Social Responsibility

In the spring of 2020, the Covid-19 virus changed the world and made daily life much more challenging. We had to stay apart, away from work, school, and our normal routines. But, all around the world, kids came up with creative and thoughtful ways to help others. From making 3-D printed medical equipment to food bank fundraising to a neighbourhood joke stand, to creating a semi-automatic hand-washing machine, kids made a difference in their communities. Let's celebrate and take inspiration from their stories.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

Small actions can have a big impact!

What happens when one small boy picks up one small piece of litter? He doesn't know it, but his tiny act has big consequences. From the miniscule to the universal, What Matters sensitively explores nature's connections and traces the ripple effects of one child’s good deed to show how we can all make a big difference.

Reviews
"A beguiling, environmental musing on how one small act can have far-reaching consequences."— Kirkus Reviews

"Hughes and Hatam make the powerful point that all children can help change the world...A charming addition that teaches about the interrelationships in nature and the importance of recycling."— School Library Journal

"What Matters is brought to life perfectly with Holly Hatam's simple earth coloured drawings...and will be certain to appeal to readers of any age...A very small book with a very large message...providing excellent opportunities for discussion with young listeners in a read-aloud situation. Highly recommended."— CM Magazine

"A perfect read-aloud picture book...In the simplest terms, Hughes and Hatam convey a positive and powerful message to young readers: you are not too young to make a difference."— Canadian Children's Book News

"The prose flows very nicely, and the progression of the far-reaching positive consequences of the boy's actions will be easy for even the youngest of children to follow. Illustrations are mixed media, presented in calming blues and greens, and incorporating an eclectic mix of watercolours, ink, and photographic elements." — Resource Links

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Key Features:

• What Matters is a wonderful introduction to environmental stewardship and how each person and each action can make a difference.
• This vibrant picture book explores themes of the environment, recycling and conservation.
• Readers will be uplifted and inspired by the simple yet powerful message that small actions have a big impact.

Keywords / Topics: environmentalism, recycling, nature, waste reduction, making a difference

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 9.00"

The true story of a boy who fought to protect a rare subspecies of bear. 

As a child, Simon Jackson found navigating the world of the school playground difficult. He felt most at home in the woodlands, learning about and photographing wildlife. As a teenager, he became fascinated with spirit bears, a rare subspecies of black bear with creamy white fur. These elusive creatures were losing their habitat to deforestation, and Simon knew he had to do something to protect them. He decided he would become the voice for the spirit bears. But first, he would have to find his own.

Carmen Oliver's inspiring true story is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest --- the home of these elusive animals. Katy Dockrill's captivating art adds depth and beauty to the story. Photos and additional details about Simon Jackson's life and about spirit bears are included in the end matter.

Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for change. Simon's story is an excellent example of growth mindset at work, highlighting personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism. This book can also be used to lead discussions about character education as it relates to courage, resilience and perseverance. In addition, it has strong science curriculum links to the environment, animal habitats and the effects of clear-cutting.

Educator and Series Information
Ages: 6 - 9
Grades: 1 - 4 

Curriculum Links:

• Character Education - initiative; perserverance; compassion.
• Science & Technology - Life Science - animals; habitats.

This book is part of the CitizenKid series, a collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens

Key features of A Voice for the Spirit Bears:

• Highlights personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism.
• Includes loads of information on spirit bears, their habitats, and the effects of clear-cutting.
• Includes details about and photos of the real Simon Jackson.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 11.50" | Hardcover 

Can you say anything you want? Should you?

Everyone has rights but navigating your rights can be difficult. You have the right to freedom of expression but there are many places where this freedom is limited by laws, rules and regulations, or even customs such as good manners.

