Indigenous Peoples

The world is bursting full of beautiful colors, from the blue of the fish to the green of the leaves! Even more wondrous are the many names the different peoples of the world have for them. Join these Hawai’ian kids, their older brother and his boyfriend as they adventure around their island to learn their colors – and a little about love along the way.

Reviews
"Learn the Hawai'ian words for colors in this lovely, family-oriented, BIPOC-centered story. This #OwnVoices picture book is written by a māhū (trans) person and illustrated by a queer, Black Native Hawaiian artist." - The Seattle Public Library 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

An indigenous Hawai’ian colour adventure, featuring older brother Kalani teaching a gaggle of keiki their colors on a Saturday fishing trip.

Additional Information
10.75" x 8.25" | Paperback

Learn about the country foods people eat in the North. 

This book features different kinds of food people get from the land and sea in Nunavut, such as caribou and maktaaq.

Educator & Series Information 
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 3 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is LB.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; History; Heritage

Recommended for ages 3-6.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

The fourth book in this colourful and unique series introduces twenty-two basic words in English, French, and Cree relating to familiar people at home and in the community. 

Neepin Auger's books for children contain original, brightly coloured images and early education level concepts familiar to everyone. Playful and bold, this dynamic series will educate and entertain preschoolers, parents, and teachers alike. 

In addition to the English words presented, the French and Cree equivalents are also given, making these some of the most dynamic and useful board books on the market, perfectly suitable for the classroom, library, and nursery.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 and under.

This is the fourth book in a series of Discovering books from Neepin Auger.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list as being useful for grades K-1 in these areas: Career Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies.

Additional Information
30 pages | 6.50" x 6.50"

Two people navigate their differences with curiosity and openness in this stunning picture book that imagines the first meeting between an Indigenous fisher and a European sailor.

Based on an actual journal entry by French explorer Jacques Cartier from his first expedition to North America in July 1534, this story imagines the first encounter between a European sailor and a Stadaconan fisher. As the two navigate their differences (language, dress, food) with curiosity, the natural world around them notes their similarities. The seagull observes their like shadows, the mosquito notes their equally appealing blood, the mouse enjoys the crumbs both people leave behind.

This story explores how encounters can create community and celebrates varying perspectives and the natural world. It is at once specific and universal. It's a story based on a primary document and historical research, but it is in equal measure beautifully imagined. It makes room for us to recognize our differences while celebrating our shared humanity.

Debut author Brittany Luby's background in social justice and history brings a breathtaking depth of insight and understanding to this story and Michaela Goade's expressive art brings equal life to the creatures and landscapes. An author's note outlines the historical context as well as situates the story in the present day.

Reviews
"Shared humanity is at the center of this Indigenous author and illustrator team’s alternative history.... Encounter’s most valuable aspect is its backmatter: Both an author’s reflection and a historical note offer crucial context to this spirited revision. “This peaceful encounter does not forgive…violent actions,” Luby notes. “Instead, it reminds us…that everyday people, like Sailor, can participate in systems that hurt others.” Without this addendum, this story runs the risk of obscuring legacies of violence rather than “learn[ing] from our history and tak[ing] the opportunity to map a better future.”

"An uplifting, #ownvoices vision for what could have been and what we are responsible for now." - Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7

Includes an author's reflection and historical note that provide crucial context to the events in the story.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 10.63"

Learn some interesting facts about Nunavut.

This book gives simple facts about Nunavut, along with colourful photographs.

Educator & Series Information 
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 7 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is D.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; Environmental awareness; History

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 9.00" x 6.00"

Let’s go fishing!

This wordless picture book follows a child and his father as they go fishing, catch fish, and make pitsi.

Educator & Series Information
This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

This is a Sequence Book. These wordless picture books help young children develop early book-handling behaviours and use vocabulary as they interact with the book. Developing sequencing skills can also help children recognize patterns that make the world around them more predictable.  

Recommended Ages: 3 and under

Additional Information
23 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Authenticity Note: This book has received the Authentic Indigenous Text label as the author of this wordless story is Indigenous and the story, although containing no words, reflects Indigenous topics/themes.

What do you like to eat?

This book features some of the foods people eat in the North, such as bannock and cheese.

Educator & Series Information 
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 4 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is A.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives

Recommended for ages 3-6.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner Juana Martinez-Neal.

Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.

Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.

Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.

Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.

