First Nations

Offers young readers a window into the Haida culture and the importance of bears in that world; counting from 1 to 10. This 20-page board book made with recycled paper with soy-based ink and water-based coating. Haida artist Gryn White introduces young readers to the wild bears of Haida culture. Bears are an important part of Haida traditions because the ancestors have honoured and respected bears. To acknowledge this respect the Haida feature images of bears in their regalia and art. Early childhood teachers will find this counting book from 1 to 10 a useful resource because it introduces Northwest Coast culture into arithmetic. Colours are also highlighted in the board book.

A hip and hilarious fable perfect for wintertime

Rabbit loves the winter. He knows a dance, using a traditional Iroquois drum and song, to make it snow--even in springtime! The other animals of the forest don't want early snow, but Rabbit doesn't listen to them. Instead, he sings and dances until more and more snow falls. But how much snow is too much, and will Rabbit know when to stop?

This stylish and oh-so-funny story is a modern take on a traditional Native American fable from master storytellers Joseph and James Bruchac.

Additional Information

Level 7 Illustrated by Bill Helin. Back cover book introduction: There are many things that we do with friends and family. What are some activities that you do with your friends and family?

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Strong Readers: Set A series. Set A includes a mixture of both fiction and non-fiction books, from levels 1 through 10, based on the appearance, behaviours, and habitats of frog, bear, eagle, and raven. The fictional stories are about frog, bear, eagle, and raven with their friends in their respective habitats.

The Strong Readers are a guided/leveled reading series that are chock full of science, numeracy, social responsibility, language arts and oral language teachings. These books are rich with scaffolded text features and have beautiful illustrations and photographs. The entire series is interconnected and follows the cultural values of frog, bear, eagle and raven throughout.

Guided Reading Level: 7

This resource is also available in French: Un cercle d’amis.

Additional Information
Book Dimensions: 6.5in x 5.5in | Pages: 16 | ISBN: 9781927571187

Level 9 Back cover book introduction: This poem is about making bannock. Do you know what bannock is? Who do you think the surprise is for?

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Strong Readers: Set A series. Set A includes a mixture of both fiction and non-fiction books, from levels 1 through 10, based on the appearance, behaviours, and habitats of frog, bear, eagle, and raven. The fictional stories are about frog, bear, eagle, and raven with their friends in their respective habitats.

The Strong Readers are a guided/leveled reading series that are chock full of science, numeracy, social responsibility, language arts and oral language teachings. These books are rich with scaffolded text features and have beautiful illustrations and photographs. The entire series is interconnected and follows the cultural values of frog, bear, eagle and raven throughout.

Guided Reading Level: 9

This resource is also available in French: Le bannock surprise.

Additional Information
Book Dimensions: 6.5in x 5.5in | Pages: 16 | ISBN: 9781927571262

Level 3 Illustrated by Bill Helin. Back cover book introduction: Baby Bear likes to share salmon with his friends. Who do you think could be some of Baby Bear’s friends?

Educator & Series Information
Salmon to Share is part of the Strong Readers: Set A series. Set A includes a mixture of both fiction and non-fiction books, from levels 1 through 10, based on the appearance, behaviours, and habitats of frog, bear, eagle, and raven. The fictional stories are about frog, bear, eagle, and raven with their friends in their respective habitats.

The Strong Readers are a guided/leveled reading series chock full of science, numeracy, social responsibility, language arts and oral language teachings. Strong Readers are rich with scaffolded text features and have beautiful illustrations and photographs. The entire series is interconnected and follows the cultural values of frog, bear, eagle and raven throughout.

Guided Reading Level: 3

This resource is also available in English: Du saumon à partager.

Additional Information
Book Dimensions: 6.5in x 5.5in | Pages: 16 | ISBN: 9781927571026

24-page board book by Paul Windsor.

"The whole purpose of this book is to share the GOOD energy coming from all the experiences I've had in the past, present and going into the future. There are days that are challenging, but it is important to carry on, improve one's creativity, and learn to respect ourselves and the land we share. By doing so, we can gain a fresh start and a new beginning. GOOD MORNING TO YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY!" - Paul Windsor, Haisla, Heiltsuk 

Additional Information
24 pages | 6" x 7.5" 

24-page board book by various Indigenous artists.

