Biographies

An accessible and educational illustrated book profiling 50 notable American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people, from NBA star Kyrie Irving of the Standing Rock Lakota to Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation

Celebrate the lives, stories, and contributions of Indigenous artists, activists, scientists, athletes, and other changemakers in this beautifully illustrated collection. From luminaries of the past, like nineteenth-century sculptor Edmonia Lewis—the first Black and Native American female artist to achieve international fame—to contemporary figures like linguist jessie little doe baird, who revived the Wampanoag language, Notable Native People highlights the vital impact Indigenous dreamers and leaders have made on the world.

This powerful and informative collection also offers accessible primers on important Indigenous issues, from the legacy of colonialism and cultural appropriation to food sovereignty, land and water rights, and more. An indispensable read for people of all backgrounds seeking to learn about Native American heritage, histories, and cultures, Notable Native People will educate and inspire readers of all ages.

Additional Information
144 pages | 7.26" x 9.29" | 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"

In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Christine Day, readers learn about the amazing life of Maria Tallchief--and how she persisted. 
 
Maria Tallchief loved to dance, but was told that she might need to change her Osage name to one that sounded more Russian to make it as a professional ballerina. She refused, and worked hard at dancing her best, becoming America's first prima ballerina. Many famous American ballets were created for Maria!

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Maria Tallchief's footsteps and make a difference!

Reviews 
"A rich, clear picture of how one iconic Native dancer persisted." --Publishers Weekly
 
"Inspiringly shows how Maria Tallchief persisted and made her dreams come true." --Kirkus Reviews

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

This book is part of the She Persisted series, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds.

Additional Information
80 pages | 5.38" x 7.69" | Paperback

Journeyman is a first-person biography of Ojibwe rightwinger Jamie Leach, son of the legendary NHL superstar Reggie Leach. Follow the fascinating hockey trajectory from his childhood years watching his father play for the Philadelphia Flyers, to Jamie’s first goal in the NHL.

Journeyman touches on Jamie’s summers on Lake Winnipeg, the World Junior Hockey Championships, his life in the minor leagues, and his eventual draft into the NHL as a Pittsburgh Penguin. Discover how some of hockey’s biggest stars such as Bobby Clarke, Jaromir Jagr, and Mario Lemieux influenced Jamie’s life.

Written in close consultation with Jamie and his mother, readers will learn about the struggles Jamie conquered, including his father’s alcoholism and his own crippling self-doubt.

A story of determination, heartbreak and perseverance.

Reviews
"This straightforward, inspiring account goes down easy and should appeal to most kids, especially skaters looking for role models." —Booklist

Educator Information
Recommended by the publisher for middle-grade readers 10+.

Forward by Reggie Leach.

Additional Information
104 pages | 5.00" x 7.00"

“Before schools were introduced to the Inuit, we were taught by our relatives.”

In this picture book, Monica Ittusardjuat shares how she learned knowledge and skills in a time before being taken to residential school. She describes how children learned through playing games, imitating grown-ups, and observing adults around them.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Inhabit Education Books is proud to introduce Qinuisaarniq (“resiliency”), a program created to educate Nunavummiut about the history and impacts of residential schools, policies of assimilation, and other colonial acts that affected the Canadian Arctic. This book is a part of that program.

Each resource in the program has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that affected Inuit. Topics covered include the residential school system, relocations to settlements and the High Arctic, sled dog slaughters, the use of E and W numbers, and others. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.

The resources in this program include personal interviews, testimony, and writing; non-fiction informational resources; and information about traditional Inuit practices.

This resource is included in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 list as being useful for grades 2 to 4 for English Language Arts and Social Studies. 

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.00" x 9.00"

One Earth profiles Black, Indigenous and People of Color who live and work as environmental defenders. Through their individual stories, the book shows that the intersection of environment and ethnicity is an asset to achieving environmental goals. The twenty short biographies introduce readers to diverse activists from all around the world, who are of all ages and ethnicities. From saving ancient trees on the West Coast of Canada, to protecting the Irrawaddy dolphins of India, to uncovering racial inequalities in the food system in the United States, these environmental heroes are celebrated by author and biologist Anuradha Rao, who outlines how they went from being kids who cared about the environment to community leaders in their field. One Earth is full of environmental role models waiting to be found.

Reviews
“Thought-provoking reading for young people figuring out their own contributions. This valuable compilation shows that Earth’s salvation lies in the diversity of its people.”— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Rao shines a light on the too often unacknowledged role played by People of Colour in the green movement. This is a book to be celebrated and shared!”— Elizabeth May, former leader of the Green Party of Canada

“One Earth is so important today because it acknowledges the diversity of our environmental defenders and warriors and reminds us that the environment has no borders. Thank you, Anu, for identifying these amazing eco-champions. Their experience and dedication to making sure the environment is our number one priority is an invaluable gift to Canada and the world.”— Winnie Ming Yue Hwo, Senior Public Engagement Specialist, David Suzuki Foundation

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 12+

Contains 20 short biographies of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the environmental movement.

Offers a positive approach to environmental issues with a focus on environmental successes.

Written in a readable and accessible voice, One Earth presents diverse role models for youth and readers of all ages.