By exploring the viewpoints of The Censor, The Speechmaker and The Witness, this book will help you navigate issues of how to express identity and opinion.
- Freedom of Expression 101 defines rights, freedom of expression and censorship
- Dear Conflict Counsellor offers real-life problems and solutions
- Quizzes test your ability to identify censorship and how to deal with issues around freedom of expression
- A resource guide puts helpful organizations, books and websites at your fingertips

Educator & Series Information
The Deal With It series helps adolescents cope with conflicts in everyday life and promote peaceful homes, schools, and communities.

Recommended Ages: 9-14
Fry Reading Level [grade]: 5.4
Lexile Reading Level: 800L

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

Act for the wild before it's too late!

Gone is Gone looks at why species become endangered, how scientists are learning about endangered wildlife, what people are doing to conserve species and ways young people can help.

The book is richly illustrated with unique photos that Isabelle has taken over many years of observing endangered species in the field alongside the people who work to conserve them. Throughout, the author shares enchanting encounters and personal field stories: watching narwhals socialize in the Canadian Arctic, getting close to a Laysan albatross raising chicks on a remote Hawaiian island, spotting a rhinoceros on safari and even swimming with sea lions in the Galápagos Islands.

Gone is Gone will inform, intrigue and inspire readers to take small steps toward big changes for endangered species around the world.

Reviews
“Animals won’t survive unless people care. I wish this book was available when I started my career in wildlife conservation. It’s got all the information you need to understand the dangers animals face, and how people work to fix those problems so that wild animals can survive. Such people are called conservationists. After reading this excellent book that explains what animals need and what conservationists do, you just might decide to be a conservationist yourself. I hope so. Animals need you.” — Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel

“You don’t need to be a child to read this fascinating, informative and personal book about the unique and beautiful wild creatures with whom we share the earth. I, a child no longer, have read it twice, following Isabelle as she traveled far and wide and sharing her joy, her sadness and her growing fears about the survival of so many irreplaceable species and the decimation of their wild homes. I share her belief in the animal as an individual. Everyone should read this book. And I mean everyone. If you have never thought or cared about the survival of wildlife, large and small, I believe you will care after you read this book. I beg you to care—before it is really too late.” — Virginia McKenna, co-founder, Born Free Foundation

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

This book is part of the Orca Wild series, which explores the lives of the creatures with whom we share the world and asks readers to consider the effects -- both positive and negative -- that humans have on vulnerable animal populations and habitats.

Keywords: saving endangered species, environmental activism, ecosystem awareness, habitat protection, conservation

Additional Information
128 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"

"I had always wanted a pet that flew...”

A boy is amazed when he sees a hawk swoop down and catch a lemming. From that moment on, he can't stop thinking about it. One day, the boy goes on an adventure and finds his very own baby hawk to keep as a pet. But he doesn’t know what hawk chicks eat or why his new pet won’t stop biting him. Can the boy learn to care for the hawk and teach it the skills it needs to survive on its own? Acclaimed singer and songwriter Etua Snowball recounts how he found his pet hawk and shares the lessons boy and bird taught each other during one unforgettable summer.

Educator & Series Information 
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

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.  It is a Level 13 book in the 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 N.

My Pet Hawk teaches children about the responsibilities of caring for a living thing.

Additional Information 
44 pages | 0.35" x 10.00" | Hardcover

The dual language edition, in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and English, of the award-winning story of a determined Ojibwe Nokomis (Grandmother) Josephine-ba Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walked to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men, and youth, have walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example Josephine-ba invites us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.

Educator Information
This is the dual-language edition, in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and English, of The Water Walker. 

Recommended for ages 6-9.

This dual-language edition contains a note on the book's translation into Anishinaabemowin by Shirley Williams -- a fellow water walker -- and Isadore Toulouse, both of whom are from Josephine-ba's home community of Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation. The translations draw special meaning from the fact that both Shirley and Nokomis were sent to residential school, where they were forbidden from speaking their language. Nokomis was able to read the translation before her passing, and took great joy in the fact that this book would now be shared in Anishinaabemowin. 

