Safety

During a school lockdown, eight-year-old Liam finds a way to calm his fears in this installment from the Liam Kingbird’s Kingdom series.

Liam’s school on an Ojibwa reservation is practicing a lockdown. During the drill, the shy third grader is worried until he finds a new friend: a wooly caterpillar. Can the caterpillar help calm Liam’s nerves during the scary situation? Find out in this installment of the popular Liam Kingbird’s Kingdom series by Ojibwa author Andrew Stark.

Educator & Series Information
Say boozhoo (hello) to Liam Kingbird! Liam is eight years old and lives on an Ojibwa reservation. Quiet, creative Liam is a thinker, a dreamer . . . and sometimes a worrier. New experiences can be scary for Liam, but talking with his mom, drawing pictures, and listening to his heart always steer him in the right direction. Featuring an introspective Indigenous boy with a cleft lip and a beautiful spirit, this charming chapter book series for K–3 will resonate with readers who like to think before they leap.

With achievable text and colorful illustrations, all books in the Liam Kingbird’s Kingdom chapter book series are perfect for early readers, grades K–3.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Additional Information
32 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

One rainy day, Solomon is playing inside with his sister. Their mom is cooking polar bear meat in a big pot of water. Suddenly, he trips and burns his arm in the pot of boiling water! The burn is so bad that he must travel to the health centre in the neighbouring community of Pond Inlet. Solomon has to stay in Pond Inlet until his arm heals. Even though Solomon misses his home, he likes playing with the other kids at the health centre and exploring the new and exciting community of Pond Inlet.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

In My Trip to Pond Inlet children learn about the responsibility of being safe around hot water and taking care of themselves after an injury.

Dual-Language: English and Inuktitut 

This book is part of the Community Connections series.

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.00" x 10.00" | Paperback

Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in alternating narratives, The Other Side of Perfect is infused with themes of identity, belonging, and compassion, reminding us that we are all more than our circumstances, and we are all more connected than we think.

Cody’s home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a great sense of humor that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family, who has found herself in with the popular crowd even though it’s hard for her to want to keep up.

But one night, while returning home from a movie, Autumn comes across Cody, face down in the laneway behind her house. All Cody knows is that he can’t take another encounter with his father like the one he just narrowly escaped. He can’t go home. But he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. When Autumn agrees to let him hide out in her dad’s art studio, Cody’s story begins to come out, and so does hers.

Reviews"
"Dual perspectives illuminate cultural and class differences in this thought-provoking novel by Cree and Scottish author Florence (Legends of Funland) and Scrimger (Weerdest Day Ever!)" -- Publisher's Weekly

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 13.

Additional Information
256 Pages | 5.50" x 8.25" | Hardcover 

When Liam hears his parents having an argument, he escapes into an imaginary world with animal friends he has drawn. His new friends help Liam understand that even when things feel out of his control, he is always safe, always loved, and a brighter day is just ahead.

K–3 readers will find a friend in this series featuring quiet but strong Indigenous third-grader Liam Kingbird.

Educator & Series Information
Say boozhoo (hello) to Liam Kingbird! Liam is eight years old and lives on an Ojibwa reservation. Quiet, creative Liam is a thinker, a dreamer . . . and sometimes a worrier. New experiences can be scary for Liam, but talking with his mom, drawing pictures, and listening to his heart always steer him in the right direction. Featuring an introspective Indigenous boy with a cleft lip and a beautiful spirit, this charming chapter book series for K–3 will resonate with readers who like to think before they leap.

With achievable text and colorful illustrations, all books in the Liam Kingbird’s Kingdom chapter book series are perfect for early readers, grades K–3.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Additional Information
32 pages | 6.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

A vivid dream teaches Little Wolf about courage and acceptance of those who are different, and inspires her to show her daughters and their classmates how to be proud of their diverse cultural backgrounds.

Throughout her life, Little Wolf has been troubled by the injustice she sees all around her. When she was young, she was bullied for her Indigenous heritage. Her mother, White Raven, spent ten years in a residential school, separated from her family and isolated from her culture. Little Wolf’s own children are growing up in a different, more open society, but hatred and racism still exist. Little Wolf worries about the world her daughters will inherit. One night, a vivid dream helps her realize her own strength as a leader and peacemaker in her community. Told with powerful imagery and symbolism, Abalone Woman is the third book in the Little Wolf series, which presents themes of racism, trauma, and family unity through relatable, age-appropriate narratives.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

This is the third book in the Little Wolf series.

