Board Books

The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.

International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.

Awards

• 2017 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize winner

Reviews
"A quiet loveliness, sense of gratitude, and—yes—happiness emanate from this tender celebration of simple pleasures, which features a cast of First Nations children and adults...Short, first-person phrases...revel in both solitary and familial activities...Flett’s crisp-edged paintings blend universal and culturally specific experiences." — Publishers Weekly, Starred, November 2015

"Joyful and tender, this board book celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections...Flett’s quietly powerful gouache and digital collage illustrations emphasize the relationships between people...The sweet family story has universal appeal. A first purchase for all libraries." — School Library Journal, Starred, March 2016

"A celebration of aboriginal culture...but also universal in its message: sometimes it's the simplest things that lift our spirits highest...[The book] is beautiful in both its appearance and its intention." — Quill & Quire, March 2016

"My Heart Fills With Happiness is a story that focuses on supporting the wellness of Indigenous children and families, encouraging them to reflect on what makes them happy. The story looks at happy memories that readers can connect to and serves as a reminder to reflect and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy." — The Dalai Lama Center 

Educator Information
This book is also available in French: J'ai le coeur rempli de bonheur.

This book is also available in English and Plains Cree: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih

This book is also available in English and Anishinaabemowin: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Nijiikendam

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

"Dream a little, Kulu, this world now sings a most beautiful song of you."

This beautiful bedtime poem, written by acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic.

Lyrically and tenderly told by a mother speaking to her own little "Kulu," an Inuktitut term of endearment often bestowed upon babies and young children, this visually stunning book is infused with the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants.

A perfect gift for new parents.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in different formats:

• The Sweetest Kulu (Paperback)
• The Sweetest Kulu (Hardcover)

This resource is also available in French: Kulu adoré

Additional Information
30 pages | 7.50" x 6.00"

In this sweet and lyrical board book from the creators of the bestselling Little You, gentle rhyming text captures the wonder new parents feel as they welcome baby into the world. A celebration of the bond between parent and child, this is the perfect song to share with your little ones.

Internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author Richard Van Camp teams up with award-winning illustrator Julie Flett for a second time to create a stunning board book for babies and toddlers.

Awards
- 2017 CCBC Best Books commendation

Reviews
"Both Van Camp's words and Flett's illustrations are economical, but We Sang You Home is not a quick read. Instead, each of the paired pages of text and illustration truly demands that the reader pause and reflect on the pages' contents. Highly recommended." — CM Magazine, June 2016

"The emotions of parenthood—including feelings of love, elation, and gratitude—are certain to be conveyed to [children] by the parents who share this tale with them. A lovely picture book that will resonate with parents and show young readers the profound, positive impact they have on their parents' lives." — School Library Journal, October 2016

"A great strength of this book is that it is nonspecific and inclusive enough to encompass all new babies—arriving through birth, fostering, or adoption—and it does not specify gender…The whole message is one of love, welcome, and completion now that the young one has joined the family. The eye-catching illustrations hint at a non-specific non-white race for the family (could be Asian, First Nations, Inuit, etc.), making this book inclusive and encompassing of Canada's ethnic diversity…It is a book of thankfulness and hope that would make a wonderful addition to the preschool collection in a library. Highly recommended." — Resource Links, October 2016

Educator Information
This book is available in a dual-language format: We Sang You Home / Ka Kîweh Nikamôstamâtinân

Available in Hardcover: We Sang You Home (HC)

Additional Information
26 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

Authenticity Note: This story is meant to appeal to and honour a variety of families, not only Indigenous families.  This is why we have labelled it as not containing Indigenous text content; it may still work as an Indigenous text for your purposes, though, as the author and illustrator are in Indigenous.

Everything in our world is precious and important whether it is big or small. Explore from the ocean to the sky and learn the names of the animals of all sizes that call the Northwest Coast home.

Educator Information
Soy-based ink and water-based protective coating. Made from paper sourced from sustainable forests.

For babies and toddlers.

Additional Information
20 pages; measures 6.5 in x 7.5 in | Board Book

Adair’s Woodland style of painting is the highlight in this counting board book written in Ojibway and English. Beautifully designed birds and other wildlife sit against flat planes of colour in tones and shades ranging from bright reds to vibrant purples to pale blues. This is a gorgeous book for the very young that opens their eyes to art and their ears to language. An excellent introduction to Ojibway numbers, highlighting the culture’s deep relationship with animals.

Book of Play with Northwest Coast Native Art is a 20-page board book by various Indigenous artists, including Doug LaFortune, Corey Bulpitt, T.J. Young & Frances Horne Sr.  This book teaches the ABCs, arithmetic concepts, and more, while at the same time allowing children to learn about art from Indigenous peoples such as the Haida and Coast Salish.

Additional Information
20 pages | 10 Indigenous Artist Contributions

Offers young readers a window into the Haida culture and the importance of bears in that world; counting from 1 to 10. This 20-page board book made with recycled paper with soy-based ink and water-based coating. Haida artist Gryn White introduces young readers to the wild bears of Haida culture. Bears are an important part of Haida traditions because the ancestors have honoured and respected bears. To acknowledge this respect the Haida feature images of bears in their regalia and art. Early childhood teachers will find this counting book from 1 to 10 a useful resource because it introduces Northwest Coast culture into arithmetic. Colours are also highlighted in the board book.

Richard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author of the hugely successful Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, has partnered with talented illustrator Julie Flett to create a tender board book for babies and toddlers that honors the child in everyone. With its delightful contemporary illustrations, Little You is perfect to be shared, read or sung to all the little people in your life—and the new little ones on the way!

Awards
- 2013 BC Books for Babies winner
- 2015 R. Ross Annett Award winner
- 2016 American Indian Library Association Best Picture Book winner

Reviews
"Van Camp composes a lyrical ode to a newborn child, which is matched in its loveliness by Flett's exquisite, collage-like images of a young one with his or her parents. Both collaborators are of aboriginal Canadian descent, and the book will have particular appeal for families looking for nonwhite representations of tender family moments. But families of every size, shape, and background can appreciate sentiments like, 'You are life and breath adored/ You are us and so much more/ Little ember with growing light/ Feel our love as we hold you tight.'" — Publishers Weekly, March 2013

"A sweet little board book...Richard Van Camp has written a beautiful poem that describes the feelings of parenthood...The illustrations, done by Julie Flett, are both simple, and bold at the same time...and helped bring such beautiful words to life. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys curling up with their little one with a good book. It's a nice quick little read, that captured my little one's attention right away. It's got a great message that I hope she'll remember for the rest of her life." — Just Trying to Let it Be blog, May 2013

"The spreads lovingly depict a young child growing from infancy to toddlerhood...The text has the gentle cadence of a lullaby...Flett, who is of Cree Métis heritage, gives each character tawny skin, almond-shaped eyes and dark hair. This, combined with her sophisticated and simple style, allows her featured family to represent relatively broad branches of the human family. The art, with the look of cut-paper collage, uses curved forms and playful prints to flesh out the affectionate tableaux...The soothing rhythms of the language and the affection of the scenes are right on target. A poetic and joyful celebration." — Kirkus Reviews, August 2013

Educator Information
This book is available in French: Tout petit toi

Amazing babies are on the move in this lively board book that celebrates all the joyful ways babies propel themselves and interact with the world. Push, baby, push! Look how strong you are. Climb, baby, climb! You are going far. Babies, parents, and care providers will all enjoy the close-up black-and-white photos of babies’ faces and the colorful illustrations in this bouncy, spirited book.

What can baby do today? Move . . . and reach, play, eat, cuddle, and rest. The books in the Happy Healthy Baby series include appealing black-and-white photographs of babies and whimsical full-color illustrations that capture the moments and moods of baby’s day. Little ones will love the photos of baby faces, and the rhythm and rhyme will hold baby’s attention.

Series Information
This book is part of the Happy Healthy Baby Series. Bouncy rhythms and bright photos and illustrations capture the moments and moods of baby’s day and hold baby’s attention. As the books are shared with them, babies absorb concepts of love, safety, and confidence. These sturdy-format books include tips for parents and caregivers. A perfect gift for baby showers, newborns, and birthdays.

Additional Information
22 pages | 5.71" x 5.43" | black and white photos, colour illustrations

Wiggly baby on the floor. What is baby reaching for? Celebrate the many ways that babies reach out to discover and learn about the world around them. With lively rhyming text and vivid black-and-white photos of babies in action, this book is sure to engage babies and grown-ups alike. A great baby board book for floortime or anytime!

What can baby do today? Reach . . . and move, play, eat, cuddle, and rest. The books in the Happy Healthy Baby series include appealing black-and-white photographs of babies and whimsical full-color illustrations that capture the moments and moods of baby’s day. Little ones will love the photos of baby faces, and the rhythm and rhyme will hold baby’s attention. 

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Happy Healthy Baby Series. Bouncy rhythms and bright photos and illustrations capture the moments and moods of baby’s day and hold baby’s attention. As the books are shared with them, babies absorb concepts of love, safety, and confidence. These sturdy-format books include tips for parents and caregivers. A perfect gift for baby showers, newborns, and birthdays.

Additional Information
22 pages | 5.63" x 5.24" | black and white photos, colour illustrations

Follow along as Pup learns how to eat spiky sea urchins, somersault beneath the waves and groom himself. He still needs lots of help from Mother, but one day Pup will be old enough to dive down below the waves and search for food on his own.

Accompanied by beautiful illustrations and set in the North Pacific, this heartwarming tale is perfect for little ones who still have lots to learn themselves.

24-page board book by Paul Windsor.

"The whole purpose of this book is to share the GOOD energy coming from all the experiences I've had in the past, present and going into the future. There are days that are challenging, but it is important to carry on, improve one's creativity, and learn to respect ourselves and the land we share. By doing so, we can gain a fresh start and a new beginning. GOOD MORNING TO YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY!" - Paul Windsor, Haisla, Heiltsuk 

Additional Information
24 pages | 6" x 7.5" 

24-page board book by various Indigenous artists.

"Animals are highly respected in our culture and featured in our traditions. They are part of our stories, dances, songs, and in our dreams." - Francis Horne Sr., Coast Salish

 Additional Information
Board book format.  Also available as a hardcover book.

Learn the Alphabet with Northwest Coast Native Art is a 23-page board book that introduces young children to the alphabet. The letters include the upper and lower cases for each. Each letter is depicted with the letters and a drawing of a Northwest Coast animal, natural feature or object. For example the Letter H is for hummingbird ; the letter T is represented by Totem. Each artist's contribution is recognized in this important title for young children. This book also introduces young children to Northwest Coast art designs while helping reinforce the letters of the alphabet.