Awards

• 2020 Robert F. Sibert Award - Medal winner

Reviews
“With buoyant, heartfelt illustrations that show the diversity in Native America, the book tells the story of a post-colonial food, a shared tradition across the North American continent . . . Through this topic that includes the diversity of so many Native peoples in a single story, Maillard (Mekusukey Seminole) promotes unity and familiarity among nations. Fry bread is much more than food, as this book amply demonstrates.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Fry Bread celebrates the thing itself and much, much more . . . Maillard and Martinez-Neal bring depth, detail, and whimsy to this Native American food story, with text and illustrations depicting the diversity of indigenous peoples, the role of continuity between generations, and the adaptation over time of people, place, and tradition.” —Booklist, starred review

“This warm and charming book shows and affirms Native lives. The informational text and expressive drawings give it broad appeal.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“An affecting picture book that features family and friends gathering, creating and enjoying fry bread together. Glorious . . . [Back matter] augments the simple, sincere verses with illuminating edification for older readers . . . Remarkable in balancing the shared delights of extended family with onerous ancestral legacy, Maillard both celebrates and bears witness to his no-single-recipe-fits-all community.”  Shelf Awareness

Educator Information
Includes a recipe for the author's fry bread at the back.

Additional Information

In this book, Gifts From Raven, Kung Jaadee a Haida storyteller, shares with us that Raven has given each person a special gift to share with the world. That gift is their unique talent or passion. 

Reviews
"This story opens opportunities for discussions about generosity, community, diversity, unique talents, and helping others. This resource also supports learning about traditional Indigenous uses of natural resources in Social Studies and Science. Gifts from Raven is suitable as an enjoyable read-aloud for early primary students, and as an independent read for students in grades two and up. This resource features a short guide to Haida words with a visual for each." - Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021

Educator Information
This is an adaptation of her book Raven’s Feast for a younger audience. 

A page at the back of the book includes a few words in Haida and how to say them.

Suggested for ages 4-6.

Included in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list as being useful for grades K-1 in the areas of Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts.

This book is available in French: Les cadeaux du corbeau

Additional Information
34 pages | 9.00" x 8.00"

An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school.

Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as wahine (girl) OR kane (boy). She's happy to be in the middle. But not everyone sees it that way.

When Ho'onani finds out that there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it. But can a girl really lead the all-male troupe? Ho'onani has to try . . .

Based on a true story, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and an empowering story of a girl who learns to lead and learns to accept who she really is--and in doing so, gains the respect of all those around her.

Ho'onani's story first appeared in the documentary A Place in the Middle by filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.

Reviews
“Boldly outlined watercolor and ink artwork . . . convey visual information with strength that suggests Ho‘onani’s own. And Gale grounds the child’s experience, based on a true story, in Hawaiian traditions, modeling showing ‘every person the same unconditional acceptance and respect’.” --Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Ho'onani’s courage to be true to herself and her place in the middle is empowering. Hawaiian words are intermixed, and Song’s illustrations are full of emotion and determination.” --Kirkus Reviews

“Ho’onani: Hula Warrior tells the story of a young gender-nonconforming child who, though she still uses female pronouns, does not wish to be either a girl or a boy. Ho’onani is seen by some as too loud, too brash, too masculine. But when she starts to show an interest in leading a group of students in a hula chant, some don’t believe she can do it because she’s not a boy, not strong enough, not bold enough! Stuck in the middle but not willing to back down, Ho’onani and her teacher, Kumu Hina (“kumu” means teacher), work to build her skills and prepare her to take the tests necessary to show that she is skilled enough to lead. And while her parents and brother are not very surprised at Ho’onani’s determination, Kana, her sister, is less than pleased and stops hanging out with Ho’onani like they used to. But in the end, Ho’onani works hard and continues to buck stereotypes in the process, ultimately bringing her closer to her goal with each passing day, until the moment arrives when she must prove herself in front of the whole community.

This empowering and delightfully engaging picture book is based on the true story of Ho’onani Kamai who was raised in Honolulu and was coached by Hinaleimoana Kwai Kong Wong-Kalu (shortened in the book to Kumu Hina). An author’s note at the beginning gives a more detailed explanation of the real-life story, some history and a mention of the documentary (A Place in the Middle) which was inspired by Ho’onani and Kumu Hina’s working together.

