagalee is an elevated concept book. It introduces readers to the seasons, the plants and animals of the Northwest Coast, Sim Algyax, Indigenous art, and the importance of all these things to Gitksan culture. Despite its apparent simplicity, Majagalee is a complex and brilliantly constructed book. It will appeal to Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike, and for teachers and parents, it serves as an outstanding example of a book that demonstrates the ongoing presence and beauty of Indigenous cultures in what is now known as Canada..” – Quill & Quire, starred review
Educator Information
Juvenile Fiction. This picture book explores the four seasons on the northwest coast of what is currently British Columbia from a Gitksan perspective.
Additional information
Pages: 40
Synopsis:
A baby board book from the bestselling artist behind Mi'kmaw Animals that teaches young readers Mi'kmaw concepts and a Mi'kmaw word for each day of the week.
From celebrated artist Alan Syliboy, this vital book for the youngest readers showcases seven of Syliboy’s popular Daily Drum artworks, each paired with a different day of the week. From Spirit Woman to Caribou to Round Dance, Mi’kmaw culture and teachings are offered up to newborns and toddlers in a vibrant and accessible book.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 and under.
Includes references to Muin, the eight-point star, the round dance, and Spirit Woman.
Additional Information
10 pages | 7.00" x 7.00" | Boardbook
Synopsis:
Niibing, dgwaagig, bboong, mnookmig dbaadjigaade maanpii mzin'igning / A Book about the Seasons.
An Anishinaabe child and her grandmother explore the natural wonders of each season in this lyrical, bilingual story-poem.
In this lyrical story-poem, written in Anishinaabemowin and English, a child and grandmother explore their surroundings, taking pleasure in the familiar sights that each new season brings.
We accompany them through warm summer days full of wildflowers, bees and blueberries, then fall, when bears feast before hibernation and forest mushrooms are ripe for harvest. Winter mornings begin in darkness as deer, mice and other animals search for food, while spring brings green shoots poking through melting snow and the chirping of peepers.
Brittany Luby and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley have created a book inspired by childhood memories of time spent with Knowledge Keepers, observing and living in relationship with the natural world in the place they call home — the northern reaches of Anishinaabewaking, around the Great Lakes.
Alvin Ted Corbiere and Alan Corbiere, father and son, are the Anishinaabe translators of this work.
Awards
- 2022 Indigenous Voices Award for a published work in an Indigenous language
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.2
Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5
Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
How do you know the seasons? Do you know it's summer when blueberries fall readily and the sand is hot enough to sting? Do you know fall by the red-winged blackbird taking his leave? Take a minute and look around — nature is speaking to us. Changes are happening, and Mother Earth is letting us know at every step of the way. Whether it's the sun's bright morning light, or the white moon sitting high in the sky, there are many ways to know what time of the year it is. All we need to do is stop, look, and listen, because each season tells us a story!
This book is also available in French and Ojibwe: Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / La Terre me parle: Un livre sur les saisons
Additional Information
44 pages | 8.75" x 8.50"
Synopsis:
“We need to be careful that we don’t hurt the gifts that are given to us.” Told in Plains Cree, Saulteaux, and English, this simple tale of traditional teachings and values follows a grandparent and grandchild on a visit to a chokecherry patch, where lessons about respect and gratitude for the earth’s gifts are shared.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3+
Triple-language format: Plains Cree, Saulteaux, and English.
An afterword includes a Saulteaux and Plains Cree pronunciation guide.
Additional Information
40 pages | 11.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
A picture book celebrating Indigenous culture and traditions. The Governor General Award-winning team behind When We Were Alone shares a story that honors our connections to our past and our grandfathers and fathers.
A boy and Moshom, his grandpa, take a trip together to visit a place of great meaning to Moshom. A trapline is where people hunt and live off the land, and it was where Moshom grew up. As they embark on their northern journey, the child repeatedly asks his grandfather, "Is this your trapline?" Along the way, the boy finds himself imagining what life was like two generations ago -- a life that appears to be both different from and similar to his life now. This is a heartfelt story about memory, imagination and intergenerational connection that perfectly captures the experience of a young child's wonder as he is introduced to places and stories that hold meaning for his family.
