Picture Books

Little Ocean has a friend. She has four legs and a tail! In this picture book, Ocean and her friend show us what friendship is all about.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for preschool-aged children.

This book is part of the The Adventure Series of Learning With Ocean.

Additional Information
16 Pages 

"Oof! My hood is not big enough!" said Mother Fox. Who will help her?

Mother Fox loves all her babies so much. But when she tries to carry all eight of her babies on her back, her hood's not big enough! What will she do? See how her family offers to help as Mother Fox learns she does not need to carry all her babies alone.

Snuggle up and enjoy a sweet story about motherhood and family in this sweet bilingual picture book.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 - 5.

This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

Includes activities for parents and teachers in a Let's Talk section.

Additional Information
24 pages | 11.00" x 14.00" | Hardcover

Maniq loves her ittu (short for ittupajaaq, an Inuktitut word for grandfather). He’s brave—enough to wrestle the grumpiest polar bear, if he ever needed to! He’s tall—enough to see over the tallest mountain tops. He’s generous—enough to walk through a blizzard to make sure others have delicious food to eat. And above all, he loves his grandkids, every single one of them—and there must be close to one hundred, by Maniq’s count at least!

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
28 pages | 9.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

A joyful picture book about confidence featuring a little girl making her mark on the world, from acclaimed author Thomas King.

Lala wakes up one morning and decides that she owns the world. Quick as a fox, she bounds to her box of treasures and finds her shiny red dots — to mark what is hers, because there's nothing that's not!

Lala's bear gets a dot, as does her blankie, boots, and even the markers she uses to make scrawls on her walls. When she finishes labeling everything in her room and goes to label her dad-daddy’s socks, Lala realizes that she’s out of dots! But when Lala discovers that she can simply create her own red dots, will anything be safe from Lala?

Join rambunctious Lala on her quest to own the world in this joyful picture book that celebrates confidence and positive thinking.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

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

A debut picture book that explores the importance of pronouncing names properly and celebrates cultural identity.

Saajin loves his name—he loves it so much that he sees it spelled out in the world around him in his snacks, in the sky and sometimes he even sings it aloud. On his first day of school, Saajin is excited to meet his new classmates, but things take a turn when the teacher mispronounces his name as Say-jin and he is not sure how—or if he should—correct her. After trying to live with the different version of his name for a while and some thoughtful conversations with his family about the meaning behind it, Saajin realizes the importance of reclaiming his name and embracing his identity. This empowering story, accompanied by energetic and vibrant art by Samrath Kaur, will resonate with any reader who has ever felt misunderstood.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover 

Little Ocean has a special blanket made just for her. In this picture book, Ocean shows us how her Star Blanket is special to her.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for preschool-aged children.

Little Ocean shows us how Star Blankets are important to her Cultures.

This book is part of the The Adventure Series of Learning With Ocean.

Additional Information
24 Pages 

Noodin had their perfect day planned - until surprise babysitting interrupts their plans and sends them on an urban adventure!

When Noodin's perfect day is interrupted, they decide to strike out for adventure instead - spending the day with their human, animal, and tree cousins in the city. But will Noodin ever get the pancakes they're craving? Come along and find out!

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Noodin is a nonbinary urban Indigenous kid.

Themes: Urban Indigenous, Modern Family, Cousins, Babysitting, Adventure, Divorced Parents

Additional Information
28 pages | 10.75" x 8.25" | Paperback

The world is a really big place for little kids.

When Olivia starts to feel overwhelmed by her big feelings, she sprouts vines. They are thorny and twisty and make it impossible for Olivia to do the things she loves to do, like ride her bike or play with her friends. Plus, no one wants to come near a giant ball of thorns. Luckily, Olivia has a very special teacher. Someone who sees past the prickly and the pokey to the upset little girl and helps Olivia learn to manage the vines.

This quirky picture book is the perfect introduction to the idea of anxiety and those big feelings that seem impossible to manage. Olivia’s teacher provides some tricks to help manage the feelings, and a special message at the end of the story encourages young readers to think productively about their own anxieties.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5

A free, downloadable activity sheet is available: Activity Sheet - Olivia Wrapped in Vines

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 10.75" | Hardcover

Oolichan Moon is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about passing down traditional knowledge from Nisga'a Elders and the sacredness of traditional foods, particularly the oolichan fish.

