Interior Salish

A lyrical informational picture book about how open-net pen fish farms impact wild salmon and their ecosystems

Salmon are central to their ecosystem and the lives of many Indigenous Nations, but the rapid rise of open net-pen fish farming has threatened these longstanding connections. Salmon have followed the same migration routes for thousands of years, but the fish farming industry has had a deadly impact on their annual journey. Open-net pen farms release harmful waste into the ocean that is lethal to the wild salmon forced to swim through it. Now, the salmon must battle against the human-made destruction of their habitat, and many Nations are advocating for change and creating calls of action to protect salmon for future generations.

As the young salmon journey from their gravel nests to the open ocean, readers learn about the life cycle of wild salmon, the effects of open-net pen fish farms, and the role of salmon as a keystone species.

Boldly illustrated with gorgeous Northwest Coast formline art, rhythmic poetry combines with supportive nonfiction content to illuminate the struggles faced by wild salmon populations.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: J 
Lexile measure: 980L

Additional Information
40 pages | 10.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

Aujourd'hui, nous nous rassemblons
Aujourd'hui, nous écoutons
Aujourd'hui, nous apprenons
Aujourd'hui, nous ouvrons nos coeurs

Une première conversation sur l'importance de la Journée du chandail orange – Chaque enfant compte et permet aux tout-petits de savoir ce qu'ils peuvent s'attendre à voir et à faire lors de la Journée du chandail orange – Journée nationale pour la vérité et la réconciliation.

Un tout-carton authentique et adapté à l'âge, conçu pour les enfants de 0 à 3 ans, écrit par la fondatrice du mouvement La Journée du chandail orange et auteur du livre d'images primé « Chaque enfant compte ».
La Journée du chandail orange est reconnue chaque année le 30 septembre pour honorer les survivants des pensionnats indiens, leurs familles et les enfants qui ne sont pas rentrés.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 and under. 

This book is available in English: Today is Orange Shirt Day (BB) 

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00" | Board book

Prepare to embark on a journey rich with the wisdom of our ancestors and the secrets shared by Mother Earth.

In this children’s book, you will follow a path once tread by those before us, where the songs of the trees, the dance of the rivers, and our stories are carried by the wind. These teachings are invaluable treasures passed down through generations.

You’ll discover the language of animals, the lessons of plants, and the wisdom of the land. If you listen closely, you will hear the “Whispers of the Earth,” guiding you on this incredible adventure.

Educator Information
Recommended for kindergarten to grade 7.

Carl Sam advised on the language, and is “Ha7li” of the Bear Clan from Skookumchuck, part of St’at’icmulh Nation, sometimes referred to as the Interior Salish. Through this book, he shares elements of the Ucwalmícwts language.

Includes some words in Ucwalmícwts.

Additional Information
60 pages | 20 × 20 × 1 cm | Paperback | Printed locally on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

In this sequel to Maggie Lou, Firefox, the irrepressible Maggie Lou acquires a new cousin, and a horse - both of whom have minds of their own.

When Uncle Bobby gets married, Maggie Lou suddenly finds herself with a new cousin, Rosie. Rosie is the same age as Maggie. She also has a fabulous head of curls, although hers are red. And Rosie knows everything about horses and riding - something Maggie Lou has longed to do.

A rivalry sparks between the girls from the start at Uncle Bobby and Aunt Bonnie's wedding, which features an all-you-can-eat dessert table, as well as lots of energetic dancing. On Rosie's horse farm, Maggie experiences her share of humiliations as she learns how to ride on a pony so short that her feet can touch the ground.

Eventually the cousins become allies and wreak some hair-raising mischief, including a secret midnight horseback ride. And in the end they are joined by friends and family to train, hilariously, for the famous Otipîm'sowak Race - a Métis voyageur relay - carrying on a family tradition.

Throughout it all, Maggie remains stubborn and enthusiastic, as she navigates the new challenges of defeat, rivalry and family change.

Reviews
"A high-energy love letter to rambunctious girls, big families, and Métis culture." — Kirkus Reviews, June 2025

"Full of hilarious high jinks yet bursting with heart ... This book shines with realistic sibling relationships, funny dialogue, strong intergenerational bonds, and a steadfast connection to community and culture."— Booklist, July 2025

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

This book is the second book in the Maggie Lou series.

Key Text Features: chapters; character drawings; dialogue; glossary; illustrations. 

Additional Information
228 pages | 5.00" x 7.50" | b&w illustrations | Paperback

Le tambour est un symbole spécial dans plusieurs cultures autochtones. Dans ce livre illustré en rimes, le jeune Ren reçoit un tambour confectionné par sa mère, qui l’aide à apprendre plusieurs choses sur lui-même et sa culture. Adaptation du livre à succès, Joue du tambour avec cœur de l’auteur nuu-chah-nulth Ren Louie pour les 4 à 6 ans.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 6.

This book is available in English here: Teachings of the Drum

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.87" x 7.24" | Hardcover

Today, we gather together Today, we listen Today, we learn Today, we open our hearts

A first conversation about the importance of Orange Shirt Day - Every Child Matters and what little ones can expect to see and do on Orange Shirt Day - The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

An authentic, age-appropriate touch-and-feel board book designed for ages 0-3, written by the founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement and author of award-winning picture book Every Child Matters.

Orange Shirt Day is a day recognized annually on September 30th to honour Residential School Survivors, their families, and the children who did not come home.

Awards

• Silver IPPA Book Award Winner (First Nations/Indigenous Communities category)

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 0 to 3.

This book is available in French: La Journée du chandail orange, c'est aujourd'hui (BB)

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00" | Board book

This is a book for anyone, of any age, who cares about rivers.

This story of the Columbia River is unique. Told from the river’s perspective, it is an immersive, empathetic portrait of a once-wild river and of the Sinixt, a First People who lived on the mainstem of this great western river for thousands of years and continue to do so even though Canada declared them “extinct” in 1956.

The book’s re-release comes at a critical time for natural systems and for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples across North America. The Colville Confederated Tribes, representing over 3,000 Sinixt People, recently won a precedent-setting case in the Supreme Court of Canada affirming that Aboriginal Rights do not stop at the border. The important story of the Sinixt weaves together with the ongoing ecological impact of hydropower development on the Columbia and its tributaries.