Awards
- 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature -- illustrated books
- 2022 Shining Willow Award
- 2022 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award winner
- 2023 Chocolate Lily Award
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Shares and teaches some Swampy Cree words throughout the story.
Notes from the author and illustrator, as well as a glossary of the Swampy Cree words used in the story and a pronunciation guide are included.
This book is available in French: Ligne de trappe.
Additional Information
48 pages | 8.00" x 9.00"
Synopsis:
“Elders say they were always here. The horses were small, but strong.”
“Like me?”
“Like you.”
As they await the birth of a new foal, a man teaches his grandchild about the Ojibwe Horses that used to roam the forests of northwestern Ontario. The horses once ran wild and free, but when Grandfather was a boy, they almost disappeared. Now he is the caretaker of his own small herd, keeping the breed alive for future generations and teaching his grandchild about the loving bond between human and animals.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.
This book is available in a dual-language format: Wiijibibamatoon Anangoonan/Runs with the Stars
Subjects: Character Education; Family & Friendship; History & Social Studies; Canadian History; First Nations & Indigenous Peoples; Science; Environmentalism; Conservation and stewardship; Reflecting Diversity
Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
When you go for a walk in nature, who do you see? What do you hear?
Award-winning storyteller Nicola I. Campbell shows what it means “to stand like a cedar” on this beautiful journey of discovery through the wilderness. Learn the names of animals in the Nłe7kepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us. Experience a celebration of sustainability and connection to the land through lyrical storytelling and Carrielynn Victor’s breathtaking art in this children’s illustrated book.
Discover new sights and sounds with every read.
Reviews
"Stand Like a Cedar is a work of grace and dignity, a celebration of land, family, and knowing who you are and where you come from and being so grateful for everything you’ve been given. Bravo, Nicola Campbell and Carrielynn Victor for creating this treasure. I love it."—Richard Van Camp, author of Little You and A Blanket of Butterflies
"Campbell’s rhythmic writing is wonderful, conveying important messages about the environment and family. Victor’s vibrant renderings accompany the engaging text nicely. Bold illustrations portray elements such as weather, nature, and animals alongside evocative details like glowing skylines. An Indigenous girl shares vivid lessons in this lovely, thoughtful environmental tale." —Kirkus Reviews
"Stand Like a Cedar is a story that connects the journey of building connections through a journey in the wilderness. Through the blended use of the Nłeʔkepmxcín and Halq'emeylem languages, readers are exposed to the healing that takes place in nature. The lyrical storytelling celebrates the healing and strength that comes from building one’s connections to their own journey." - The Dalai Lama Center
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.
Learn the names of animals in the Nłe7kepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us.
Includes a glossary of phrases and a translation guide.
Includes a page of back matter on Coastal and Interior Salish Languages.
This book is available in French: Debout comme un grand cedre
Additional Information
40 pages | 8.12" x 7.75"
Synopsis:
A modern story of traditional Indigenous knowledge that follows a young boy and his Auntie as they gather and braid sweetgrass, one of the four sacred medicines.
It's early July, and for Matthew and his Auntie that means one thing: time to go sweetgrass picking. This year, Matthew's younger cousin Warren is coming along, and it will be his first time visiting the shoreline where the sweetgrass grows.
With Auntie's traditional Mi'kmaw knowledge and Matthew's gentle guidance, Warren learns about the many uses for sweetgrass—as traditional medicine, a sacred offering, a smudging ingredient—and the importance of not picking more than he needs. Once the trio is back at Auntie's house, she shows the boys how to clean and braid the grass.
From the duo behind the bestsellers The Gathering and The Sharing Circle, this heartfelt story about the gifts we receive from Mother Earth and how to gather them respectfully offers thoughtful insight into a treasured Mi'kmaw tradition.