Together, author Samantha Beynon and illustrator Lucy Trimble have created a children’s book rich with cultural knowledge and tradition that relates to their Nisga'a ancestry surrounding the oolichan fish.

With playful text and vibrant illustrations, young readers can learn alongside the two Nisga'a sisters as they are gifted with sacred knowledge from their Elders, passed down for many generations in the oral tradition.

A gorgeous celebration of Nisga'a language, history and culture, Oolichan Moon also includes historical and cultural information about the oolichan fish and related Nisga'a vocabulary.

Awards

• 2023 Indigenous Voices Awards Winner: Published Graphic Novels, Comics and Illustrated Books

Reviews
"Oolichan Moon is a wonderful story with such simple teachings for all of us. The oolichan were so important for many people of the rivers. The long winter is over, and Spring is here and so too the oolichans return to feed and provide for the people. Today, we still fish for the Oolichan but like most fish of the river their numbers are low. This story teaches all of us that we must only take what is needed and that we should always give something back. This is survival. This is the teaching." — Joseph Dandurand, storyteller and author of A Magical Sturgeon and The Sasquatch, the Fire

"Samantha Beynon and Lucy Trimble have created a beautiful, heart-warming story featuring a nutritious and iconic little fish of the Northwest Coast. Since time immemorial, oulachens have served as a food and esteemed condiment for the Nisga’a Peoples of the Nass Valley and for many other coastal First Nations from Alaska to the Columbia River. Through the delightful teachings of wise and kind grandparents, the granddaughters—and we, as readers—are able to learn about oulachens and their immense cultural value. We learn how and when they are caught, and how they are prepared, and especially how they are rendered into a nutrient-rich and highly valued oil. At the same time, we experience “history, laughter, and love,” and gain insights into the deep and lasting relationships that Indigenous Peoples have developed with the fish and other species of their homelands and how children and youth are taught about these profound connections. The illustrations are stunning." — Nancy Turner, Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria, and author of Plants of Haida Gwaii

“I had a little tear welling up in my eye as I thought how cool it will be for kids to be reading about part of their culture. This kind of story is long overdue and badly needed. I hope it is the first of many.” — Edward Desson, fisheries manager, Nisga’a Fisheries and Wildlife, Nisga’a Lisims Government

"Packed with traditional knowledge, family values and deep wisdom, this story instantly transports you to a timeless place! Like visiting with family, you can feel strength and warmth beaming from each page." — Lucky Budd, author of Peace Dancer and One Eagle Soaring

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

This is the first book in the Sisters Learn Foods of the Elders series.

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

This delightful story teaches children that many bugs are helpful insects and enables the reader to develop a positive and protective attitude towards them. Willie the Worm introduces his insect friends and inspires the young reader to discover a fresh interest in bugs and to realize many of them are indeed their friends too. Included are a series of questions and recommended activities to help parents and teachers engage children to learn even more about these little helpers.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 2 and under.

Included are a series of questions and recommended activities to help parents and teachers engage children to learn even more about these little helpers.

Includes these insects: worm, bee, butterfly, caterpillar, firefly, ant, ladybug, spider, daddy long legs, moth, dragonfly, hornet, snail, grasshopper, cricket.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Paperback

In this uplifting, contemporary Native American story, River is recovering from illness and can't dance at the powwow this year. Will she ever dance again?

River wants so badly to dance at powwow day as she does every year. In this uplifting and contemporary picture book perfect for beginning readers, follow River's journey from feeling isolated after an illness to learning the healing power of community.

Additional information explains the history and functions of powwows, which are commonplace across the United States and Canada and are open to both Native Americans and non-Native visitors.

Awards

• 2023 Wyoming Buckaroo Award

Reviews
"A heartwarming picture book about the roles of courage, culture, and community in the journey of personal healing." —Kirkus Reviews

"A resonant, hopeful tale about the healing power of community and tradition" —Publishers Weekly

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.44" x 9.31" | Hardcover

Following the huge success of Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, this companion book is a lyrical celebration of our relationship to the natural world.