Central to the story is the joyous spirit of salmon, once a free swimmer in the Columbia’s currents north of the border but now blocked from ancestral spawning grounds by Grand Coulee and other dams. Restoring migratory fish indigenous to the Upper Columbia will require transboundary cooperation. With Indigenous Nations on both sides of the US–Canada border now leading the way, many are hopeful that the fish will return.

Lavishly illustrated by Nelson, BC, designer Nichola Lytle, this portrait of a globally significant river will inspire anyone who reads it to care about the future of the salmon, a fish that unites all of us in its quest for freedom and possibility.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
96 pages | 9.50" x 8.50" | Paperback

A pitch-perfect story about sibling bonds and Anishinaabe cultural traditions, from the bestselling author of SkySisters.

Serenity is following her brother, Big Ed, to his fishing spot on Hawk River. Big Ed explains that the river is named for the Hawk, Gekek, the Keepers of the river and their Protectors. “They see things far off in the distance, things we can't,” he tells Serenity. Later, when Big Ed gets in trouble while fishing, Serenity follows the Hawk's shadow to come to her brother's aid. Bestselling author Jan Bourdeau Waboose showcases Indigenous storytelling traditions in this compelling picture book featuring Ojibwe words and cultural practices. Karlene Harvey's brightly colored illustrations stunningly capture the natural world of the bush. The sibling relationship, full of teasing and admonitions, is pitch-perfect, and will be relatable to readers of any age. This captivating book, with its rich narrative and riveting climax, is a wonderful choice for reading aloud. It's an excellent accompaniment to social studies lessons on cultures, local and global communities, and Indigenous Peoples. It also offers a perfect opportunity to encourage children to notice the natural world where they live.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover

The drum is a special symbol in many Indigenous cultures. In this rhyming picture book, young Ren is given a handmade drum by his mother that help to teach him many things about himself and his culture.

An adaptation of the best-selling book, Drum from the Heart, by Indigenous author Ren Louie for ages 4-6.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 6.

This book is an adaptation of Drum from the Heart for ages 4 to 6.

This book is available in French: Les enseignements du tambour 

Additional Information 
24 pages | 8.50" x 7.50" | Hardcover 

Nature is a place to both play and learn. The physical self is moving and active, the mental self is thinking and questioning, the emotional self is feeling and experiencing, and the spiritual self is connecting and thankful. We see what we have been taught to see. We love and respect our natural surroundings when we see ourselves as belonging to that community. This resource leads readers on a rich learning journey as they deepen their connections to nature and culture.

The activities inside instill traditional teachings of respect, honour, resourcefulness, and humility in children. This handbook is intended to inspire parents, caregivers, and educators to provide children with meaningful outdoor experiences interwoven with traditional indigenous knowledge.

Educator Information
For use with children.

Table of Contents
Introduction

The Power of Ceremony
- Introduction
- Ceremony and Daily Life
- Sunrise Ceremony
- Nature Picnic
- Sharing
- Navajo Forgiveness Ceremony
- Smudging Ceremony

Mindfulness: Meditation of Gratitude
- Introduction
- Gratitude
- Silent Study
- Sensory Wake-Up
- Walking Meditation
- Guided Meditation
- Nature Meditation
- Traditional Prayers

We Are All Related
- Honouring the Plants, Earth and Water
- Medicine Wheel Teachings in Nature
- Water is Life
- Find the Rock Game
- Adopt a Tree
- Read a Tree
- Earthing
- Build a Nature Structure

Swimmers, Walkers and Fliers
- The Animal People
- Walk Like the Animal People
- Tracking

Indigenous Games
- Introduction
- Blindfold Detective
- Stalk the Drum
- Fire Keeper
- Deer Cliff Arrow
- Hunter
- Run and Scream
- Metis Map-Making

Conclusion

Additional Information
84 pages | 9.00" x 7.00" | Paperback

L’histoire édifiante d’une jeune fille qui se rapproche de sa grand-mère bien-aimée grâce à l’art du perlage.

En se réveillant par un matin maussade, Kaiah se sent aussi froide et grise que le jour. Sa grand-maman lui manque, et elle a envie de la retrouver. Sans sa grand-mère, la vie de Kaiah n’a pas de sens. Heureusement, Kaiah peut ouvrir sa précieuse boîte de perles, et grâce à la beauté qu’elle renferme, la jeune fille retrouve sa grand-mère dans un jardin plein de couleurs et d’amour.

Cette magnifique histoire de l’autrice primée Melanie Florence célèbre l’amour universel entre une grand-mère et sa petite-fille. Illustré par Karlene Harvey, une brillante artiste Tsilhqot’in et Syilx, ce livre comporte également un supplément d’information sur la tradition autochtone du perlage.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

This book is available in English: Kaiah's Garden 

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.02" x 10.00" | Paperback

An uplifting story of a girl’s connection to her beloved grandmother through the beadwork art they created together.

As she wakes up one dull morning, Kaiah feels as cold and grey as the day. She longs to be with her grandmother again. Kaiah’s life doesn’t feel right without her. But through Kaiah’s treasured bead box — and the beauty it holds — she is with her grandmother, in a garden that is full of colour and love.

This beautiful story from award-winning author Melanie Florence celebrates the universal love between grandmother and child. Featuring bright, breathtaking illustrations from Tsilhqot’in and Syilx artist Karlene Harvey, the book also features back matter about the Indigenous tradition of beading.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

This book is available in French: Le jardin de Kaiah.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.35" x 10.27" | Hardcover 

Orange Shirt Day, observed annually on September 30th, is also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is an official day to honour Residential School Survivors and their families, and to remember the children who did not come home. What was initially envisioned as a way to keep the conversations going about all aspects of Residential Schools in Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region of British Columbia, Canada, has now expanded into a movement across Turtle Island and beyond. Orange Shirt Day: September 30th aims to create champions who will walk a path of reconciliation and promote the message that 'Every Child Matters'. This award-winning book explores a number of important topics including the historical, generational, and continual impacts of Residential Schools on Indigenous Peoples, the journey of the Orange Shirt Day movement, and how you can effectively participate in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. With end of chapter reflection questions and a series of student art submissions, readers are guided to explore how they, and others, view and participate in Residential School reconciliation.