.... The story is not simply one of strength and overcoming obstacles, but it is also a story about traditions, acceptance, and respect for others. Ho’onani is not simply a determined youngster, but also an individual trying to help others understand that gender stereotypes are harmful and limiting. Gale’s picture book will help young readers and adults better understand a small slice of Hawaiian traditions and nonbinary people, referred to as Mahu, those who embody both feminine and masculine traits.

.... An entertaining, illuminating, and empowering read, Ho’onani: Hula Warrior will make a welcome addition to classrooms, libraries, and story times!” --CM Magazine

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4-8.

The author thanks Ho'onani Kamia and Kumu Hina on her website for allowing her to write this story.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.80" x 11.40"

Let’s count the animals we saw on the land.

This fun illustrated book helps children learn the names of animals and practise simple addition.

Educator & Series Information 
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 7 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is C.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Diversity; Indigenous perspectives; Environmental awareness

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
12 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

We use water for a lot of things.

This book describes the different ways people use water in the Arctic.

Educator & Series Information 
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 7 book in the series. 

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P Level is C.

Curriculum Connections: Language and literacy; Indigenous perspectives

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information 
16 pages | 8.00" x 6.00"

I Love Me is a vibrant, multi-colored board book that teaches kids one of life's most important lessons: self acceptance.

"I love my eyes, I love my nose, I love the way my curly hair grows!" Acclaimed Indigenous Australian creators Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina celebrate individuality and joyous self-esteem in bouncy, rhythmic prose and lively color. I Love Me is inclusive, fun, simple, and contains a necessary lesson for all about the positivity of self love.

Reviews
"[A] 4-page affirmation of self-worth for children everywhere.

Morgan and Kwaymullina, both from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia, use traditional Aboriginal-style art to illustrate the unique attributes that make a child loved and lovable. Vibrant, patterned colors in deep, rich hues frame each page while dots, stripes, stars, and swirling bands of color emphasize the joyous message. Two smiling brown-skinned children, sometimes joined by a black-and-white spotted dog, are haloed in variously colored auras that emphasize their singularity and seem to radiate self-love. The occasional rhymes in the text are unobtrusive but not forced.... Onomatopoeic words repeated three times (“tap,” “thump,” etc.) add energy and rhythm. On the next-to-last page, one child with crossed arms looks directly at readers to ask, “Who else would I be?” before returning to the refrain, “And I love, love, love me!”

You just gotta “love, love, love” this joy-filled book." - Kirkus Reviews

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

Authenticity Note: Although by an Indigenous Australian author, this story's text content is not necessarily Indigenous.  The artwork in the book is traditional Aboriginal-style art from an Indigenous illustrator and is, therefore, given the Authentic Indigenous Artwork label. It is up to readers to determine if this work is authentic or not for their purposes.

If Instead of a Person imaginatively explores the wisdom to be learned from living as a tree. Using child-friendly rhyming verse, Coast Salish author Courtney Defriend ponders a tree's steadfast connection and vital contribution to life on earth. Reinforced by Terra Mar's powerful illustrations, If Instead of a Person invites readers to become change agents that respect the interconnectedness of nature and humanity. 

Educator Information
Partial proceeds go to Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

Recommended for ages 4 to 10.

Juvenile Fiction, Indigenous Resource, Poetry, Environmental.

Additional Information
8.25" x 8.25" 

Nadia Sammurtok lovingly invites the reader into the amautik—the pouch in the back of a mother’s parka used to carry a child—to experience everything through the eyes of the baby nestled inside, from the cloudlike softness of the pouch to the glistening sound of Anaana’s laughter.

Sweet and soothing, this book offers a unique perspective that will charm readers of all ages.

Reviews
"Each spread appeals to a different sense, creating a deliciously cozy and nurturing microenvironment for this lucky tot. Inuit author and educator Sammurtok brings her work preserving Inuktitut to the text, with a spare sprinkling of vocabulary (defined in a closing glossary). The repetition of “In my anaana’s amautik” at the beginning of each short paragraph is both lulling and reinforcing of the relationship between child and mother. Canadian illustrator Lishchenko’s use of textures and subtle colors blends well with the strong, simple text. Delicate pastels give the Arctic landscape a welcoming beauty, and fanciful depictions of the similes the narrator suggests lend a playful air. The far north has never felt so deliciously warm." — Kirkus, STARRED review

"This gentle story is warm, cozy, and loving—just like being in anaana’s amautik. Readers will carry this gorgeous book close to their hearts." — School Library Journal, STARRED review

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 and under.

Additional Information
24 pages | 9.00" x 9.00"