"Animals are highly respected in our culture and featured in our traditions. They are part of our stories, dances, songs, and in our dreams." - Francis Horne Sr., Coast Salish

 Additional Information
Board book format.  Also available as a hardcover book.

A young girl delights in a visit to her grandpa's farm. She and her cousins run through the fields, explore the root cellar where the salmon and jars of fruit are stored, swing on a rope out the barn loft window, visit the Appaloosa in the corral and tease the neighbor's pig. The visit is also an opportunity for this child to ask Grandpa what her grandmother, Yayah, was like, and to explore the "secret room," with its old wooden trunk of ribbons, medals and photos of Grandpa in uniform.

There is a wonderful blend of fun and family history in this visit to a grandparent, and the realization that there can be some things about the people we know and love that will always remain a mystery. But above all, there's nothing like being with Grandpa.

In her two previous picture books, Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chi's Canoe, Nicola Campbell worked with elders and survivors of residential schools, documenting the tragic experiences that many endured. This new book, based on her own childhood memories, is a sunny, joyful story, vibrantly illustrated by Kim LaFave.

Reviews
"Grandpa’s Girls follows a group of four cheerful Interior Salish cousins let loose on their grandfather’s sprawling B.C. farm.... The book is a vicarious pleasure for anyone who ever wished they’d once had a hay loft to swing from, a pig to tease, or a cobwebby root cellar to explore. Beyond that, it is an honest look at how kids sometimes need to experience the past in the context of the present to really understand it." - Quill & Quire 

Educator Information
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Visual Arts, History

Recommended Ages: 4 - 7

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.50" x 9.63"

Nighty-Night is a lullabye for everyone to enjoy in the twilight hours before bedtime. Richard's soothing, rhythmic style is perfect for shared reading, and each stanza is accompanied by warm and lovable photographs of toddlers and parents/guardians in various stages of bedtime preparation.


This beautiful board book is sure to be a hit with parents, grandparents, caregivers, and Early Childhood Educators. A truly lovely addition to any bedtime (or naptime) collection!

Each animal has many lessons to teach us. For example, we learn to care for our habitat, to live cooperatively with others, to ahve courage, to think before we act, and to be wise and respectful. Try observing the animals around you. How can you be inspired by their knowledge?

Two legged and four legged beings are beautifully illustrated and cultural meanings provided from the: Nuxalk, Namgis, Coast Salish, Kwakwaka'wakw, Haisla, Heiltsuk, Haida, Bella Bella, Tsimshian, Kwa Na Ki Nulth and Nuchatlaht Nations.

Two legged and four legged beings are beautifully illustrated and cultural meanings provided from the: Nuxalk, Namgis, Caost Salish, Kwakwaka'wakw, Haisla, Heiltsuk, Haida, Bella Bella, Tsimshian, Kwa Na Ki Nulth and Nuchatlaht Nations.

Some of the contributors include: Cranmer, Ryan; Horne Sr., Francis; Windsor, Paul; Bulpitt, Corey; Young, T.J.; Houstie, Ben; Isaac, Eugene; Moraes, Corey W.;  Starr, Terry; John, Rose Elsie

In just four days young Shi-shi-etko will have to leave her family and all that she knows to attend residential school.

She spends her last days at home treasuring the beauty of her world -- the dancing sunlight, the tall grass, each shiny rock, the tadpoles in the creek, her grandfather's paddle song. Her mother, father and grandmother, each in turn, share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. And so Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping.

Richly hued illustrations complement this gently moving and poetic account of a child who finds solace all around her, even though she is on the verge of great loss -- a loss that native people have endured for generations because of the residential schools system.

This gentle story of a child on the verge of great loss was selected as the Aboriginal Children’s Book of the Year.

Awards

• Winner of the Anskohk Aboriginal Children's Book of the Year Award. 

Educator Information
Recommended Grades: 1-10.

Curriculum Connections: Indigenous Studies, Visual Arts, Science, Health.

Recommended Authentic First Peoples resource K-9.

This illustrated children's story is recommended for English First Peoples Grades 10 for units pertaining to childhood through Indigenous writers' eyes and the exploration of residential schools and reconciliation through children's literature.

This book is available in French: Shi-shi-etko (French)

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.13"