Sweetgrass grows in wet meadows, low prairies, and the edges of sloughs and marshes. It grows from Labrador to Alaska, south to New Jersey, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, and Arizona. Widely used by North American Indigenous Peoples from many different Nations, it is also considered one of the "four sacred medicines" by many Plains Indians.
Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.
This book is part of the Indigenous Knowledge Series.
This book is available in French: Foin d'odeur
Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 8.00" | Paperback
Synopsis:
Thomas loves to tell stories. Big stories. Stories about how skilled he is on the land. But when one of his friends grows tired of his tall tales, Thomas has to prove how skilled he really is. Taking the challenge to spend a night alone in the forest, Thomas heads into the wilderness. The trees, who have heard his stories, watch him tear off their bark and litter as he goes. And so, while Thomas sleeps, they dance a dance that will leave Thomas with a very different kind of story to tell—if he can find his way home…
In this book, Masiana Kelly draws on the beauty of the Northwest Territories and the wisdom of Elders to illustrate the importance of treating the land around us with respect.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.
Themes: Indigenous, Nature Conservation, Litter, Teaching Honesty, Values and Virtues
Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 9.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Knowing our culture means knowing who we are. When we know who we are, we can walk in a good way.
It's been said when teachings are passed down from one generation to the next, good things can happen. Language is learned, knowledge is shared and culture is practiced. In this story of language preservation, author/illustrator and Anishnaabemowin language teacher Juliana Armstrong illuminates a number of Anishnaabemowin words along with their cultural connections, passed down from her Ojibway ancestors. Knowing our culture means knowing who we are. When we know who we are, we can walk in a good way.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8
This book shares Anishnaabemowin words, their cultural connections and how to say them, with the help of phonetics.
A story of Indigenous language preservation and revitalization.
This authentic book is written and illustrated by an Ojibway artist and Anishnaabemowin language teacher.
A teacher lesson plan is available: This Is What I've Been Told Teacher Lesson Plan
This book is available in French: C'est ce qu'on m'a dit
Additional Information
40 pages | 11.00" x 8.50"
Synopsis:
When the world gets too loud and chaotic, a young boy’s grandfather helps him listen with wonder instead.
Kids laughing, sneakers squeaking, balls bouncing—for Thunder, the sounds of the school day often brew into overwhelming noise storms. But when Thunder’s mosom asks him what he hears on an urban nature walk, Thunder starts to understand how sounds like bird wings flapping and rushing water can help him feel calm and connected. Gentle, inviting illustrations by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley emphasize Mosom’s lessons about the healing power of the world around us.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7
Encourages nature appreciation and mindfulness.
Positive, affirming intergenerational (grandparent-grandchild) relationship that models consent and showcases the transmission of knowledge from elders to the new generation.
Themes: Indigenous Canadian; Environment; Emotions and Feelings; Nature
Additional Information
36 pages | 10.25" x 9.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
The first treaty that was made was between the earth and the sky. It was an agreement to work together. We build all of our treaties on that original treaty.
On the banks of the river that have been Mishomis’s home his whole life, he teaches his granddaughter to listen—to hear both the sounds and the silences, and so to learn her place in Creation. Most importantly, he teaches her about treaties—the bonds of reciprocity and renewal that endure for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow.
Accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Luke Swinson and an author’s note at the end, Aimée Craft affirms the importance of understanding an Indigenous perspective on treaties in this evocative book that is essential for readers of all ages.
Awards
- 2022 Indigenous Voices Award in the graphic novels, comics, and illustrated books category
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 10+
Target Grade: Grade 5
Reading Level: Lexile 920L
CCSS.ELA-Literacy Strand-Reading literature:
SL.3.1,1a,1b,1c,1d,2
W.3.1,1a.1b,1c,1d,1e
L.3.1,1a,1b,1c,1d.1e
RL.3.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9
This book is available in French: Mishomis raconte les traités: Tant que les rivières couleront
Additional Information
60 pages | 4.00" x 6.00"
Synopsis:
Ukpik’s mother is eager to teach Ukpik how to prepare caribou skin, dry it, and use it to sew a pair of simple, useful mitts. But Ukpik can’t stop thinking about the beautiful new beads her mother traded the Captain for on his last visit. They are so bright and beautiful! Anaana knows it is more important for Ukpik to learn the skills she will need to make her own clothing in the cold Arctic climate, so she insists that Ukpik sit with her and learn the basics, while having a bit of fun, too. Though Anaana won’t let Ukpik sew with the new beads just yet, she does have a surprise for Ukpik that will let her enjoy the new-found treasures while also learning the skills she will need to provide for herself and her family.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.
