Indigenous

It flows in your blood and echoes in your soul...Listen, my baby, to the sweet song of your home.

As daylight fades to dusk and slips into darkness, this gentle lullaby celebrates the sounds of the Prairies and the Plains on a stormy summer's night.

From the hum of dragonflies to the drumming of thunder, with grasses swirling and the northern lights glimmering, This Land Is a Lullaby shares a song and dance—a gift from the ancestors that soothes children to sleep and reminds them of their deeply rooted connections to the land.

Written as a lullaby for the author's daughter and featuring striking pointillism artwork, this lush lullaby of the land honors the beauty of the Prairies and the Plains and the spiritual connection between Indigenous children, ancestors and their Traditional Territories.

Reviews
“The book’s lexical simplicity and visual dynamism will engage even the youngest readers, providing a beautiful glimpse into the unbreakable bond between Indigenous people, their lands, and their ancestors who are still a part of them. Like a stirring song, this tale will move readers with its tranquil, reverent tone.”- Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Reading Levels
Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: M
Lexile measure: AD570L
Guided Reading Level: M

This book is available in a dual-language format (English and Plains Cree): This Land Is a Lullaby / cistomâwasowin ôma askiy 

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

It flows in your blood and echoes in your soul...Listen, my baby, to the sweet song of your home.

As daylight fades to dusk and slips into darkness, this gentle lullaby celebrates the sounds of the Prairies and the Plains on a stormy summer's night.

From the hum of dragonflies to the drumming of thunder, with grasses swirling and the northern lights glimmering, This Land Is a Lullaby shares a song and dance—a gift from the ancestors that soothes children to sleep and reminds them of their deeply rooted connections to the land.

Written as a lullaby for the author's daughter and featuring striking pointillism artwork, this lush lullaby of the land honors the beauty of the Prairies and the Plains and the spiritual connection between Indigenous children, ancestors and their Traditional Territories.

This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Plains Cree.

Reviews
“The book’s lexical simplicity and visual dynamism will engage even the youngest readers, providing a beautiful glimpse into the unbreakable bond between Indigenous people, their lands, and their ancestors who are still a part of them. Like a stirring song, this tale will move readers with its tranquil, reverent tone.”- Kirkus Reviews

"Rooted in a Cree worldview, the story invites young readers to connect with the natural world around them. Through lyrical text and luminous illustrations, the story evokes a stormy summer’s night on the prairie as a gentle meditation on the land and its beings—ideal for read-alouds or quiet reflection. This picture book supports K-3 curriculum connections in English Language Arts (rhythm and rhyme), Science (sound and weather), and Arts Education (visual techniques such as pointillism)." - Bonny-Lynn D., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Dual Language Format: English and Plains Cree.

Reading Levels
Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: M
Lexile measure: AD570L
Guided Reading Level: M

This book is available in English: This Land Is a Lullaby

This book is included in the Indigenous Books for Schools database from the Association of Book Publishers of BC. It is recommended for K to 3 classrooms for Art, English Language Arts, Music, and Science. 

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

This land is your land now, but who did it belong to before? This engaging primer about native lands invites kids to trace history and explore their communities.

Before my family lived in this house, a different family did, and before them, another family, and another before them. And before that, the family who that lived here lived not in a house, but a wigwam. Who lived where you are before you got there?

This Land teaches readers that American land, from our backyards to our schools to Disney World, are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous nations. This Land will spark curiosity and encourage readers to explore the history of the places they live and the people who have lived there throughout time and today.

Reviews
 "This work aptly communicates the issue of land acknowledgments . . . A memorable message." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A stirring tale that fosters respect for Native peoples." —Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: M 

Additional Information
40 pages | 11.37" x 9.37" | Hardcover

A little boy wants a chance to shine on his own but discovers that being apart from his large and lively Native family isn’t necessarily better in this heartwarming and humorous picture book.

When Russell gets a part in the school play, he lights up like a shining star—and he can’t wait to tell his big, boisterous Native family the exciting news. But catching their attention when they all get together feels impossible; no matter where they go, they seem to be too noisy, too many, and just too much!

Russell decides to keep his big debut to himself and fly solo for once…but being alone may not be the answer. After all, there’s no such thing as too much love, and when he needs them most, his great big family knows how to be just enough.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

Tsunaxen sets off on a relaxing canoe ride and has an adventure instead!

In a Coast Salish village, beautifully described with bright illustrations, lives young Tsunaxen who knows to practice his cultural teachings by giving thanks and trusting in the Creator, no matter what he encounters.

Educator Information
Recommended for Grades 3 and under.

Dual-Language: English and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish)

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.90" x 9.80"

This is one Creation Story of how some of Our Relatives, The Swimmers and The Winged-Ones helped Creator make Land for The Two-Legged, The Four-Legged, and The Crawlers on Turtle Island.

Additional Information
27 Pages | Hardcover 

A whimsical and lyrical celebration of imagination and exploration if we simply asked, “What if . . .”