This book is available in French: Femme Ormeau

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 9.00" | Paperback 

Adamie is a skilled hunter, but it took many years of practice and learning from his family members to become one. While on a hunting trip, Adamie dreams about the first time he went hunting as a boy with his father. He was excited to shoot something and became impatient with his father as he taught Adamie about helping others, observing his surroundings closely, and taking only what they needed. Now, as an adult, Adamie reflects on the important lessons his father taught him on that trip and many others, and how they helped him become the skilled and responsible hunter he is today. Adamie looks forward to one day passing this knowledge onto his son - his own little hunter.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 10.

The Little Hunter tells a story about the importance of passing on valuable hunting skills and knowledge to the next generation. The Little Hunter tells a story about the importance of passing on valuable hunting skills and knowledge to the next generation. 

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 17 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. F&P Level of this book: T.

Additional Information
52 pages | 7.50" x 10.00" | Paperback

Support young children as they learn the importance of setting physical boundaries.

Being in charge of one’s body is a key foundation of consent. We Are in Charge of Our Bodies builds children’s social and emotional skills and helps with setting physical boundaries.

The sixth book in the We Say What’s Okay series, We Are in Charge of Our Bodies follows Jackson and his classmates as they learn the names for their private body parts, that they can say what’s okay for their bodies, and why it’s important to respect others’ bodies. Using the book as a read-aloud, educators and families can model language to help children as they learn how to set and respect physical boundaries. The author, who hosts workshops and trainings on teaching boundaries and consent for families and early childhood educators around the country, offers additional activities in the back of the book.

We Are in Charge of Our Bodies includes an introduction to adult readers about the book’s topic. Digital content features a letter to share with teachers and families and a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Guided Reading Level: O

Lexile: AD540L 

Centered around a class of preschoolers, the We Say What’s Okay series helps teach young children the social and emotional skills they need to understand the complexities of consent. Each book covers a consent theme, such as how to recognize the physical sensations that emotions create, look for body language cues, ask for and listen to choices, and know that our bodies have value. With believable, everyday situations and diverse characters, children can see themselves and others reflected in each story—and develop a vocabulary to communicate consent and feelings. Every book in the series is accompanied by a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

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

A story that helps teach young children that it’s okay to say no.

Feeling empowered to say no is a key foundation of consent. We Can Say No builds children’s social and emotional skills and helps teach them that it’s okay to say no.

The fifth book in the We Say What’s Okay series, We Can Say No follows Zakiya and Sami as they learn that their bodies, including their hair, belong to them and that no one should touch them without permission. Using the book as a read-aloud, educators and families can model the language Zakiya and Sami’s teacher uses to support them. The author, who hosts workshops and trainings on teaching boundaries and consent for families and early childhood educators around the country, offers additional activities in the back of the book.

Digital content includes a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Guided Reading Level: M

Lexile: AD520L 

Centered around a class of preschoolers, the We Say What’s Okay series helps teach young children the social and emotional skills they need to understand the complexities of consent. Each book covers a consent theme, such as how to recognize the physical sensations that emotions create, look for body language cues, ask for and listen to choices, and know that our bodies have value. With believable, everyday situations and diverse characters, children can see themselves and others reflected in each story—and develop a vocabulary to communicate consent and feelings. Every book in the series is accompanied by a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

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

Wolf Pup Finds His Pack is about a young wolf pup who moves from home to home looking for a safe place to stay while Mother and Father Wolf get healthy. As Wolf Pup left his family with his brother, Mother Wolf gave the Pups Sweetgrass. Mother Wolf taught them that Sweetgrass, a Sacred Medicine, would give them peace when they felt scared and alone. On their journey to find a new home, the pups visit Grandmother and Grandfather Wolf. They tired easily and had no room for Wolf Pup. As Wolf Pup was leaving, Grandfather Wolf handed him some Cedar for strength as he continued his journey. Wolf Pup then stayed with Auntie Wolf a while but then had to leave. Auntie Wolf gave him some Sage. Learn with Wolf Pup as he continues to find a safe place to stay.

Algonquin author S.P. Joseph Lyons, from Kitigan Zibi First Nation has also written Little Bear in Foster Care. Wolf Pup Misses His Pack is a second book in his Foster Care Series.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 1 to 4.

This is the second book in S.P. Joseph Lyon's Foster Care Series.

Keywords / Themes: Medicine, Wolves, Family, Foster Care, Home, Safety, Adoption.

Additional Information
42 Pages | Paperback

Included in this bundle are all four titles in the I Am Like a TREE series:

I Am Like a TREE: BARK and KNOTS – A Story of Courage and Struggles
I Am Like a TREE: LEAVES and BRANCHES – A Story of Belonging and Growth
I Am Like a TREE: SEEDS and LEAVES – A Story of Self Care and Belonging
I Am Like a TREE: TRUNK and ROOTS – A Story of Self and Empathy

The TREE in this series is a metaphor for what we are calling your “Present Self”. Our belief, through personal experience, is that we as living beings have several emotional parts that make us a whole, our Present Self. Each of these parts though are not equal in their emotional experience, so at times, different situations for an individual can be strong while at other times not. Some experiences can keep us in a frozen stage of development without knowing this and we then respond to “like type” experiences in the same way as we did in the past.