Awards

• 2021 First Nation Communities Read 2021 Winner 

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 10+

Orange Shirt Day was inspired by the story of a survivor named Phyllis Webstad. When Phyllis was 6 years old she went to residential school for the first time wearing a brand new shiny orange shirt. When she arrived at the school her shirt was taken away and never to be seen again. To Phyllis the colour orange was a symbol that she did not matter. Today she has learned to accept the colour and even have fun with it and now the orange shirt has become a symbol of hope and reconciliation. By wearing an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day, you make a powerful statement that residential schools were wrong and commit to the concept that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

The Orange Shirt Society is a non-profit organization with its home in Williams Lake, BC where Orange Shirt Day began in 2013. The society has both Indigenous and non-Indigenous board members, and one of the editors of this book, Phyllis Webstad, is Indigenous.  Therefore, the Authentic Indigenous Text label has been applied. It is up to readers to determine if this book is authentic for their purposes.

This is the Revised 2023, 2nd Edition

Additional Information
156 pages | 8.23" x 11.06" | Revised, 2nd Edition

Listening is a first step towards reconciliation. It's never too early to start. "Every child matters, including you and me. With our orange hearts, we walk in harmony." As a young child, your little world can be full of big feelings. In this book, I, Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day, show how sharing my story with the world helped me to process my feelings. My true story encourages young children to open their hearts when others share their feelings and be more comfortable sharing their own feelings, too.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 2 to 6.

This book is available in French in paperback: Avec nos coeurs oranges

This book is available in English in paperback: With Our Orange Hearts (PB)

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.15" x 8.25"  | Hardcover

Maggie Lou's grandpa doesn't call her Firefox for nothing. She's always finding ways to make life more interesting - even if this means getting into big trouble.

"Keep taking up space," Maggie Lou's mother says. You're only making room for the girls behind you."

When her grandfather Moshôm finally agrees to teach her how to box, she decides that the rank odors, endless drills and teasing won't stop her from wearing a tutu to the gym. Joining her father's construction crew uncovers a surprising talent - besides learning how to use a broom - and a great source of scrap wood to build a canine hotel for her dogs. And when she turns thirteen, she figures out an ingenious way to make some smokin' good camouflage to wear on her first deer hunt, where she joins a long family tradition.

Through it all she is surrounded by her big extended gumbo soup of a family, pestered by annoying younger siblings, and gently guided by her strong female relatives - her mother, her kokhom and her ultra-cool cousin Jayda. "Keep taking up space," Maggie's mother says. "You're only making room for the girls behind you."

A heroine for today, Maggie Lou discovers that with hard work and perseverance she can gain valuable new skills, without losing one iota of her irrepressible spirit.

Reviews
"Métis author Bowes weaves cultural elements, including Northern Michif words, into this charming story that skillfully captures sweetly hilarious and loving everyday moments. Black-and-white illustrations enhance the text. An amusing story showcasing Métis humor at its finest." - Kirkus, STARRED REVEIW

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

This is the first book in the Maggie Lou series.

Key Text Features: author's note, biographical note, glossary, chapters, dialogue, epigraph, illustrations.

Includes some Northern Michif words and a glossary.

Additional Information
220 pages | 5.00" x 7.50" | b&w illustrations | Paperback

Apprenez ce que veut dire la phrase « Chaque enfant compte ». Phyllis Webstad, la fondatrice de la Journee du chandail orange, presente un apercu de ce mouvement sincere. Chaque enfant compte honore l'histoire et la resilience des peuples autochtones sur l'Ile de la Tortue et nous permet de tous cheminer vers la verite et la reconciliation. Si vous etes un survivant des pensionnats ou un survivant intergenerationnel, vous comptez. Pour les enfants qui ne sont pas revenus a la maison, vous comptez. L'enfant en chacun de nous compte. Chaque enfant compte.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 10.

Find the accompanying Teacher Lesson Plan here: Chaque enfant compte plan de cours

This book is available in English: Every Child Matters

Additional Information
44 pages | 8.62" x 11.18" | Hardcover 

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

Learn the meaning behind the phrase, ‘Every Child Matters.'

Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad, offers insights into this heartfelt movement.

Every Child Matters honours the history and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island and moves us all forward on a path toward Truth and Reconciliation.

If you're a Residential School Survivor or an Intergenerational Survivor - you matter. For the children who didn't make it home - you matter. The child inside every one of us matters. Every Child Matters.

Reviews
"Every Child Matters speaks to all Indigenous Peoples - past and present - whose lives have been impacted by the residential school system. Phyllis and Karlene beautifully honour the unity, strength and resolve shared by Survivors, their families and their communities. Residential schools took our children and tried to break their vibrant spirits. With this book, the children of today can learn the truths of this history and how they can play a part in making sure every child matters." – Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation

“…a brilliantly illustrated and meticulously written narrative. It is a must read.” -  Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk, Elder, Reconciliation Canada

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 10.

Find the accompanying Teacher Lesson Plan resource HERE!

This book is available in French: Chaque enfant compte

Additional Information
44 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Hardcover 

This bundle includes all four Secwépemc stories from Mike Bowden:

• Four Winds (hardcover)
• Porcupine (paperback)
• Bear and Coyote (paperback)
• Chief Goose (paperback)

Secwépemc Stories are the collaborative work of Secwépemc author Mike Bowden and Secwépemc artist Kelsey Jules. These stories convey Secwépemc teachings and embody Indigenous ways of knowing. Mike, a storyteller and educator, strongly believes in story as a way of learning and understanding the world and our relationships within it. Secwépemc language is integrated into the stories and accompanied by pronunciation guides.

These stories connect to the BC First Peoples principles of learning and provide opportunities for those reading to reflect, explore, connect and learn on a personal interpretative level.

Additional Information
Books are 8.5" x 11" | 24 Pages | ISBN 9781771746632

Scroll below to learn more about each book included.

Andy has had a rough school year and is ready for summer vacation. But when Grandpa Rick tells him that he will be participating in a canoe journey instead of enjoying his usual summer activities, Andy feels he is being punished.