Keywords / Subjects / Themes: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), environmentalists, changemakers, conversation, diversity, biographies, #ownvoices.

Text Content Territory Note: This book has received the Indigenous text content territory label because it contains some profiles of Indigenous environmental defenders, but not all people profiled in this work are Indigenous. 

Additional Information
208 pages | 6.00" x 8.50"

The true story of a boy who fought to protect a rare subspecies of bear. 

As a child, Simon Jackson found navigating the world of the school playground difficult. He felt most at home in the woodlands, learning about and photographing wildlife. As a teenager, he became fascinated with spirit bears, a rare subspecies of black bear with creamy white fur. These elusive creatures were losing their habitat to deforestation, and Simon knew he had to do something to protect them. He decided he would become the voice for the spirit bears. But first, he would have to find his own.

Carmen Oliver's inspiring true story is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest --- the home of these elusive animals. Katy Dockrill's captivating art adds depth and beauty to the story. Photos and additional details about Simon Jackson's life and about spirit bears are included in the end matter.

Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for change. Simon's story is an excellent example of growth mindset at work, highlighting personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism. This book can also be used to lead discussions about character education as it relates to courage, resilience and perseverance. In addition, it has strong science curriculum links to the environment, animal habitats and the effects of clear-cutting.

Educator and Series Information
Ages: 6 - 9
Grades: 1 - 4 

Curriculum Links:

• Character Education - initiative; perserverance; compassion.
• Science & Technology - Life Science - animals; habitats.

This book is part of the CitizenKid series, a collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens

Key features of A Voice for the Spirit Bears:

• Highlights personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism.
• Includes loads of information on spirit bears, their habitats, and the effects of clear-cutting.
• Includes details about and photos of the real Simon Jackson.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 11.50" | Hardcover 

Meet a real-life Inuit hero!

This book introduces the biography genre while teaching children about the life of Harry Okpik and the history of dogsledding.

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: N.

Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Indigenous Perspectives; Identity; Self-Image

Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Additional Information
52 pages | 7.50" x 9.30"

These young people from across the globe are raising awareness about what issues matter to them most. Jaelun Parkerson from the USA kneels with his football teammates during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice; Canadian Autumn Peltier spoke in front of the United Nations to raise awareness about water pollution; and Melati Wijsen from Indonesia started working at twelve-years-old to convince her government to ban plastic bags.

From climate action to cyberbullying, from gun violence to animal protection, these young activists have brought about real change.

Reviews
“A useful addition to a growing body of literature challenging young readers to help make change in the world.” - Kirkus Reviews

“The number one thing that I can say about Our Future by Janet Wilson is that it is an incredibly uplifting book to read.” - Reader Fox

“The accounts are easy to read and accompanied by appealing illustrations and relevant photos; readers will find plenty to identify with here. Our Future: How Kids are Taking Action is a useful addition to any collection on these topics…Highly Recommended.” - CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Educator Information
Includes youth from around the globe, including Indigenous youth, such as Autumn Peltier and Ta'Kaiya Blaney.  Not all profiles are of Indigenous activists.

Recommended Ages: 7 to 12.

Part of the How Kids Are Making a Difference Series.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

This beautiful, bold book celebrates the achievements of LGBT people through history and from around the world. It features dynamic full-color portraits of a diverse selection of 53 inspirational role models accompanied by short biographies that focus on their incredible successes, from Freddie Mercury's contribution to music to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, this extraordinary book will show children that anything is possible.

Discover the inspiring stories of these LGBT artists, writers, innovators, athletes, and activists who have made great contributions to culture, from ancient times to present day:

Freddie Mercury, Sappho, Audre Lorde, Manvendra Singh Gohil, Frida Kahlo, Emma Gonzalez, James Baldwin, Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander Wang, Subhi Nahas, Tove Jansson, Alan Turing, Michelangelo, Martina Navratilova, Sia, Tim Cook, Pedro Almodovar, Virginia Woolf, Tchaikovsky, Vikram Seth, Yotam Ottolenghi, Johanna Sigurðardóttir, Marsha Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, David Bowie, Kasha Nabagsera, Lili Elbe, Matthew Bourne, Alvin Ailey, Harvey Milk, Willem Arondeus, Nergis Mavalvala, Rufus Wainwright, Marlene Dietrich, Larry Kramer, Didier Lestrade, Nabuko Yoshiya, Bayard Rustin, Claire Harvey, Barbara Jordan, Josephine Baker, k.d. lang, Kristen Stewart, Jazz Jennings, Elio di Rupo, Oscar Wilde, Harish Iyer, Khalid Abdel-Hadi, Lana and Lilly Wachowski, Ellen DeGeneres, and Portia de Rossi.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 10 to 15.

Additional Information
64 pages | 9.62" x 11.25"

Learn about a celebrated Inuit artist! Ningiukulu Teevee is a talented artist from Kinngait, Nunavut. Find out about her incredible body of work, her inspiration, techniques, and what it was like growing up in Kinngait surrounded by other amazing artists.

Educator & Series Information 
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

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 12 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 S.

The Life and Art of Ningiukulu Teevee teaches children about a successful Inuit artist.