Follow two siblings through their day as they let their imaginations run wild in this joyful story about all the possibilities a simple “what if” can conjure up: What if the monsters in your closet wanted to be your friend? What if all of the dinosaurs were shrunk to be teeny-tiny when the comet hit the earth? And what if bedtime didn’t exist and we could imagine anything we wanted?

What If Bedtime Didn’t Exist? places an Urban Indigenous family at the heart of a fun and fantastical celebration of daydreaming, adventure, and play while living in the city. The tenderness and care in this intergenerational home is seen through relationships with all members in the family.

Mathias Ball’s vibrant illustrations bring each page of acclaimed author Francine Cunningham’s debut picture book to life. What If Bedtime Didn’t Exist? opens up new spaces for creativity and endless possibilities into our everyday world.

Reviews
“A tenderly written, beautifully illustrated story that taps into our creative selves. I can already hear the oohs and awes and giggles, and see little fingers circling around the drawings discovering each “what if” and imagining the imaginings. A wonderful story that’s going to kick off so many conversations between readers about all of the “what ifs!”. So much fun!” — Julie Flett, author of We All Play and Birdsong

“What if the imagination of kids created the world? Then every day would be filled with the rollicking, bright and sparkling, fantastical, astronomical adventures Francine Cunningham and Mathias Ball give us here. Sign me up!” — Caroline Adderson, author of more than twenty books for children including It Happened on Sweet Street and Norman, Speak!

“What if Bedtime Didn’t Exist? is a day dream that sings and celebrates the innocence of imagination. Every page is pure cozy magic! I want to live in this book! I love it!” — Richard Van Camp, author of What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?

“Francine Cunningham has gifted us a story for readers in search of adventure in the everyday. What if Bedtime Didn’t Exist showcases Cunningham’s writing as expansive as riding with dragons and as intimate as confiding hard feels with ladybugs. For the adventurous and sensitive kid alike, What If Bedtime Didn’t Exist is guided by two Indigenous siblings with boundless curiosity, who remind us that the true source of our magic is embedded in our own imaginations.” — Whitney French, editor of Black Writers Matter

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Recommended in the Indigenous Books for Schools catalogue as a valuable resource for English Language Arts for k to 3.

Themes: Childhood, Family.

Additional Information
36 pages | 10.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover

Tessa loves how her grandmother always smells of campfire stories. Mom says it’s because Kohkom spends her days sewing beautiful beads onto smoked hides. Inspired, Tessa asks Kohkom to teach her beading, but first she must listen and learn about the many stories held in a bead.

A celebration of Cree craftsmanship, language, and learning. The loving exchange of knowledge between Tessa and her Kohkom will be familiar to many children. Readers will learn that different Indigenous communities have different beadwork techniques, and that this traditional art form is alive and thriving today.

Reviews
"The story is a beautiful look into the importance of beading in our communities and the ways that this art practice ties us together as families and communities." — Nancy Cooper, First Nations Consultant for the Southern Ontario Library Services and coordinator for First Nation Communities Read

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

A dual-language version in Ininîmowin (Cree, N-dialect) and English is available: kekwan etakwak mîkisîhk / What’s in a Bead?

This book is available in French: Le pouvoir d'une perle

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover

When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation, and she communicates an important message here for readers of all ages through her carefully chosen words. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves.

Reviews
“Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities—and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others.” —Publishers Weekly

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 2 and under.

Themes: Teaching Compassion, Being Kind, Family, Friendship, Gratitude

This book is also available in hardcover format: When We Are Kind

This book is also available in a dual-language hardcover format: When We Are Kind / Nihá’ádaahwiinít’íįgo

This book is also available in French: Nous sommes gentils

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 9.00" | Board Book

Nothing welcomes spring like a wild onion dinner!

As the dirt warms and green sprouts poke up, a Cherokee girl joins her family in the hunt for green onions. Together, they pick enough to bring to a feast, which is cooked with love and shared by their community.

Idalisdayvhvga!

Let’s all eat!

Written with simple, sensory lyricism by Andrea Rogers (Cherokee) and featuring warm, vibrant art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw), this picture book celebrates the spring tradition of wild onion dinners—and the community and comfort that are shared when we gather.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

Bear has fast legs. Turtle has a fast mind. Who will win the race? A fun Indigenous story that kindergarteners and first graders can read on their own.

Ready, set, go!
Bear will go over the ice.
Turtle will go under the ice.
Bear runs fast.
But where is Turtle?

When a quick-footed bear and a quick-witted turtle race across a frozen lake, Turtle has a secret plan to win!

Reviews
"With just a few words per page, presented in a large font, and visuals that reflect the action, this one is ideal for beginning readers. Exaggerated, energetic cartoon illustrations enhance the easy-to-read text. Children will be charmed by the humor, drama, fun twist, and wonderfully entertaining characters. The characters’ strengths and savvy will delight emerging readers."—Kirkus Reviews

"This clever tale should find a place in most collections, especially given the lack of Indigenous voices and representation in the beginning reader format."—School Library Journal

Educator & Series Information
Written and illustrated by Mohawk author-illustrator Arihhonni David, this easy reader based on an Indigenous tale combines exciting storytelling and easy-to-read language.