Join Andy as he experiences a Tribal Canoe Journey for the first time and learns what it’s like to belong to a canoe family. Follow along as Andy navigates physical and emotional challenges and finds an answer to the important question: “Who am I?”

Awards

• 2024-2025 Hackmatack Children's Choice Award Shortlisted 

Reviews
“Andy's Tribal Canoe Journey is a fantastic book to use for reading groups. We were able to have amazing discussions.… Students loved the pictures and the story. I hope to read this with as many students as possible.” – Holly Polischuk, Cayoosh Elementary School educator 

"This graphic novel highlights how First Peoples connect to their culture and honour their past. The first-hand perspectives of participants in the 2019 journey help showcase the human emotions and physical challenges it involves. Teachers across elementary and secondary levels can use this short graphic novel as a read-aloud in a classroom or literature circles to help students learn about Tribal Canoe Journeys. Students could also be invited to explore their own traditions and experiences, and the art in the book could inspire projects that are based on the illustrations in this story." – Focused Education Resources 

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 8.

Additional Information
72 Pages | 8" x 10" | Paperback | ISBN: 978-1-77174-600-7

An honest look at life in an Indian residential school in the 1950s, and how one indomitable young spirit survived it — 30th anniversary edition.

Seepeetza loves living on Joyaska Ranch with her family. But when she is six years old, she is driven to the town of Kalamak, in the interior of British Columbia. Seepeetza will spend the next several years of her life at an Indian residential school. The nuns call her Martha and cut her hair. Worst of all, she is forbidden to “talk Indian,” even with her sisters and cousins.

Still, Seepeetza looks for bright spots — the cookie she receives at Halloween, the dance practices. Most of all, there are her memories of holidays back at the ranch — camping trips, horseback riding, picking berries and cleaning fish with her mother, aunt and grandmother. Always, thoughts of home make school life bearable.

Based on her own experiences at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, this powerful novel by Nlaka’pamux author Shirley Sterling is a moving account of one of the most blatant expressions of racism in the history of Canada.

Includes a new afterword by acclaimed Cree author Tomson Highway of the Barren Lands First Nation in northern Manitoba.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Key Text Features: afterword, dialogue, journal entries, maps.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Includes a new afterword by acclaimed Cree author Tomson Highway of the Barren Lands First Nation in northern Manitoba.

Additional Information
128 pages | 5.10" x 7.50"

"Every child matters, including you and me. With our orange hearts, we walk in harmony." As a young child, your little world can be full of big emotions. In this book, I, Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day, show that sharing my story with the world helped me to process my feelings. My true orange shirt story encourages young children to open their hearts and listen as others share their feelings, and to be more comfortable sharing their own feelings too. Listening is a first step towards reconciliation. It's never too early to start.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 2 to 6.

This book is available in French in paperback: Avec nos coeurs oranges

This book is available in English in hardcover: With Our Orange Hearts (HC)

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

When he is gifted a handmade drum by his mother, Ren learns the teachings of the drum that she also passes down to him. Ren discovers that through this special drum, he is able to connect to his culture and find a confidence in his voice to joyfully share in singing the traditional songs of his Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.

Reviews
“A beautifully told story that shows the power of song and ceremony for our people. As well as the importance of family in the passing of traditions and the unconditional love and support each member of the family gives. A truly inspiring story for our youth to learn the songs of their families and nations.” - Tiffany Adams, Nlaka’pamux, Indigenous Educator

Educator Information
A Teacher Lesson Plan is available HERE!

This resource is available in French: Joue du tambour avec coeur

An adaptation of this book for children ages 4 to 6 is available: Teachings of the Drum

Additional Information
34 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Paperback

Quand vous faites une marche en nature, qui voyez-vous? Qu’entendez-vous?La conteuse Nicola I. Campbell donne sens aux mots « se tenir debout comme un grand cèdre » dans une touchante exploration au sein de la nature sauvage. On y apprend le nom des animaux en langues nle?kepmxcín et halq’emeylem ainsi que les enseignements qu’ils ont à nous offrir.Autrice de Shi-shi-etko et de La pirogue de Shin-chi, deux textes primés, Nicola I. Campbell nous offre ici un album pour enfants magnifiquement illustré par l’artiste Carrielynn Victor, dans une langue poétique qui nous invite à célébrer l’environnement, le développement durable et le sentiment d’appartenance à la terre.

Educator Information
Dès 6 ans

This book is available in English: Stand Like a Cedar

Additional Information
Hardcover

A collection of authentic Orange Shirt Day books from the founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement, Phyllis Webstad. Package includes four books and three accompanying lesson plans, The Orange Shirt Story, Phyllis's Orange Shirt, Orange Shirt Day and Beyond the Orange Shirt Story.

Educator Information
Includes picture books for children, as well as books for young adults.  Review individual titles for more information about each include:

• The Orange Shirt Story
• Phyllis's Orange Shirt
• Orange Shirt Day
• Beyond the Orange Shirt Story

Additional Information
9.00" x 12.00"

An adventure begins when Zoe finds a lone fawn in the forest and helps search for its mother. But who could the mother be? A bunny? A fish? Join Zoe and her father as they encounter many woodland animals and learn their Native names along the way.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5

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

When you go for a walk in nature, who do you see? What do you hear?

Award-winning storyteller Nicola I. Campbell shows what it means “to stand like a cedar” on this beautiful journey of discovery through the wilderness. Learn the names of animals in the Nłe7kepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us. Experience a celebration of sustainability and connection to the land through lyrical storytelling and Carrielynn Victor’s breathtaking art in this children’s illustrated book.

Discover new sights and sounds with every read.