This book is available in English: The Water Walker

This book is available in French in June 2021: Nokomis et la marche pour l'eau

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 7.00"

Without warning, a deafening boom drove us to the ground, even Nutaui. I heard my heart pound hard against my chest. Seconds later another earsplitting blast struck us.

A moving story of protest and determination, Nutaui's Cap tells of a young Innu girl, Nanas. The low-level flying of NATO supersonic jets disrupts her family's traditional way of life, and endangers both them and the wildlife they depend upon, so Nanas' father and the other members of the Sheshatshiu community decide to protest by occupying the military's runways. Nanas is proud and eager to join in the social action, but then her father is arrested. Nanas has little to comfort her except his well-worn ball cap, and the promise of the land itself that the resilience, wisdom, and strength of the Innu people will one day triumph.

This true account of one small moment in the years-long struggle of the Innu people against NATO and the Canadian government brings to light the on-going fight for Innu rights on their own unceded land. Author Bob Bartel, an activist and volunteer, participated in the efforts to stop those NATO practice flights; he learned Nanas's story from her aunt and has Nanas's permission to tell the story. Bartel writes with care, simplicity, and deep awareness; he portrays with both power and subtlety the struggle as seen from a child's perspective.

Illustrations by acclaimed Innu artist Mary Ann Penashue capture the gentle relationship between Nanas and her father, and highlight the beauty and dignity of her people's culture. Her blending of traditional imagery with modern technique offers a visually rich and compelling accompaniment to Bartel's text.

Educator Information
Compelling story about Innu protests as seen from the perspective of child.

Author Bob Bartel, an activist and volunteer, participated in the efforts to stop those NATO practice flights; he learned Nanas's story from her aunt and has Nanas's permission to tell the story.

Nutaui's Cap has been translated into two dialects of Innu-aimun, both of which appear alongside the English. Some Innu-aimun words are also integrated into the English text; a glossary is provided. A map of the locations and a historical afterword, offering further context, are included as well.

Translated by Stella Rich, Sebastian Piwas, and Mani Katinen Nuna, with Laurel Anne Hasler, Penash Rich, and Marguerite MacKenzie

This book is a co-publication with Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education.

Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

Additional Information
68 pages | 9.00" x 9.00"

On the Internet: Our First Talk About Online Safety introduces children to the basics of online safety in a story-based, conversational style. Using real-world examples set within the context of a child who is using the Internet for the first time and watching an older sibling interact with social media, Dr. Roberts takes readers through several common scenarios around parental supervision, online bullying and anonymity. She also includes examples of people who use the Internet to make the world a better place. On the Internet addresses common safety concerns in a child-centered way and offers easy-to-understand rationales as to why it's important to maintain boundaries online just as in real life.

Educator Information
The World Around Us series introduces children to complex cultural, social and environmental issues that they may encounter outside their homes, in an accessible way. Sidebars offer further reading for older children or care providers who have bigger questions. For younger children just starting to make these observations, the simple question-and-answer format of the main text will provide a foundation of knowledge on the subject matter.

Recommended Ages: 6-8

Themes / Keywords: Internet safety, early conversations, online awareness, digital citizenship, technology, online bullying.

This book is available in French: Et si on parlait des L'INTERNET ? 

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 10.00"

Orcas are found in every ocean on the planet. But can they survive their relationship with humans? Orcas Everywhere looks at how humans around the world (Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike) related to orcas in the past, how we relate to them now and what we can do to keep cetacean communities alive and thriving. The book deals with science, philosophy, environmentalism and ethics in a kid-friendly and accessible way. Writer, filmmaker and orca activist Mark Leiren-Young takes us back to when killer whales were considered monsters and examines how humans went from using orcas for target practice to nearly loving them to death. If you know a young person who loves Free Willy or Finding Nemo, they will fall in love with these whales.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 9-12.

Some Indigenous content, but it is not the sole focus of this work.

This book is part of the Orca Wild series, which explores the lives of the creatures with whom we share the world and asks readers to consider the effects -- both positive and negative -- that humans have on vulnerable animal populations and habitats.