Our intention with these conversational stories in a reader’s theatre format is to provide a window into what emotional parts a person may use while having a conversation. The side margins tell all as each conversation unfolds indicating what parts of TREE the character is using. Some of these conversations are focused on the older individual trying to find a solution while the younger individual is providing support as best they can, as a solid TREE. Our intent is to imply that emotional learning is lifelong.

We hope that through these stories we will all continue to extend a hand to those who are reaching, listen to those who are speaking, and feel with an open heart to all those heartbeats that surround us. And for ourselves, love who you are, respect your own actions, and know that you deserve kindness, love and safety and that you belong here.

The back cover introduction and content overview inside make the books in the I Am Like a TREE series great for many learning situations. In each book are four discussion questions that focus on comprehension strategies and mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual connections. The books also provide an inquiry theme to explore and include five activity ideas for independent or group use.

Scroll below to learn more about each work included in this bundle.

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745826

Conversations are important for everyone. Some conversations can only occur when we feel understood. By talking with others, we can learn new ways to be respectful, kind, and empathetic. As we deepen our learning, we become more aware of our own actions. By discovering, growing, and learning about the many emotional parts of ourselves and others, we can find our Present Self.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for Grades 4+ 

The back cover introduction and content overview inside make the books in the I Am Like a TREE series great for many learning situations. In each book are four discussion questions that focus on comprehension strategies and mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual connections. The books also provide an inquiry theme to explore and include five activity ideas for independent or group use.

This book is part of the social-emotional learning (SEL) series, I Am Like a TREE. I Am Like a TREE series consists of four titles:

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8" x 8" | ISBN: 9781771745628 | Paperback

In Lady B Spots Trouble - Volume 1 of the Allowed to Say NO! Series - Jesse, an adventurous boy of 5, meets Lady B, a feisty karate-chopping but safety-conscious ladybug, on his Wishing Spot – the first branch of his backyard oak tree. Jesse heroically searches for hidden treasure, but sometimes it’s dangerous, and his instincts tell him something is unsafe; the same feeling he gets when his neighbour hugs him to tight. Jesse and Lady B navigate these adventures, not just with lifejackets and seatbelts, but with the secret power of instinct.

Safety is a Tricky Business!

Who to talk to in these worrying moments? Jesse sits on Granny’s red kitchen stool and listens when she says, “Feelings are like the wind. They blow and howl and shake everything and later it’s all quiet like they were never there. But sometimes they just don’t go away.” Granny tells Jesse:

“If you get a No Feeling,
you’re allowed to say ‘NO!’
and ask adults you trust for Help!”

Educator & Series Information
Lady B Spots Trouble is the first of the three-volume Allowed to Say NO! book series that facilitates a safe way of having a big conversation about unwanted touch with children four to eight years old. Each story is accompanied by both a Colouring Book as well as a Teachers’ Guide that purchasers of the book can download for free from the author’s website: www.allowedtosayno.com

The Teacher’s Guide for Lady B Spots Trouble is a module of five units for teachers that meets the curriculum requirements on appropriate and inappropriate touch for Kindergarten students, emphasizing preventative strategies to ensure student safety. These lessons provide a child-centered and comfortable environment for the whole classroom.

The Colouring Book for home use reinforces and illustrates key messages in the story so adults and children can have fun together while discussing safe and unsafe touch.

Recommended for kindergarten students.

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.5 " x 11" Landscape 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children have been introduced to wearing face masks and seeing others in masks. Author and illustrator Marla Lesage normalizes mask-wearing by introducing young readers to artists, ranchers, pilots, welders, scientists and many more people who already wear masks in their day-to-day lives. This delightful, rhyming picture book will help explain to children why wearing a mask is important as we interact with others in our communities. Readers will learn that, when they put on their mask, they are choosing to be kind and considerate of others.

We Wear Masks is a fun tool to help children make sense of this new reality and make wearing masks less scary and more relatable. This book can be used as a conversation starter about the pandemic, the spread of germs and viruses, and what families can do to keep themselves and the people they care about safe.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Author and illustrator Marla Lesage is a registered nurse and the mother of two young children learning to adjust to wearing masks in public.

This book features different types of masks, including one with a clear panel being used by characters who rely on reading lips to communicate.

Additional Information
32 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"

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.