This book has been officially leveled by using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient leveling system. It is a Level G.

This book is a guided reader based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards.  

High-quality illustrations support comprehension of simple text. Fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers, or on their own!

This book is part of the I Like to Read series.

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.78" x 9.99" | Paperback

From Indigenous creative team Deidre Havrelock and Aly McKnight comes a powerful and exuberant story about the heritage, joy, and healing power of the Jingle Dress Dance—a perfect read-aloud picture book.
 
It’s a special day—the day of the Jingle Dress Dance! Before the big powwow, there’s a lot to do: getting dressed, braiding hair, packing lunches, and practicing bounce-steps. But one young girl gets butterflies in her stomach thinking about performing in front of her whole community. When the drumbeats begin, though, her family soothes her nerves and reminds her why she dances.
 
Emerging historically in response to the global influenza pandemic of 1918–19, the Jingle Dress Dance is a ceremonial dance of healing and prayer that still thrives today in many Indigenous and First Nations communities across North America. Lyrically and rhythmically written with lush, full-color illustrations, Why We Dance is a joyous celebration of a proud Indigenous tradition that inspires hope, resilience, and unity.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

Educator Information
You Are the Land is a perfect read-aloud for children ages 3 to 6 in both classrooms and homes.

Curriculum Connections:
Early Literacy – listening, reading, discussing, and rhyming

Art – traditional Anishinaabe clothing and art

Health and Wellness – breath and balance, self-affirmation, connection to nature for physical health and wellness, and traditional medicines

Science – harmonious ecosystems, biodiversity of plants and animals with Indigenous cultural importance, environmental awareness

Social Responsibility – uplifting others and ourselves, respecting Mother Earth

Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions – teachings of the Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel, the Seven Generations, the Three Sisters, and All Our Relations

This book is included in the Indigenous Books for Schools database from the Association of Book Publishers of BC. It is recommended for K to 2 classrooms for English Language Arts, Physical and Health Education, Science, and Social Studies.

Series Information
You Are the Land is the second book in the All That You Are series. Through lyrical text and colourful watercolour illustrations, the All That You Are series uses the teachings of the Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel to remind children of their connection to the world around them. Each book in the series focuses on one quadrant of the Medicine Wheel representing one kind of wellness—Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, or Mental. A diagram and description of the Medicine Wheel are included at the back of each book. Also included are Anishinaabe Connections, which share more about Anishinaabe art, culture, and traditions explored in the text and illustrations. Books in the All That You Are series are best suited for children ages 3 to 6 and make wonderful read-alouds in classrooms and homes.

You Are Sacred is the first book in the series.

A percentage of proceeds from the All That You Are series is donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society to support their efforts in advocacy for justice and healing. To find out more information, please visit https://www.irsss.ca/.

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8" x 8" | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-77174-632-8

With humor and heart, and brought to life by Jonathan Nelson’s warm, distinctive artwork, Kim Rogers’s A Letter for Bob celebrates the treasured cars that carry us through our most meaningful childhood moments.

Ever since the day Mom and Dad brought Bob home from the car dealership, Bob has been a part of Katie’s family.

Bob has taken them all over, from powwows to vacations to time spent with faraway family. Bob has been there in sad and scary times and for some of the family’s most treasured memories.

But after many miles, it’s time for the family to say goodbye to Bob…

This humorous and tender story about a beloved family car—and all the stories and love carried along for the ride—will appeal to every kid whose family has owned a special car!

Kim Rogers is the author of Just Like Grandma, illustrated by Julie Flett, which received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, which called it “a joyous, uplifting celebration of culture and family.”

Awards

• American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner

Reviews
"I adore this book with a completeness I didn't anticipate. I'll be sharing it at every workshop I do, with librarians, educators, teacher-educators... everyone." — Dr. Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature

"An engaging, emotionally resonant picture book." — Booklist (starred review)

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

A debut picture book that celebrates self-love, care, and resilience with one of the most widespread plants—the dandelion.

Both a love letter to the dandelion and a call to love ourselves in a difficult world, Âmî Osâwâpikones reminds us that we are not defined as others see us. Following our young protagonist and the dandelions through the seasons, we are reminded that we are resilient, we are healers, we are funny, and we are loved.

Reviews
“A playful, lyrical, and persuasive love letter to a dandelion ... This tribute to a precious flowering plant will capture readers’ hearts.” —Kirkus Reviews

“SJ combines her gifts as both author and illustrator in this beautiful and endearing book that both children and adults will adore.” —Monique Gray-Smith

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Includes some Cree words (y-dialect - Plains Cree).  Plains Cree translations and a pronunciation guide can be found at the back of the book.

Includes an Author's Note that describes the inspiration for this story.

Themes: self-love, resilience, care, and lightheartedness conveyed through the dandelion. 

This book is available in French: Âmî Osâwâpikones / Cher pissenlit 

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover