Grade 2

“Papa, what is a Potlatch?”  

Inspired by Ts’msyen Chief William Beynon’s historic notebooks on Potlatches in the Gitxsan village of Gitsegukla, Celebrating Potlatches pairs intergenerational storytelling with beautiful illustrations to honour Indigenous traditions. From the award-winning author of Oolichan Moon and the accomplished illustrator of Be a Good Ancestor, this book recounts the 1885 Potlatch ban and the resilience of the communities who fought to keep their traditions alive. 

Reviews
“Heartfelt and timely, Celebrating Potlatches gifts readers with cultural teachings through an intergenerational account of Indigenous resilience. This book is a beautiful tribute to the author’s great-grandfather, William Beynon, whose life’s work documenting oral histories of Sm’algya̱x-speaking Peoples and their Potlatches continues to be foundational to our cultural resurgence today.” – Sm Łoodm ‘Nüüsm (Dr. Mique’l Dangeli), Sm’algya̱x language expert and Assistant Professor of Indigenous Arts at the University of Victoria

“This beautiful book shares the importance of community, culture, and identity. As you make your way through the pictures and words, they bring you to an understanding of how important the Potlatch ceremony was and continues to be for Indigenous Peoples.” – Carolyn Roberts, educator, speaker, and author of Re-Storying Education

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Through this conversational historic account, readers can learn alongside the narrator as his Papa shares his wisdom about the rich history of the Potlatch.

Curriculum Connections

• Early literacy – listening, reading, and discussing
• Art – traditional Indigenous art, drumming, and regalia
• Social studies – the 1885 Potlatch ban, history of Indigenous Peoples, connection to community
• Social responsibility – uplifting ourselves and others, honouring traditions
• Indigenous knowledge and traditions – traditional teachings, Potlatch ceremonies, intergenerational storytelling

 

Two free, downloadable lesson plans—one for kindergarten to Grade 1 and one for Grades 2 to 3—provide connections to Social Studies curriculum.

Additional Information
32 Pages | 10" x 8.5" | Hardcover 

There, in the middle of the forest, the young calf stood alone. 

When a young moose calf gets lost in a storm, he is found by Nana and Papa, a kind couple who offer him shelter and a name: Charlie. They bring him home to Matachewan First Nation, where two dogs, Spike and Molly, happily welcome him into their pack. Together, Charlie and his friends spend their days digging holes on the beach, playing fetch, and having fun. 

But Charlie is growing fast, and soon it will be time for him to return to the forest. With Spike and Molly by his side, Charlie sets off on an adventure to learn more about himself—and what it means to be a moose. 

Educator Information 
This illustrated chapter book is recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 2.9

The chapters are each titled with an Ojibwe word or phrase, and a glossary of the Ojibwe words and their pronunciations is included at the back of the book. Discussion questions and an author’s note can also be found at the end of the book, and a free lesson plan is available for download on our website. 

With an engaging story, lovable characters, and powerful messages, Charlie the Matachewan Moose is perfect for readers transitioning from picture books to chapter books. Meaningful themes of identity and self-awareness provide opportunities for discussion, making this book an excellent choice for homes and classrooms. 

Curriculum Connections 

• English Language Arts – figures of speech, reading, listening, discussing 

• Science – diverse ecosystems, animal behaviours and habitats 

• Personal and Social Awareness – personal and cultural identity, connecting to community, identifying values 

• Art – traditional Indigenous art styles 

• Social-Emotional Learning – recognizing and managing emotions, building positive relationships, showing empathy  

• Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions – Ojibwe language and teachings, cultural significance of animals

Additional Information 
112 Pages | 5.5” x 8.5” | Paperback | Printed in Canada 

This bundle includes all four titles in the By Day and By Night Nature Series:

• Hideaway Cove (hardcover)
• A Night at Hideaway Cove (paperback) 
• Fernwood Forest (hardcover)
• A Night in Fernwood Forest (hardcover)

Each book in the By Day and By Night Nature Series focuses on a scene typical of a distinct west coast habitat, showing how living and non-living things are connected in a healthy ecosystem. As readers, we observe animals going about their daily activities: caring for their young, searching for food, and responding to the changes in light, temperature, and weather conditions throughout the day or night. The last four pages of each book provide facts about the highlighted animals and plants as well as features that are unique to their habitats. The final page suggests ways that young readers and their families can be respectful as they visit wilderness areas.

Readers with a sense of curiosity will find opportunities in these books to:

• use picture clues to predict the featured animal on the next page
• identify, count, and sequence numbers (1 owl, 2 deer, 3 squirrels, etc.)
• search for small creatures that travel from page to page
• discover patterns in the text and structure of the books
• track the movement of the sun, or moon, across the sky

Reading Level: Nonfiction text features such as headings, bold words, bullets, captions, and labelled diagrams make these books accessible to independent readers in grades 2 to 4. The books would also be great “read-alouds” for younger children.

Curriculum Links
Reading - Providing opportunities for guided practise in using reading strategies: visualizing, making connections, asking questions, transforming, and inferring.

Science - Supporting discussion and further exploration:

• characteristics of living things
• needs of living things
• connections between living and non-living things
• daily and seasonal changes
• animal growth and changes
• plant growth and changes
• weather
• habitats
• observable patterns in the sky

Numeracy - Counting and sequencing of numbers 1 to 10.

Social Responsibility - Initiating discussions about ways to take care of wilderness areas.

Lesson plans are available for each book and are free to download from each book's listing on our website!

Additional Information
Titles included are 32 pages, 8.5" x 11"

​Please note: All books in this bundle are hardcovers, except for A Night at Hideaway Cove, which is a paperback as the hardcover edition is out of print. ​

Drumming, singing, and dancing are all part of being at a Powwow. Perry and his family travel all over North America to participate in these family and community gatherings. Join Perry’s two boys as they share their treasured memories of being at Powwows with their family and learning how to dance.

Reviews
“Lavishly illustrated with photographs, vivid sketches, and ledger art, Powwow Dancing With Family provides a detailed description of each stage of the Powwow, historical and contemporary aspects of the Powwow, and pays homage to Indigenous culture and customs. This informative resource will support studies of Indigenous culture, history, traditions, community, art, and family lifestyle.” – ERAC Review, May 2019

Educator Information
Includes three pages of educational material on Powwows with information found under these headings:

• What is a Powwow?
• Powwow Regalia
• Powwow Dances

About Perry Smith's Ledger Art:
Ledger Art is an art form that was developed in the mid 1800s to early 1900s by the Plains First Nations during a time when reserves were being established across North America. The ledger books were acquired in trade, war, or raids. New art supplies were also introduced: coloured pencils, crayons, and occasionally water paints. The new supplies were favoured by artists over the traditional bone and stick brushes. Many of the artworks within these ledger books display a traditional way of life, before assimilation. Today these artworks are greatly valued for the historical perspective that they offer.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8" x 8" | ISBN: 9781771746281 | Paperback

On the banks of the Gwa’yi River, a young Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w princess grows up to be a curious student, an influential leader, and a mother. She is a humble person and doesn’t speak of her royalty to her children, but when they learn she is a princess at a traditional celebration, they are in disbelief. She doesn’t wear fancy clothes or attend balls or do anything the children think princesses should do. Using a strategy they had read about in an old tale to put their mother’s royalty to the test, the children discover the truth. But more importantly, they also learn what it really means to be a princess.

Written as a tribute to the author’s grandmother, this beautifully illustrated story reimagines a fairy tale in a contemporary Indigenous setting.

Awards

• First Place: 2025 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Awards for BC Authors
• Longlisted: 2024-2025 First Nation Communities READ Award

Reviews
“Loved the role modelling of the princess as one who represents adventure, cultural knowledge, and caring for others while finding achievement. The story promotes respect, admiration, humility, kindness, and honouring of a strong, successful female. The imaginative story is a fun challenge to princess stereotypes and classic related fairytales. The nonfiction content provides an enriching and personalized bonus that deepens the impact of the words and provides local significance.…. The illustrations are excellent, offering accurate and attractive cultural designs, clothing, headwear, and jewellery.” – The 2025 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society judges’ panel

"A contemporary Indigenous spin on The Princess and the Pea, the picture book is suitable as a part of a fairy tale unit and a read-aloud to spark discussions about personal qualities and attributes, expectations, stereotypes, curiosity, the importance of helping others, and honouring traditions." – Focused Education Resources

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Backmatter provides details about Ukwanalis, including a map, as well as information about the inspiration behind the story, Dr. Evelyn Voyageur.

Curriculum Connections 

• Early Literacy – listening, reading, and discussing 
• Art – traditional Indigenous art practices, including jewellery and regalia 
• Social Studies – career education, family history, connection to community, geography, and local First Peoples communities 
• Language Arts – contemporary First Peoples stories and revisioning classic fairy tales 
• Social Responsibility – leadership, humility, caring for others, and honouring traditions 

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8.5” x 11” | Hardcover | 9781771746038

Educator Information
Recommended for use with grades 1 to 6 (elementary students).

Everything educators need is included in this single work -- contemporary Indigenous stories to read aloud and explore with students, as well as story guides, a map, plant information pages, suggestions for classroom activities, discussion questions, inquiry activities, talking together points, information to support intergenerational or peer-to-peer learning, and connections to the Core Competencies and social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies.

Find a bundle for Animals Care for Mother Earth that includes the book and learning environment resources HERE!

Additional Information
32 Pages | 8.5" x 11" | ISBN: 9781771745970 | Paperback

Formerly titled On My Walk, this activity book, Me and My Community, has been revised and updated to include new activities, new colouring pages, and more writing prompts.

Additional Information
24 Pages | ISBN: 9781771740586

Included in this bundle are all four titles in the A Spring Adventure series:

A Spring Adventure With Deer
A Spring Adventure With Crows
A Spring Adventure With Robins
A Spring Adventure With Beavers

Books in this series use both fiction and non-fiction as a unique approach to storytelling.

On left-hand pages, lyrical text and colourful illustrations tell stories of young animals and their early morning spring adventures. Expertly woven into these delightful stories are interesting facts about the young animals and other plants and animals in that ecosystem.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of these books an accessible source of information for young readers.

Science Connections: Biodiversity, animal classification, food chains, life cycles, ecosystems, geology, and the connections between living and non-living things are some of the concepts included in this book.

Recommended for grades 2 and 3.

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

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745734

“The kit uses her webbed back feet and little flat tail to push through the water. She swims down the tunnel and out into the pond. At the surface of the water, she sees a dragonfly. She follows it to the edge of the pond. It settles on a big rock.”

This book uses both fiction and non-fiction as a unique approach to storytelling.

On left-hand pages, lyrical text and colourful illustrations tell a story of a young beaver’s early morning spring adventure. Using her senses, the kit discovers the world around her lodge. Expertly woven into this delightful story are interesting facts about beavers and other plants and animals in this wetland ecosystem.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the A Spring Adventure series.

Recommended for grades 2 and 3.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Science Connections: Biodiversity, animal classification, food chains, life cycles, ecosystems, geology, and the connections between living and non-living things are some of the concepts included in this book.

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8" x 8" | ISBN: 978-1-77174-567-3 | Paperback

“The fledgling lands safely at the foot of the tree. He looks around. He sees a ladybug crawling along the leaf of a stinging nettle. He is curious. Is it good to eat? He hops up onto a smooth, black rock to take a closer look.”

This book uses both fiction and non-fiction as a unique approach to storytelling.

On left-hand pages, lyrical text and colourful illustrations tell a story of a young crow’s early morning spring adventure. Using his senses, the fledgling discovers the world around his nest. Expertly woven into this delightful story are interesting facts about crows and other plants and animals in a city park.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the A Spring Adventure series.

Recommended for grades 2 and 3.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Science Connections: Biodiversity, animal classification, food chains, life cycles, ecosystems, geology, and the connections between living and non-living things are some of the concepts included in this book.

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8" x 8" | ISBN: 978-1-77174-568-0 | Paperback

“The buzzing sound fades away when the bee flies off. The fawn twitches his large ears and looks about. He can hear trickling water close by. He walks to the far side of the meadow, down a rocky bank, and to a little creek below.”

This book uses both fiction and non-fiction as a unique approach to storytelling.

On left-hand pages, lyrical text and colourful illustrations tell a story of a young fawn’s early morning spring adventure. Using his senses, the fawn discovers the world around him while searching for his mother. Expertly woven into this delightful story are interesting facts about black-tailed deer and other plants and animals in a forest ecosystem.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the A Spring Adventure series.

Recommended for grades 2 and 3.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Science Connections: Biodiversity, animal classification, food chains, life cycles, ecosystems, geology, and the connections between living and non-living things are some of the concepts included in this book.

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8" x 8" | ISBN: 978-1-77174-565-9 | Paperback

“The fledgling lands in the dry leaves, cones, and twigs on the forest floor. He stops for a moment. He looks around. He is wondering about the little flowers on the kinnikinnick plants. Are they food? He hops up onto a nearby rock to take a closer look.”

This book uses both fiction and non-fiction as a unique approach to storytelling.

On left-hand pages, lyrical text and colourful illustrations tell a story of a young robin’s early morning spring adventure. Using his senses, the fledgling discovers the world around his nest. Expertly woven into this delightful story are interesting facts about robins and other plants and animals in a forest ecosystem.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the A Spring Adventure series.

Recommended for grades 2 and 3.

Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.

Science Connections: Biodiversity, animal classification, food chains, life cycles, ecosystems, geology, and the connections between living and non-living things are some of the concepts included in this book.

Additional Information
24 Pages | 8" x 8" | ISBN: 978-1-77174-566-6 | Paperback