Additional Information
160 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"

These young people from across the globe are raising awareness about what issues matter to them most. Jaelun Parkerson from the USA kneels with his football teammates during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice; Canadian Autumn Peltier spoke in front of the United Nations to raise awareness about water pollution; and Melati Wijsen from Indonesia started working at twelve-years-old to convince her government to ban plastic bags.

From climate action to cyberbullying, from gun violence to animal protection, these young activists have brought about real change.

Reviews
“A useful addition to a growing body of literature challenging young readers to help make change in the world.” - Kirkus Reviews

“The number one thing that I can say about Our Future by Janet Wilson is that it is an incredibly uplifting book to read.” - Reader Fox

“The accounts are easy to read and accompanied by appealing illustrations and relevant photos; readers will find plenty to identify with here. Our Future: How Kids are Taking Action is a useful addition to any collection on these topics…Highly Recommended.” - CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Educator Information
Includes youth from around the globe, including Indigenous youth, such as Autumn Peltier and Ta'Kaiya Blaney.  Not all profiles are of Indigenous activists.

Recommended Ages: 7 to 12.

Part of the How Kids Are Making a Difference Series.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

There are almost eight billion people alive today. Having that many people in the world puts pressure on both social and natural resources, and we have to ask ourselves difficult questions like, What is our fair share? And how do we share more equitably? Ours to Share starts by giving an overview of human population growth, from the time when there were only a few hundred thousand people until now. The book goes on to examine some of the inequities that happen between people when natural and social resources are stressed and provides examples of people who have found innovative ways to share more equitably with their neighbors. The book also examines the impact our expanding population has had on other species. Finally, the book offers suggestions for actions kids can take to better the world from their own home, school and community.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Footprint series. Kids today inhabit a world full of complex—and often mystifying—environmental issues. Orca Footprints aim to help kids answer their questions about the state of the natural world with well-researched, simply-expressed information and powerful images. With topics such as food production, water, cycling and sustainable energy, these books will inspire kids to take action.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Keywords: access to resources, loss of habitat, human rights, overpopulation, equality, community.

Additional Information
48 pages | 8.00" x 9.50"

Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams is the latest addition to the award-winning picture book series written by Order of Canada recipient Cindy Blackstock (Gitxsan Nation) and illustrated by Amanda Strong (Michif)!

Spirit Bear is on his way home from a sacred ceremony when he meets Jake, a friendly dog, with a bag full of paper hearts attached to wood stakes. Jake tells Spirit Bear that school children and residential school survivors will plant the hearts when a big report on residential schools called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC for short) is shared. The TRC will have Calls to Action so we can all help end the unfairness and make sure this generation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children grow up healthy and proud!

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

This book is part of the Spirit Bear series.

This book is available in French: Spirit Bear: Rendre hommage aux souvenirs, semer des rêves: Basé sur une histoire vraie

Additional Information
66 pages | 8.25" x 8.25"

Let's have an open and positive conversation about our bodies.

This illustrated nonfiction picture book by child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts introduces children to the topics of bodies, body safety and body image through a conversation-based story that begins with an observation at the community pool. Modesty, privacy and boundaries are discussed, along with how self-image is formed and how some people are more sensitive than others—sometimes at different stages in their lives. Relevant themes around body shaming, body positivity and self-esteem building are explored, with a final call to action empowering children to build their own confidence and speak up when something doesn't feel right.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

The World Around Us series introduces children to complex cultural, social and environmental issues that they may encounter outside the comfort of their homes, in a way that is straightforward and accessible. Sidebars offer further reading for older children who have bigger questions or care providers looking for more information. For younger children, the simple question-and-answer format of the main text will provide a foundation of knowledge on the subject matter.

This is the newest title in The World Around Us series, following books that address poverty, tragedy, prejudice and online awareness, and environemental stewardship.

Keywords: body safety, consent, privacy and modesty, self-esteem, boundaries.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 8.50" | Full colour illustrations and images.