Reviews
"Stand Like a Cedar is a work of grace and dignity, a celebration of land, family, and knowing who you are and where you come from and being so grateful for everything you’ve been given. Bravo, Nicola Campbell and Carrielynn Victor for creating this treasure. I love it."—Richard Van Camp, author of Little You and A Blanket of Butterflies

"Campbell’s rhythmic writing is wonderful, conveying important messages about the environment and family. Victor’s vibrant renderings accompany the engaging text nicely. Bold illustrations portray elements such as weather, nature, and animals alongside evocative details like glowing skylines. An Indigenous girl shares vivid lessons in this lovely, thoughtful environmental tale." —Kirkus Reviews

"Stand Like a Cedar is a story that connects the journey of building connections through a journey in the wilderness. Through the blended use of the Nłeʔkepmxcín and Halq'emeylem languages, readers are exposed to the healing that takes place in nature. The lyrical storytelling celebrates the healing and strength that comes from building one’s connections to their own journey." - The Dalai Lama Center

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Learn the names of animals in the Nłe7kepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us.

Includes a glossary of phrases and a translation guide.

Includes a page of back matter on Coastal and Interior Salish Languages.

This book is available in French: Debout comme un grand cedre

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.12" x 7.75"

Beaver shares his teachings on how he shapes the land.

kʷu‿c̕əx̌ʷəntim təl stunx isck’ʷuls / Lessons From Beaver’s Work teaches children through storytelling to hold reverence for all life forms. The book depicts a conflict between Tapit, a rancher, and stunx (beaver), as they both try to meet their water needs. The touching humanity of stunx (Beaver) softens Tapit’s outlook, as he reminds Tapit that he is not the only one that depends on water.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 10 to 13.

Author Harron Hall has written several children's books that incorporate her Indigenous heritage and her deep commitment to protecting the land and water, including The Water Sings to Suli?, Water Changeling and We Go with Muskrat to Those Living Underwater.

This fictional story teaches the importance of watersheds and protecting our water systems.

Includes words in n'syilxwcn, the language spoken by the Sylix/Okanagan peoples.

This book is part of the Follow the Water series.

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Muskrat takes the children through all the many fish that live in the water of the Okanagan valley.

kəxntim sʕanixʷ k̕əl nixʷtitkʷ acxʷəl̕xʷalt / We Go With Muskrat to Those Living Underwater is an interactive story with sʕanixʷ (Muskrat) in the lead, allowing readers to learn both the n’syilxwcn and English names of underwater creatures living in the Okanagan Valley. The book seamlessly combines beautiful imagery with amusing descriptions as Muskrat introduces a diverse set of underwater creatures.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Author Harron Hall has written several children's books that incorporate her Indigenous heritage and her deep commitment to protecting the land and water, including The Water Sings to Suli?, Water Changeling and Lessons from Beaver's Work.

Learn the names of many fish and aquatic creatures that live in the Okanagan Valley in n’syilxwcn (the language spoken by the Sylix/Okanagan peoples) and English.

Features bright and colorful illustrations from Indigenous artist Ron Hall.

This book is part of the Follow the Water series.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

The journey and transformation of water from the tops of the mountains down through the rivers and streams, told from a Syilx perspective.

skɬp’lk’mitkw / Water Changeling is the story of the natural water cycle from a Syilx traditional ecological knowledge perspective. The story features a water girl named skɬp’lk’mitkw who longs to visit with her grandparents. She receives help from newfound friends who change her into rain, hail and snow so she can reach her grandparents.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

Author Harron Hall has written several children's books that incorporate her Indigenous heritage and her deep commitment to protecting the land and water, including The Water Sings to Suli?, We Go with Muskrat to Those Living Underwater and Lessons from Beaver's Work.

Learn about the water cycle using the n'syilxcen (the language spoken by the Sylix/Okanagan peoples) and English languages.  This book includes some words in n'syilxcen, but it is not a dual-language resource.

Learn about the water cycle through a fictional story.

This book is part of the Follow the Water series.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

iʔ siwɬkw nkwancinəm k̕əl suliʔ / The Water Sings to Suliʔ is an original story with a universal message, shedding light on the importance of water as a living entity. The story features a young girl named suliʔ, who hears the song of the water calling for her while playing outside. suliʔ ventures out of her yard and into the forest. Along the way she meets an unexpected magic water child. The water child entrusts suliʔ with an important message to share with the world.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 6.

Author Harron Hall has written several books for children that incorporate her Indigenous heritage and her deep commitment to protecting the land and water.

Includes words in n'syilxwcn. 

This book is part of the Follow the Water series.

Additional Information
54 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Kú7pece (Porcupine) has always struggled with his emotions and pushed his relations away. Kú7pece does not like this part of himself and wants to explore his identity and learn more about himself, his family, and the land.

To connect with his relations and his friends, Kú7pece decides to build a gathering place: a c7ístkten̓ (winter home). This is a place he is hoping his relations can gather and learn about each other through sharing stories. However, Kú7pece traps the sun and soon gets distracted by the sun’s heat and light. So much so, he forgets who he is and his purpose. Soon he is trapped too and cannot see that he is neglecting his responsibilities.

It takes the sacrifice of his relations and friends to help him realize he was trapped in his own reality. Once he realizes the lesson of the sacrifice of his friends – that they were trying to help him reconnect to his own place and purpose – he uses all his courage to turn away from the sun’s heat and light. Slowly, he remembers his identity, purpose, and responsibilities. In the end, Kú7pece finds himself again and reconnects with his relations to gather to tell stories, learn from each other, and support one another.

Porcupine is a story about expressing emotions and being considerate to the needs of others. It works well as a bedtime story or read-aloud for classrooms.

This book works well with others by Mike Bowden and Kelsey Jules, including Four Winds, Bear and Coyote, and Chief Goose.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 7.

This book is part of the Secwépemc Stories series.

This story is a great resource to introduce Indigenous languages to young readers. Secwepemctsín is one of 30 distinct Indigenous languages in British Columbia and is in the process of being revitalized after governments and religions developed policies to eliminate the rich language and culture of Indigenous peoples. The book integrates Secwépemc words into the text and includes a pronunciation guide on every page.

This story connects to the BC First Peoples’ Principles of Learning: learning is holistic, reflexive, experiential, and relational; learning involves the consequences of one’s actions; learning is embedded in story; and learning involves patience and time. Learning from Indigenous stories can be different and personal every time a story is read or told, depending on context. This book provides an opportunity for those reading to reflect, explore, connect, and learn on a personal interpretative level.

Curriculum links:

• Social emotional learning: identity, self-awareness, emotions, family, community, relationship skills
• Reading and language skills
• Indigenous knowledge and traditions

Additional Information
24 Pages | Colour illustrations | 22 x 28 cm | ISBN: 9781771745710 | Paperback

Kenkéknem (Bear) and Sek̓lép (Coyote) are both busy preparing for the long winter months ahead. Kenkéknem eats berries while Sek̓lép dries salmon and bakes Bannock. They have always done this separately and do not want to share with each other. However, this year Kenkéknem is curious about what Sek̓lép is doing, and he is also very hungry. Kenkéknem curiosity and hunger soon get them both in trouble. This forces them to work and learn together to find out how to solve their problem. In the process, they learn through shared experiences and reflect together. They then discover that they have many new stories to share and new ways to prepare food together.

They gather their relations to share their stories in a wider circle of community in order to share this way of learning through connectedness and relationships.

Bear and Coyote tells the creation story of traditional foods and shows the possibilities that arise when we work together. This book makes for a great bedtime story or read-aloud in the classroom.

The back of the book includes recipes for Bannock (Sp̓ íxle7cw) and Saskatoon Berry Jam (Speqpeq7úw̓l).

Bear and Coyote complements other works by Mike Bowden and Kelsey Jules, including Chief Goose and Porcupine, and includes a familiar character from Four Winds.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 7.

This book is part of the Secwépemc Stories series.

This story is a great resource to introduce Indigenous languages to young readers. Secwepemctsín is one of 30 distinct Indigenous languages in British Columbia and is in the process of being revitalized after governments and religions developed policies to eliminate the rich language and culture of Indigenous peoples. The book integrates Secwépemc words into the text and includes a pronunciation guide on every page.

This story connects to the BC First Principles of Learning: learning is holistic, reflexive, experiential, and relational; learning involves the consequences of one’s actions; learning is embedded in story; and learning involves patience and time. Learning from Indigenous stories can be different and personal every time a story is read or told, depending on context. This book provides opportunity for those reading to reflect, explore, connect, and learn on a personal interpretative level.

Curriculum links:

• Social emotional learning: cooperation, working together, reciprocal relationships
• Reading and language skills
• Numeracy: includes recipes and encourages young learners to measure and count ingredients
• Food: gathering, preparing, and cooking traditional foods
• Indigenous knowledge and traditions

Additional Information
24 Pages | Colour illustrations | 22 x 28 cm | ISBN: 9781771745703 | Paperback

Kúkwpi7 K̓wsucw (Chief Goose) is the leader of the k̓wsucw (geese). As a leader, he relies on doing things the way his people have always done and does not want to change anything. But his people are not prepared for the long winter and Kúkwpi7 K̓wsucw realizes it is time for him to be a true leader. Following ancient protocols, he first consults the great spirit for guidance and wisdom. Then he begins the journey to lead his people in search for a better place to live during the long winter season. Through trial and error, he learns that listening to others and allowing his people to help him lead is the path to the well-being of the k̓wsucw.

Chief Goose tells the story of why geese fly south for the winter and is the perfect bedtime story or read-aloud for classrooms.

This book complements other works by Mike Bowden and Kelsey Jules, including Four Winds, Porcupine, and Bear and Coyote.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 3 to 7.

This book is part of the Secwépemc Stories series.

This story is a great resource to introduce Indigenous languages to young readers. Secwepemctsín is one of 30 distinct Indigenous languages in British Columbia and is in the process of being revitalized after governments and religions developed policies to eliminate the rich language and culture of Indigenous peoples. The book integrates Secwépemc words into the text and includes a pronunciation guide on every page.

This story connects to the BC First Peoples’ Principles of Learning: learning is holistic, reflexive, experiential, and relational; learning involves the consequences of one’s actions; learning is embedded in story; and learning involves patience and time. Learning from Indigenous stories can be different and personal every time a story is read or told, depending on context. This book provides an opportunity for those reading to reflect, explore, connect, and learn on a personal interpretative level.

Curriculum links:

• Social emotional learning: leadership, listening, social awareness, learning from mistakes and trying again
• Reading and language skills
• Indigenous knowledge and traditions

Additional Information 
24 Pages | Colour illustrations | 22 x 28 cm | ISBN: 9781771745697 | Paperback 

• Social emotional learning: community, helping others, critical thinking, learning from mistakes and trying again
• Reading and language skills
• Indigenous knowledge and traditions

When Phyllis was a little girl she was excited to go to residential school for the first time. Her Granny bought her a bright orange shirt that she loved and she wore it to school for her first day. When she arrived at school her bright orange shirt was taken away. This is both Phyllis Webstad's true story and the story behind Orange Shirt Day which is a day for us all to reflect upon the treatment of First Nations people and the message that 'Every Child Matters'.

Educator Information
Phyllis's Orange Shirt is an adaptation of The Orange Shirt Story which was the best selling children's book in Canada for several weeks in September 2018. This true story also inspired the movement of Orange Shirt Day which could become a federal statutory holiday.  A page of information about this day is included at the end of the book.  A short author biography is also included.

Adapted for ages 4-6.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades K-1 in the areas of English Language Arts and Social Studies.

This book is available in French: Le chandail orange de Phyllis

Additional Information
30 pages | 9.00" x 8.00"

She shoots, she scores!

Big Sister's hockey team has worked hard toward the most important game of the season. When the team goalie gets sick, Little Brother excitedly steps onto the ice to play in the Championship game. He always wanted to be part of the lineup, where Big Sister is the ace forward. The closer the game gets, the more nervous he becomes. Can he and Sister make the community proud? He must rely on his family's long history of playing hockey, the wisdom of Grandpa, Dad, Big Sister, and the Secwépemc cultural values they impart.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.50" x 8.50"

When Phyllis Webstad (nee Jack) turned six, she went to the residential school for the first time. On her first day at school, she wore a shiny orange shirt that her Granny had bought for her, but when she got to the school, it was taken away from her and never returned. This is the true story of Phyllis and her orange shirt. It is also the story of Orange Shirt Day (an important day of remembrance for First Nations and non First Nations Canadians).

Reviews
"The book includes a brief history of the Secwepemc people, St. Joseph’s Residential School, and a glossary and conversation starters. A must for elementary school teachers. " - Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 2 to 5. 

This resource is also available in French: The Orange Shirt Story (French) / L'histoire Du Chandail Orange

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 1-5 in the areas of English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Career Education.

Additional Information
8.5" x 11" | 44 pages

“We Are All Connected” is a series that explores how we all live together in a shared balance upon Mother Earth. Each book explores a specific ecosystem with a focus on one animal and its adaptations for survival within that ecosystem. Indigenous interviewees, each living within the same area, have responded to strategic questions as to how their community interacts with the land, their traditional territory. Explore each text with a sense of inquiry in mind.

8 We Are All Connected Titles Coast Salish, Coastal Rainforests and Cougars Haisla, Rivers and Chinook Salmon Inuit, Tundra and Ravens Lakota, Mixed Grasslands and Bald Eagles Métis, Wetlands and Mallards Nisga'a, Ponds and Leopard Frogs Nlaka'pamux, Grasslands and Rattlesnakes Sto:lo, Riparian Forests and Black Bears Each title covers the following curricular areas. Traditional storytelling and artwork begin each title from the focus Indigenous territory. Science: Biodiversity, classification, life cycles, food chains, food webs and connections between living and non-living things are just some of the science concepts included in each book. Social Studies: Contemporary and historical Indigenous cultural knowledge flows throughout each book. Local land forms, gatherings, harvesting practices and government are some of the social studies concepts included in each book.

2 Foundation Titles The two foundational books provide deeper understanding of the content of the “We Are All Connected” titles. We Are All Connected: The Earth, Our Home- explores biomes, ecosystems and biodiversity. We Are All Connected: The Earth, We Share- explores the interconnectedness between living and non-living things. View: We Are All Connected Learning Intentions

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745963 

Set in the Okanagon, BC, a First Nations family goes on an outing to forage for herbs and mushrooms. Grandmother passes down her knowledge of plant life to her young grandchildren.

Reviews
"A Day With Yayah is a story sharing the special relationship that is built when a child learns from their Elders. It centers around an Indigenous family out on the land picking herbs and the Grandmother passing down her knowledge." - The Dalai Lama Center

Educator Information
Recommended for grades K-2 for the following subjects: Art Education, English Language Arts, Social Studies.

This resource offers a glimpse into the Nłeʔkepmx of the Nicola Valley in BC's Interior.  A glossary of Nłeʔkepmxcin words appears at the back of the book.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.25" x 10.25" | colour illustrations

“We Are All Connected” is a series that explores how we all live together in a shared balance upon Mother Earth. Each book explores a specific ecosystem with a focus on one animal and its adaptations for survival within that ecosystem. Indigenous interviewees, each living within the same area, have responded to strategic questions as to how their community interacts with the land, their traditional territory. Explore each text with a sense of inquiry in mind.

8 We Are All Connected Titles Coast Salish, Coastal Rainforests and Cougars Haisla, Rivers and Chinook Salmon Inuit, Tundra and Ravens Lakota, Mixed Grasslands and Bald Eagles Métis, Wetlands and Mallards Nisga'a, Ponds and Leopard Frogs Nlaka'pamux, Grasslands and Rattlesnakes Sto:lo, Riparian Forests and Black Bears Each title covers the following curricular areas. Traditional storytelling and artwork begin each title from the focus Indigenous territory. Science: Biodiversity, classification, life cycles, food chains, food webs and connections between living and non-living things are just some of the science concepts included in each book. Social Studies: Contemporary and historical Indigenous cultural knowledge flows throughout each book. Local land forms, gatherings, harvesting practices and government are some of the social studies concepts included in each book.

2 Foundation Titles The two foundational books provide deeper understanding of the content of the “We Are All Connected” titles. We Are All Connected: The Earth, Our Home- explores biomes, ecosystems and biodiversity. We Are All Connected: The Earth, We Share- explores the interconnectedness between living and non-living things. 

Authenticity Note: This title includes some authentic Indigenous photographs.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | ISBN: 9781771742528

BUMP, BUMP - SLAP, river sockeye salmon are pulled onto shore!
Set in the beautiful landscape of the Cariboo Chilcotin region, DIPNETTING WITH DAD is a delightful and colourful story of a father teaching his son the Secwepemc method of fishing known as dipnetting. Together they visit the sweat lodge, mend the nets, select the best fishing spot and catch and pack their fish through rugged bush back to the family home for traditional preparation. In his first book, Williams Lake Indian Band member Willie Sellars captures family values, the importance of storytelling, community living and coming of age in one of BC's oldest cultures. Debut artist Kevin Easthope's contemporary and dynamic illustrations bring the characters to life as they jump off the page and pull you into their world.

Additional Information
48 pages | 9.84" x 8.58"

In just four days young Shi-shi-etko will have to leave her family and all that she knows to attend residential school.

She spends her last days at home treasuring the beauty of her world -- the dancing sunlight, the tall grass, each shiny rock, the tadpoles in the creek, her grandfather's paddle song. Her mother, father and grandmother, each in turn, share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. And so Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping.

Richly hued illustrations complement this gently moving and poetic account of a child who finds solace all around her, even though she is on the verge of great loss -- a loss that native people have endured for generations because of the residential schools system.

This gentle story of a child on the verge of great loss was selected as the Aboriginal Children’s Book of the Year.

Awards

• Winner of the Anskohk Aboriginal Children's Book of the Year Award. 

Educator Information
Recommended Grades: 1-10.

Curriculum Connections: Indigenous Studies, Visual Arts, Science, Health.

Recommended Authentic First Peoples resource K-9.

This illustrated children's story is recommended for English First Peoples Grades 10 for units pertaining to childhood through Indigenous writers' eyes and the exploration of residential schools and reconciliation through children's literature.