In each of twelve short poems, a child tells us how or why they feel like the sun, a river, a mountain, a cloud, the rain, a forest and more. Their deeply felt connections and identification with these wonders point to how much we are all part of the natural world. Each poem comes to life through vivid, playful illustrations that show the children immersed in their surroundings. The book serves as a gentle call to action — to notice, appreciate, preserve and protect our environment, while delighting in all its beauty.

A mindfulness activity — A Mindful Walk or Roll — invites young readers to use their senses to experience their surroundings to the fullest. Includes a brief author’s note that highlights our connections to the natural world.

Educator & Series Information Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6 

This book is part of the Sometimes I Feel Like series.

Key Text Features
- author’s note
- illustrations
- poems
- procedural text

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.5
Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.25" x 10.00" | Hardcover 

A beautifully illustrated hardcover storybook introducing kids to the characters of Netflix’s preschool show Spirit Rangers!

It’s opening day at Xus National Park in Southern California, and Kodi, Summer, and Eddy Skycedar’s first day as Junior Park Rangers! But when a mysterious storm threatens to close the park, the siblings must put their heads together to save the day.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Kids ages 3 to 7 will love this hardcover storybook full of beautiful illustrations featuring the amazing characters from Netflix’s newest preschool show Spirit Rangers!

Created by Samala Chumash descendent, Karissa Valencia, Spirit Rangers is a fantasy-adventure preschool series following Native American sibling trio Kodiak, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, who have a shared secret—they’re Spirit Rangers! Spirit Rangers protect every crook, cranny and critter of Spirit Park. With the blessing of the Chumash and Cowlitz tribes, we’ll join the Skycedar kids on their amazing adventures with spirits inspired by Indigenous stories.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.30" x 10.30" | Hardcover

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

What does it mean to be Mi’kmaq? And if Swift Fox can’t find the answer, will she ever feel like part of her family?

When Swift Fox’s father picks her up to go visit her aunties, uncles, and cousins, her belly is already full of butterflies. And when he tells her that today is the day that she’ll learn how to be Mi’kmaq, the butterflies grow even bigger. Though her father reassures her that Mi’kmaq is who she is from her eyes to her toes, Swift Fox doesn’t understand what that means. Her family welcomes her with smiles and hugs, but when it’s time to smudge and everyone else knows how, Swift Fox feels even more like she doesn’t belong.

Then she meets her cousin Sully and realizes that she’s not the only one who’s unsure—and she may even be the one to teach him something about what being Mi’kmaq means. Based on the author’s own experience, with striking illustrations by Maya McKibbin, Swift Fox All Along is a poignant story about identity and belonging that is at once personal and universally resonant.

Reviews
“A touching and universal narrative . . . This title should definitely be added to any list of recommended children’s books focused on Indigenous life, family, tradition, feelings, anxiety, fear and self-regulation. Swift Fox All Along is also brimming with cross-curricular applications for school use, including incorporation with science, social studies, history, language, and mental health. Highly Recommended.” — CM Reviews

“Highlights the importance of connections to culture and self.”  — Kirkus Reviews, 07/28/20

"This is a straightforward tale of a girl finding her way into a culture that is her heritage, yet new to her. As such, it works effectively. This may suit libraries in need of more modern ­Native picture books with child appeal.” — School Library Journal, 08/20

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Own voices: Illustrator Maya McKibbin is a two-spirited Yaqui, Ojibwe and Irish. Author Rebecca Thomas is an award-winning Mi’kmaw poet. The story is deeply personal. Rebecca is of mixed heritage and grew up off-reserve and was 6 years old before she began getting to know her father. Her dad himself attended a residential school and had lost connection with his culture and language. This was something regained later with wider visits to his home community and wanted to share with his children. 

Important themes: the Indigenous story is full of universal themes including family, connection, identity and self-acceptance.

This book is available in French: Wowgwis de la tête aux pieds

Additional Information
36 pages | 9.00" x 10.25" | Paperback