Additional Information
36 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
From Julie Flett, the beloved author and illustrator of Birdsong, comes a joyous new book about playtime for babies, toddlers, and kids up to age 7.
Animals and kids love to play! This wonderful book celebrates diversity and the interconnectedness of nature through an Indigenous perspective, complete with a glossary of Cree words for wild animals at the back of the book, and children repeating a Cree phrase throughout the book. Readers will encounter birds who chase and chirp, bears who wiggle and wobble, whales who swim and squirt, owls who peek and peep, and a diverse group of kids who love to do the same, shouting: We play too! / kimêtawânaw mîna
A beautiful ode to the animals and humans we share our world with, We All Play belongs on every bookshelf.
Awards
- 2021 Bull-Bransom Illustration Award Winner
- 2022 Best Book for Babies
Reviews
“Everyone loves to play! Award-winning author/illustrator Flett shares the joyful antics of young animals as they romp in much the same way as human children…This celebration of nature is sprinkled with words from the Cree language… [and] celebrate[s] our interconnection with the creatures who share our world.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Cree-Métis artist Flett starts with quiet, elegant portraits of animals….In spare compositions, [she] aptly underlines [the kinship between animals and people] by showing animals and humans embracing play in similar ways.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A beautifully illustrated book that introduces a series of young animals at play, then relates their activities to those of children … affirming our oneness with nature.”—Booklist
Educator Information
Recommended for babies, toddlers and children up to age 7.
This book is available in a board book format: We All Play (BB)
Additional Information
40 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
From Dene artist and bioethicist Lisa Boivin comes this healing story of hope, dreams, and the special bond between grandfather and granddaughter.
When a little girl dreams about a bear, her grandfather explains how we connect with the knowledge of our ancestors through dreams. Bear, Hawk, Caribou, and Wolf all have teachings to share to help us live a good life. But when Grampa gets sick and falls into a coma, the little girl must lean on his teachings as she learns to say goodbye.
Masterful prose and stunning collage weave a gentle story about life and death that will touch the hearts of children and adults alike.
Awards
- 2022 Co-winner of the First Nation Communities READ PMC Indigenous Literature Award, Children’s Category winner
Reviews
"How we deal with loss, and the personal, cultural, and community ways we do that, is an urgent issue. Lisa Boivin's work is as soulful and compelling as it is beautiful!— Dr. Allison Crawford
"In We Dream Medicine Dreams, Lisa Boivin uses her powerful words and pictures to show us natural laws and teachings. These teachings about the medicine power of dreams, family, loss, and connection resonate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. In sharing these teachings with us, Lisa has given all those that read her book a great gift that allows the ancestors to speak with our children. This little book full of stories and teachings, which are the core of who we are, will bring us back to our ancestral selves. I encourage everyone, young and old, to spend an evening with this charming masterpiece – you will not regret it." — The Honourable Yvonne Boyer, J.D., L.L.M., L.L.D.
“I highly recommend this book. Not only did I love the incredible illustrations, which would definitely appeal to children, I also loved how this gentle story would be a great starting point when talking to children in a classroom about family loss, death and grief.” — ETFO Voice
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 - 8.
Author Lisa Biovin’s background as a bioethicist makes her ideally placed to discuss the subject in a way that’s sensitive and also provide both healing and hope.
The bright colours and textured feel will appeal to children.
Additional Information
48 pages | 9.00" x 9.00"