This book is available in French: Shi-shi-etko (French)

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.13" 

« Au bout du couloir, dans l’aile des petits garçons, Shin-chi était allongé dans son lit mais ne dormait pas. Il tenait précieusement sa petite pirogue dans la main. L’odeur parfumée du cèdre lui rappelait celle de son père. »Quand les Européens sont arrivés en Amérique, ils ont estimé que les Autochtones étaient des peuples non civilisés. Ils les ont chassés de leurs terres traditionnelles et les ont relégués dans des réserves. À la fin des années 1800, les gouvernements ont décidé de coloniser les enfants autochtones, de les forcer à s’adapter au mode de vie européen. Au Canada et aux États-Unis (mais également en Australie et en Nouvelle-Zélande), des lois furent adoptées obligeant les jeunes Autochtones à être éduqués dans des pensionnats autochtones.Dans ces établissements, les enfants apprenaient la culture, la religion et la langue des Européens. On leur donnait un nom européen. On leur enseignait le jardinage, l’agriculture et la menuiserie. On leur interdisait de parler à leurs parents ou à leurs frères et sœurs. Ils n’avaient pas non plus le droit de parler leur langue ni de pratiquer leurs coutumes. Certains enfants n’ont pu retourner chez eux qu’après de nombreuses années passées au pensionnat. D’autres n’y sont jamais retournés. Le Canada a compté environ 130 pensionnats indiens, et quelque 80 000 personnes vivant encore aujourd’hui y ont séjourné.

Educator Information
This book is available in English: Shin-chi's Canoe

Neekna and Chemai are two little girls growing up in the Okanagan Valley in the time before European contact. Through these two friends, we learn about the seasonal life patterns of the Okanagan First Peoples. The girls spend time with Great-Grandmother, who tells them about important ceremonies, and they gather plants with Neekna's grandmother. Grandmother explains how bitterroot came to be an important food source, and why the people give a special ceremony of thanks at its harvest. Grandmother also tells the story of how a woman was changed to a rock to watch over the Okanagan Valley. Neekna understands how important it is that she has received the knowledge passed down for generations, from great-grandmother to grandmother to mother.

Educator Information
Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2019-2020 resource list as being useful for grades 2-7 in these subject areas: Career Education, English Language Arts, Social Studies.

Key Points:

• Learn about the seasonal life patterns of the Okanagan people.
• Armstrong's main goal in writing is to educate young people about Indigenous culture and history.
• Both educator and protector, Jeannette Armstrong is a professor of Indigenous Studies and a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Philosophy. Her research into Indigenous philosophies and Okanagan Syilx thought and environmental ethics that are coded into Syilx literature has been recognized locally and globally, and she serves as an active member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the En’owkin Centre.

Additional Information
52 pages | 5.00" x 7.00" | 3rd Edition

A young girl delights in a visit to her grandpa's farm. She and her cousins run through the fields, explore the root cellar where the salmon and jars of fruit are stored, swing on a rope out the barn loft window, visit the Appaloosa in the corral and tease the neighbor's pig. The visit is also an opportunity for this child to ask Grandpa what her grandmother, Yayah, was like, and to explore the "secret room," with its old wooden trunk of ribbons, medals and photos of Grandpa in uniform.

There is a wonderful blend of fun and family history in this visit to a grandparent, and the realization that there can be some things about the people we know and love that will always remain a mystery. But above all, there's nothing like being with Grandpa.

In her two previous picture books, Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chi's Canoe, Nicola Campbell worked with elders and survivors of residential schools, documenting the tragic experiences that many endured. This new book, based on her own childhood memories, is a sunny, joyful story, vibrantly illustrated by Kim LaFave.

Reviews
"Grandpa’s Girls follows a group of four cheerful Interior Salish cousins let loose on their grandfather’s sprawling B.C. farm.... The book is a vicarious pleasure for anyone who ever wished they’d once had a hay loft to swing from, a pig to tease, or a cobwebby root cellar to explore. Beyond that, it is an honest look at how kids sometimes need to experience the past in the context of the present to really understand it." - Quill & Quire 

Educator Information
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Visual Arts, History

Recommended Ages: 4 - 7

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.50" x 9.63"

This moving sequel to the award-winning Shi-shi-etko tells the story of two children's experience at residential school. Shi-shi-etko is about to return for her second year, but this time her six-year-old brother, Shin-chi, is going, too. As they begin their journey in the back of a cattle truck, Shi-shi-etko takes it upon herself to tell her little brother all the things he must remember: the trees, the mountains, the rivers and the tug of the salmon when he and his dad pull in the fishing nets. Shin-chi knows he won't see his family again until the sockeye salmon return in the summertime.

When they arrive at school, Shi-shi-etko gives him a tiny cedar canoe, a gift from their father. The children's time is filled with going to mass, school for half the day, and work the other half. The girls cook, clean and sew, while the boys work in the fields, in the woodshop and at the forge. Shin-chi is forever hungry and lonely, but, finally, the salmon swim up the river and the children return home for a joyful family reunion.

Awards

Reviews
"Shin-Chi’s Canoe is a story about a brother and sister sent to a residential school and the separation from their culture they experience. Shin-Chi finds comfort with a little cedar canoe and the dream of returning home like the salmon. The children both find peace and strength by connecting to Mother Earth and the water. The story acknowledges the residential school system's devastating events while highlighting Indigenous children's strength and resiliency." - The Dalai Lama Center

Educator Information
Recommended Grades: 2-10.

Recommended Authentic First Peoples K-9 resource.

This illustrated children's story is recommended for English First Peoples Grades 10 for units pertaining to childhood through Indigenous writers' eyes and the exploration of residential schools and reconciliation through children's literature.

This book is available in French: La pirogue de Shin-chi

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 8.13"

A sweet story about a little Quail who, through the love of his family, learns life lessons about feelings, emotions and expressing oneself.

Written for children of all backgrounds, with colorful illustrations, this story shares the important message of healthy living.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

This book is part of the Caring For Me Series.

Additional Information
20 pages | 10.00" x 8.00" | Paperback

Dancing with the Cranes gives an understanding of birth, life and death. Chi's momma is soon to have a baby, but Chi is having a hard time being happy about it. Chi misses Temma (her grandma), who has passed away. Chi's momma and daddy help ease the pain of losing Temma and help Chi to understand life and death as a part of nature. Chi soon finds herself feeling comforted, knowing Temma will always be a part of her and looking forward to the new baby who will be a part of their lives.

Educator Information
Recommended for 6 to 8.

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.97" x 9.95"