Life Cycles

Follow along as award-winning author Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson) introduces young readers to a pack of gray wolves. New pups have just begun to open their eyes, one of which is a striking black female. Every day, her ears grow larger, her eyesight gets sharper, and her legs stretch farther. As she learns to hunt, play, and run with her pack, instinct pulls her to explore beyond her home territory. Will the young wolf’s bold spirit help her find a new pack of her very own?

Learn about the life cycle of these magnificent canines, the traditions of the Gitxsan, and how gray wolves contribute to the health of their entire ecosystem.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended ages: 9 to 11

This is the fifth book in the Mothers of Xsan series, which uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life. The traditional Gitxsan formline art and language weave together throughout the stories in this series to paint a vivid picture of the Gitxsan people. 

Mothers of Xsan is a collection of stories that connects the world to the matrilineal society of the Gitxsan people, located in the Pacific Northwest Interior of British Columbia. Each book in the Mothers of Xsan series showcases the depth and importance of the knowledge that has been gathered and shared through this unique style of storytelling. The stories of life cycles, connection to the land, and language are told from the perspective of the animals from the Gitxsan’s traditional territory.

The series presents scientific knowledge in language and a format that is accessible.

Additional Information
32 pages | 6.50" x 10.00" | Paperback

Uliaq loves animals! One of his favourite animals is the muskox. In this book, Uliaq gives facts about muskox, where they live, what they eat, and why they are amazing!

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 9 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 K.

Curriculum Connections: Environmental awareness, life systems, Arctic animals 

Recommended ages: 6 to 8.

Additional Information
24 pages | 6.00" x 8.00" | Paperback

There are lots of fishes in the Arctic!

Learn about the different types of fishes that live in Nunavut waters. This non-fiction science book provides information about what different types of fishes look like, where they live, what they eat, and other interesting facts about them, along with colourful illustrations and photographs.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 10.

This book is part of the Junior Field Guide series. Perfect for learning all about living things in the Arctic! These Junior Field Guides give information and interesting facts about the different animals that live in Nunavut.

Includes some traditional knowledge about the animals included.

Curriculum Connections: Supports science units on the natural environment and animals of the arctic.

Simpler, classroom-ready version of the adult book Common Fishes of Nunavut. Includes one spread per species, with information like where they live, what they eat, what they look like, and other facts. Includes a glossary of English biological terms at the back. 

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

“I am the Elwha, rushing down to the sea. I am the Elwha, wild and free.”

The Elwha River flows 72 kilometres (45 miles) from its source in the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Pacific Northwest. Uniquely, it hosts all six salmon species (Pink, Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Chum) as well as several species of trout. 

In 1911 two dams were built on the river. The dams blocked the migration routes of the salmon and dramatically altered the entire river ecosystem for 100 years. In 2012 the dams were decommissioned and the world’s largest dam removal and habitat restoration project began.

In this lyrical and beautifully illustrated book, the author chronicles the history of the Elwha. Narrated by the powerful voices of plants and animals that inhabit the river ecosystem, the dam builder, a worker, and the river itself, this story celebrates the ongoing rewilding of this special environment and offers a welcome to all of the creatures who are coming home.

To learn more visit:  www.elwha.org

Awards

• 2021 Riverby Award for Young Readers

Reviews
"It can be tough for kids and adults to truly comprehend the impact of industrial development on nature because species and ecosystems can’t talk. If they could, what would they say? I Am the Elwha answers this question. About a century ago, the Elwha River in Washington State was blocked by a pair of dams that prevented salmon from spawning and caused populations to crash. In 2012, the first dam was demolished, followed by the second in 2014. The river rushed to the sea and habitat is slowly being restored. In I Am the Elwha, we hear from the river, lake, trees and animals about the impact of the dams and their removal. We also hear from the man who built the dam, the man who operated it, and members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. In lyrical, rhythmic poetry, all of the players share their perspectives. “My people return, and my creatures and trees,” the river says in celebration. “I rush out to greet them: Welcome my children / welcome home, welcome home!” Colorful illustrations capture the pain of losing one’s home and the joy of having it rightfully returned. I Am the Elwha is a powerful read about a powerful river and those who value and protect it." - Raina Delisle, Hakai Magazine 

Educator Information
At the back of the book are three pages of cultural, scientific, and historical information that discuss the following:

• the importance and symbolism of salmon to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and other Coastal Salish Tribes
• facts about the six species of salmon found in the Elwha River (Chinook, Pink, Chum, Sockeye, Coho, and Steelhead)
• the history of the Elwha River and its status today

Keywords / Subjects: The Elwha River, Rivers, Dams, History, Environmental Awareness, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Coast Salish, Native American, Culture, Washington, Animals, Salmon, First Salmon Ceremony, Plants, Nature, Settlers, Social Responsibility, Environmental Activism, Poetry.

Recommended for grades 3 to 7.

Additional Information
32 Pages | 8.5" x 11" | ISBN: 9781771744744 | Hardcover

Authenticity Note: This lyrical story, which chronicles the history of the Elwha River, is written by Lori Peelen. Robert Elofson, Tribal Elder and Harvest Manager in the Natural Resources Department for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribes, approved Lori's work and contributed a few pages of back matter at the end of the work. Lori's story was further approved by Frances Charles, the Tribal Councilwoman for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, after the entire council read and approved it.

The Canadian Content label has been applied because the illustrator of this work is Canadian.

What do you know about Arctic land mammals?

From lemmings to polar bears, there are a lot of different types of land mammals living in Nunavut. This non-fiction science book provides information about what the mammals look like, where they live, what they eat, and other interesting facts about them, along with colourful illustrations and photographs.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 10.

This book is part of the Junior Field Guide series. Perfect for learning all about living things in the Arctic! These Junior Field Guides give information and interesting facts about the different animals that live in Nunavut.

Includes some traditional knowledge about the animals included.

Curriculum Connections: Supports science units on the natural environment and animals of the arctic.

Simpler, classroom-ready version of the adult books Terrestrial Mammals of Nunavut. Includes one spread per species, with information like where they live, what they eat, what they look like, and other facts. Includes a glossary of English biological terms at the back.

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

Return to the valleys of the River of Mists with award-winning author Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson). Nox xsgyaak, the eagle mother, cares for her brood in the embrace of a black cottonwood with the help of her mate. Will both eaglets survive the summer in an environment that is both delicate and unforgiving?

Learn about the life cycle of these stunning birds of prey, the traditions of the Gitxsan, and how bald eagles can enrich their entire ecosystem. Evocative illustration brings the Xsan's flora and fauna to life for middle years readers in book three of the Mothers of Xsan series.

Reviews
“The Eagle Mother by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson) and illustrator Natasha Donovan, the third in the Mothers of Xsan series, which offers a perspective on the life cycle of animals important to the land and to people.”— Publishers Weekly

"For further learning about the Gitxsan, the author has included a glossary titled "The Gitxsan Moons" and a summary of Gitxsan Nation clans" - Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021

Educator & Series Information
Recommended ages: 9 to 12 (Grades 3 to 7).

This is the third book in the Mothers of Xsan series, which uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life. The traditional Gitxsan formline art and language weave together throughout the stories in this series to paint a vivid picture of the Gitxsan people. 

The Mothers of Xsan series is a collection of stories that connect the world to the matrilineal society of the Gitxsan people, located in Northwestern British Columbia. It presents scientific knowledge in language and a format that is accessible. Each book in the series showcases the depth and importance of the knowledge that has been gathered and shared through this unique style of storytelling. The stories of life cycle, connection the land and language are told from the perspective of the Mothers of Xsan system's animals.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list as being useful for grades 1-4 in the areas of Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. 

Additional Information
32 pages | 6.50" x 10.00"

Uliaq loves animals! One of his favourite animals is the wolf spider.

In this book, Uliaq gives facts about wolf spider, where they live, how they hunt, and why they are amazing!

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 9 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 K.

Curriculum Connections: Environmental awareness, life systems

Recommended ages: 6 to 8.

Additional Information
20 pages | 8.00" x 6.00" | Paperback

Most Arctic animals have warm, woolly coats or thick layers of blubber, but Arctic butterflies have only their fluttering, delicate wings. The hardy butterflies that live in the Arctic have had to find clever ways to keep themselves warm in cool summers and survive icy cold winters. In A Children’s Guide to Arctic Butterflies, young readers learn about twelve of the butterfly species that call the Arctic home and how they survive from one summer to the next.

With a simple layout and easy-to-follow headings for each butterfly, this beautiful book is filled with fun, useful facts, including introductory material about the life cycle and anatomy of butterflies and how they begin life as caterpillars.

Step inside and journey North—you may even spot a familiar fluttering friend!

Educator Information
Recommended ages 7-9.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 8.00"

The ink and watercolour illustrations in this book reflect the life cycle of a salmon from the salmon’s point of view looking up from underwater.  Silhouette images provide a clue to the seasons and to the predators the salmon encounters throughout its life.  The story reminds us how the salmon demonstrates great determination and strength in its long journey from the stream where life begins, to the ocean, and back to its natal stream.  
 
Carol ends the story with a step-by-step instructional guide to create your own ink and watercolour image.

Educator Information
This is the 10th anniversary edition from CSWA Science in Society award-winning author/illustrator Carol McDougall, B. Ed., M.A. Carol is an international educator and conservationist with decades of classroom and fine arts teaching experience. She conducts workshops on using the arts to help make learning creative and engaging.

Recommended Grades: K-5.

Additional Information
32 pages | 11" x 8.5" | ISBN: 9781771744461 | Hardcover

Learn about food chains in the Arctic!

This book explores the concept of the food chain using Arctic plants and animals.

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 13 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: O.

Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Environmental Awareness; Life Systems

Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.00" x 9.00"

An engaging look at how the animals, people, and seasons within an ecosystem are intertwined.

To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the grizzly is an integral part of the natural landscape. Together, they share the land and forests that the Skeena River runs through, as well as the sockeye salmon within it. Follow mother bear as she teaches her cubs what they need in order to survive on their own.

The Mothers of Xsan series uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life.

Awards

• Animal Behavior Society's Outstanding Children's Book Award
• 2020 Manuela Dias Design and Illustration Awards, Children's Illustration winner 

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 9 - 12.

This is the second book in the Mother of Xsan series, which uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life. 

Additional Information
32 pages | 6.50" x 10.00"

Silently suspended in water, with only their eyes, nostrils and ears breaking the surface, these members of the crocodilian family play a terrifying sit-and-wait game with their prey, striking with lightning speed, chilling accuracy and a deadly bite stronger than any other living creature. Their victims stand little chance once held in their strong jaws. Land-dwelling prey are equally at risk--crocodilians can walk, gallop and leap at high speed, making them among nature's fiercest predators.

The crocodile and alligator families descend from the reptiles that roamed Earth alongside the dinosaurs some 250 million years ago. Today, most of the land-dwelling crocodilians live in tropical lowlands, while the broad-snouted American and Chinese alligators have adapted to cooler temperatures.

In Exploring the World of Alligators and Crocodiles, young readers will learn about the crocodilians' life history, physical characteristics, courtship displays, communication strategies and family life. They'll also find out how these semiaquatic reptiles rely on their senses and speed to survive--and why humans should keep their distance.

Reviews
"There's plenty of nonfiction for elementary grades, but finding attractive nonfiction for secondary can be more of a challenge. The "Exploring the World of..." series answers that need. Crisp close-up photographs augment the clear, well-written text... Younger students would find much to enjoy in the photographs. Reader will learn about hummingbird history, anatomy, diet, and flight ability. Mating, nesting, and life cycle are briefly covered. A wide variety of hummingbirds are highlighted. The text is aflutter with interesting facts. An index is included... This is an eye-catching book suitable for secondary library shelves." — Teresa Bateman, Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's and Young Adult Literature, August 2018

"The photography contained in Exploring the World of Alligators and Crocodiles is exquisite. The anatomical structure is detailed and diagrammed. Sensory data is displayed and courtship pictures and inset with young hatching. A crocodilian gallery features the variety of this order, from the Saltwater Crocodile and Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman to the American Alligator and Mugger Crocodile. The photographers portray a species that is dangerous, yet protected as its numbers decrease." — Judy Kraus, National Science Teachers Association, September 2017

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

The Exploring the World of... nature series was created for young readers who are eager to learn more about the wild creatures of the world. Each title contains beautiful photographs of the animals in their natural habitats and the highly readable text explores their daily lives and physical characteristics, how they make their homes, how they raise their young and what they eat.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | full color throughout, index | Paperback 

There's no greater thrill than spotting one of these tiny birds in the garden, and young readers will be fascinated by how this avian machine works. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, but they exploit every advantage that comes with their modest size. Exploring the World of Hummingbirds is a fully illustrated introduction to the hummingbird's high-performance lifestyle.

Built for efficiency and fueled with high-energy nectar, this bird runs at a high temperature during the daytime, its heart beating 650 beats a minute, and its dense feathers keep it warm at night as it rests. Most impressive, however, are its skills as an aerial acrobat. Like a helicopter, it can move forward, backward and sideways. When feeding from a blossom, it can hover in midair and then turn and whir away at full speed -- all in two-tenths of a second.

Readers will find out how hummingbirds and flowers have evolved for their mutual success. They'll also discover intriguing facts about hummingbird biology, flight, mating and nesting behaviors, family life, migration, and just how a hummingbird achieves and maintains its dazzling, shimmering colors.

Reviews
"There's plenty of nonfiction for elementary grades, but finding attractive nonfiction for secondary can be more of a challenge. The "Exploring the World of..." series answers that need. Crisp close-up photographs augment the clear, well-written text... Younger students would find much to enjoy in the photographs. Reader will learn about hummingbird history, anatomy, diet, and flight ability. Mating, nesting, and life cycle are briefly covered. A wide variety of hummingbirds are highlighted. The text is aflutter with interesting facts. An index is included... This is an eye-catching book suitable for secondary library shelves." — Teresa Bateman, Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's and Young Adult Literature, August 2018

"Provides a detailed description of these tiny birds ranging from 3 to 21 cm and weighing a mere 11 grams or less... The photography contained in Exploring the World of Hummingbirds is exquisite. The hummingbird appears in mid-flight on the cover, resplendent in all its colors. A gallery of hummingbirds illustrates the wide variety of pigmentation, from non-iridescent colors produced by chemicals to the iridescent ones that are structural. The anatomical structure is magnified and diagrammed. The search for nectar is even captured on the page." — Judy Kraus, Science Scope Magazine, December 2017

"An educational book written especially for young people ages 8-12. Eye-catching, full-color photographs of these beautiful, tiny, and energetic birds in flight, feeding, or raising their young fill this captivating browse... An index rounds out this choice pick for school and public library middle grade collections. Also highly recommended are the other titles in the "Exploring the World" series." — Midwest Book Review, November 2017

"This series has a different approach than typical animal books and goes beyond a basic introduction. The books provide the reader with another perspective and focus on different forms of survival tactics. Diagrams of the animals are presented describing different body parts and their functions. Another chapter discusses the natural talents of the animal... An extensive index is included. Recommended."--Library Media Connection, of the previous books in the series

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

The Exploring the World of... nature series was created for young readers who are eager to learn more about the wild creatures of the world. Each title contains beautiful photographs of the animals in their natural habitats and the highly readable text explores their daily lives and physical characteristics, how they make their homes, how they raise their young and what they eat.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Paperback 

With sturdy, streamlined bodies, outfitted with insulating blubber, flippers, tail flukes and fins, whales -- all known as cetaceans -- are built for life in the water. In Exploring the World of Whales, we meet the baleen whales and the largest members of the toothed whales, including the killer whale, the biggest of the dolphins. These marine mammals range in size from the 108-foot-long (33 m) blue whale to the barely 9-foot-long (2.7 m) dwarf sperm whale while boasting a range of distinctive physical traits, including the sperm whale's gigantic head, the humpback's barnacle-covered body and outsized flippers, and the narwhal's eight-foot-long tusk.

Young readers will learn the difference between the baleen and toothed whales and how these differences affect habitat, diet and behaviors. They'll discover how whales communicate with one another across vast stretches of ocean, how some cooperate to raise families and hunt their prey, and how some are capable of remarkable feats of migration and deep diving. A lively, fully illustrated introduction to some of the planet's most intelligent species, this book also addresses the ongoing risks to whale populations.

Reviews
"Crisp photographs accompany interesting text that provides fascinating information about both baleen and toothed whales of many varieties. There's information here about diet, habitat, communication, behavior, and social interactions." — Teresa Bateman, Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's and Young Adult Literature, August 2018

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

The Exploring the World of... nature series was created for young readers who are eager to learn more about the wild creatures of the world. Each title contains beautiful photographs of the animals in their natural habitats and the highly readable text explores their daily lives and physical characteristics, how they make their homes, how they raise their young and what they eat.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | full color throughout, index | Paperback 

To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the sockeye salmon is more than just a source of food. Over its life cycle, it nourishes the very land and forests that the Skeena River runs through and where the Gitxsan make their home. The Sockeye Mother explores how the animals, water, soil, and seasons are all intertwined.

1 SMALL FRY

There’s a strong undertow today. The turbulent waters caress the backs of the little semelparous life forms emerging from their gravel nests. A small free-swimming fry bears witness to the currents of spring, after spending weeks developing and using up its nutritious yolk sack. It’s one of few remaining fry leaving its long winter’s home to seek out nursing waters.

This is the time of Wihlaxs (the black bear’s walking moon), which is early spring to the Gitxsan peoples of the Pacific Northwest Interior. Change is in the air, the days grow longer, and renewal is the life force that guides the world around the little fry’s waterways. Flora cells are starting to stir, preparing to bud and bring green to the landscape. Stores of food for the people along Xsan (river of mists) is running low, but preparations for the new seasons of fishing and gathering have begun. New snow falls to take away the old snow, which the Gitxsan call dalugwa.

Miso’o, or sockeye, are one of many species of salmon that call Xsan home. Although all species are valued, the Gitxsan prefer the flavour and number of Sockeye that return to their spawning grounds every year. The cultures along Xsan, otherwise known as the Skeena River, flourished and shaped their existence around the life cycles of this keystone species. Little does this small sockeye fry know that its life cycle not only nourishes the people and other beings along the watersheds, it is the whole reason the forests and landscapes exist.

2 TIME TO GROW

After a couple of years of “schooling” in the deeper parts of the nursing lake, this sockeye has become a smolt. Its little silvery body begins taking the shape of its blue-backed future self. The smolt is outgrowing the lake, and this signals Lasa ya’a (the spring salmon’s returning moon), so the little sockeye begins its treacherous journey down the Skeena.

As the spring salmons return, the sockeye smolts depart to relieve their urge for saliferous waters. April carries summer innuendos, as warm winds flow through nearly blooming flowers. The scent of pines and cedar waft across moist pillowy moss. The nets and rods of the Gitxsan people scour Xsan in hopes of taking part in the return of ya’a, the spring salmon. Ceremony is held and feasts occur to welcome the runs of salmon who come to replenish the land. It’s not only a time to give thanks, but also a time to send prayer that the salmon will always return, that they will provide nourishment for all that is living within its realm.

The young sockeye has so far avoided predation, dodged the unnaturally changing landscape denuding from the clear-cutting of man, and escaped the hungry hands of ’watxs, the otter. The smolt and her school have made their journey to the Pacific, and north to the ocean waters, where they will continue to feed and grow.

3 A REPLENISHING DEATH

For two years the sockeye mother has been feeding in the ocean waters, while avoiding sharks and killer whales. Through instinct, smell and much that is still not understood, the sockeye mother swims against the powerful currents of Xsan to return to the exact place in the rivers where she was spawned.

It’s now Lasa lik’i’nxsw (the grizzly bear’s moon). August is the time when all the Gitxsan people and grizzly bears pluck hundreds of thousands of sockeye from the Skeena. Many predators such as the grizzly discard most of the carcass. They carry their catch sometimes hundreds of metres into the forest, only to eat the fatty bellies and eggs. The decaying bodies of the salmon leaves nitrogen that nourishes the soil.

Battered and beaten by the journey, she is literally decaying due to lack of food and constant hard work. She finds a male partner who’s dug a nest to her liking. She lays her eggs. She can now die a replenishing death. The dying salmon bodies become fertilizer for all the flora that shape the great lands. Without the sockeye mother, the Gitxsan as they are, would simply not exist.

Awards

• The Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Award, Youth Category.
• McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for Grades 4-7 for theses subject areas: Science, Social Studies.

This book is part of the Mother of Xsan series, which uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life.

Additional Information