Formulating Questions
- Asking and answering questions helps the reader to understand the text.
- Some questions are easy to answer because the information is in the text.
- Some questions require a lot of thinking because the answer is not in the book. These questions often do not have one right answer, make the reader think outside of the story and often create more questions for the reader.
- Some useful questions words are: who, what, where, when, why, how, would, is, should, if, did, do are, does, doesn't, can't and couldn't.
Synopsis:
One winter afternoon, Joe and Cody went ice fishing with their papa, their mama, and Cody's little black dog, Ootsie. It was the perfect day to fish. The sky was clear, and the sun made the snow sparkle like diamonds.
Brothers Joe and Cody are spending a chilly winter afternoon ice fishing with their parents. Cody is helping Papa fish, while Mama and Joe doze in the sled. Suddenly the sled dogs sit up and sniff. A fox is across the lake, her fur as bright as flames. The sled dogs give chase, pulling Mama and Joe along on a wild ride.
Written in both English and Cree, Fox on the Ice is a wonderful, lyrical story of celebration from award-winning author Tomson Highway, capturing a passing way of life for future generations. Illustrator Brian Deines has created an evocative masterpiece of shimmering oils depicting the beauty of northern Manitoba.
Educator & Series Information
This is the second book in the Songs of the North Wind series, a dual-language (English and Cree) series about two young Cree boys.
This book is available in French/Cree: Un renard sur la glace / Maageesees Maskwameek Kaapit
Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 10.25"
Synopsis:
This moving sequel to the award-winning Shi-shi-etko tells the story of two children's experience at residential school. Shi-shi-etko is about to return for her second year, but this time her six-year-old brother, Shin-chi, is going, too. As they begin their journey in the back of a cattle truck, Shi-shi-etko takes it upon herself to tell her little brother all the things he must remember: the trees, the mountains, the rivers and the tug of the salmon when he and his dad pull in the fishing nets. Shin-chi knows he won't see his family again until the sockeye salmon return in the summertime.
When they arrive at school, Shi-shi-etko gives him a tiny cedar canoe, a gift from their father. The children's time is filled with going to mass, school for half the day, and work the other half. The girls cook, clean and sew, while the boys work in the fields, in the woodshop and at the forge. Shin-chi is forever hungry and lonely, but, finally, the salmon swim up the river and the children return home for a joyful family reunion.
Awards
- 2009 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
- 2008 Governor General’s Literary Award for illustration
Reviews
"Shin-Chi’s Canoe is a story about a brother and sister sent to a residential school and the separation from their culture they experience. Shin-Chi finds comfort with a little cedar canoe and the dream of returning home like the salmon. The children both find peace and strength by connecting to Mother Earth and the water. The story acknowledges the residential school system's devastating events while highlighting Indigenous children's strength and resiliency." - The Dalai Lama Center
Educator Information
Recommended Grades: 2-10.
Recommended Authentic First Peoples K-9 resource.
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: La pirogue de Shin-chi
Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 8.13"
Our logo reflects the greater Nation we live within—Turtle Island (North America)—and the strength
and core of the Pacific Northwest Coast peoples—the Cedar Tree, known as the Tree of Life. We are
here to support the building of strong nations and help share Indigenous voices.