Additional Information 
32 pages | 7.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

This book highlights the achievements of Canadian women sports stars — the role models of today's young female athletes. They fought for the right to compete in sports traditionally dominated by men and proved that women's sports are just as competitive and exciting to watch as men's. Spanning decades, Breaking Through focuses on seven sports and the women who made them their own, including well-known legends such as soccer player Christine Sinclair, who brought women's soccer in Canada into the limelight, and hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser, the longest-serving member of Canada's National team and five-time Olympic medalist. Readers will also see basketball, bobsleigh and rugby represented and learn the stories of less well-known athletes such as Indigenous Cross-country skiers Sharon Anne and Shirley Firth, who faced down prejudice, and Carol Hunyh, who brought home Canada's first Olympic gold medal in women's wrestling.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended Ages: 12-18.

Some, but limited, Indigenous content.

This work is part of the Recordbooks series, which includes sports biographies that highlight key social issues for reluctant readers.

Additional Information
144 pages | 4.25" x 7.00"

Twenty years ago, Carey Price was flying 319 kilometres across British Columbia in his father's plane so he could play on the nearest organized hockey team. Today, he is the highest-paid goalie in the NHL. But he's never forgotten where he started.

The son of an NHL draftee and the chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation, Carey got his start on skates as a toddler, first on a frozen creek and then on his father's homemade rink. The natural athlete went on to become the top amateur player in Canada in 2002, getting drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens three years later. Now one of the most recognizable figures in hockey, Carey credits his success to his community of Anahim Lake, where hard work and commitment often face off against remoteness and cost. Throughout his incredible career, he's taken every opportunity possible to encourage all young people, especially those who share his Indigenous background, to follow their dreams.

Reviews
"The book is aimed at middle-grade readers, ages 12+, and has a decidedly different approach to telling his remarkable story. For one, author Catherine Rondina chose to really spotlight Price's Indigenous background ... The pocketbook from Lorimer's RecordBooks series crams a lot into its 150 pages, from Price's early days in the remote Anahim Lake, B.C., to leading Canada to a gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi."— Greg Oliver, Society for International Hockey Research, June 2018

"This slim, pocket-size biography manages to convey an awful lot of information through engaging, brief chapters and breezy vocabulary. Readers will come away with an overview of acclaimed goalie Carey Price's hockey career to date."— Kathleen McBroom, Booklist, August 2018

"An inspiring story, especially for hockey fans and not just for reluctant teen readers."— Kirkus Reviews, May 2018

"A short and captivating peek into a remarkable athlete's life for middle schoolers."— School Library Journal, October 2018

Educator & Series Information
Hi-Lo Book.
Interest age: From 12 To 18
Fry Reading Level [grade]: 3.5
Lexile Reading Level: 890L

This book is part of the Recordbooks Series. Recordbooks help reluctant readers understand social issues through the lens of a true story of a sports hero.

Series features:

• Ideal for reluctant readers
• Hi-lo
• Short chapters, easy-to-read format
• Great for ESL and adult students
• Writing with a flair for making history feel like novels
• Accompanied by historical photos and sports trivia
• Ideal for ages 12+

Additional Information
152 pages | 4.25" x 7.00"

"We are a people who matter." Inspired by President Barack Obama's Of Thee I Sing, Go Show the World is a tribute to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes, featuring important figures such as Tecumseh, Sacagawea and former NASA astronaut John Herrington.

Celebrating the stories of Indigenous people throughout time, Wab Kinew has created a powerful rap song, the lyrics of which are the basis for the text in this beautiful picture book, illustrated by the acclaimed Joe Morse. Including figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not-so-widely recognized. Individually, their stories, though briefly touched on, are inspiring; collectively, they empower the reader with this message: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do."

Awards

• 2019 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award winner

Reviews
“Kinew quashes stereotypes and provides readers with both historical and contemporary examples of diverse American and Canadian Indigenous leaders … Go Show the World, a powerful and uplifting book, belongs in every school library.” -- CM Magazine 

"A beautiful celebration of Indigenous excellence." -- Kirkus Reviews

“This is a forever book; one that the child can grow with from the youngest age.”-- Windspeaker

Educator Information
Recommended for kindergarten to grade 5.

This books is available in French and Anishinaaabe: Héros autochtones [édition bilingue]: Anishinaabewi-Ogichidaag 

Additional Information
40 pages | 10.75" x 11.75"

Meet Tom Longboat, the Onondaga runner who broke world records... on his own terms!

On April 19, 1907, a hundred thousand people lined up to watch the eighth running of the Boston Marathon. At the start of the race, more than one hundred runners surged forward, and at the end, Tom Longboat won it in a record-breaking four minutes, forty-six seconds. He became the most famous runner in the world, yet faced scrutiny and criticism of every part of his life, from his revolutionary training techniques to his Indigenous heritage.

This picture book will introduce young readers to a brave and fascinating man whose legacy as Canada’s foremost distance runner continues to be recognized to this day.  

This biography features accessible text, full-colour illustrations, with historical notes and timelines that provide even more information on Tom Longboat’s background and incredible accomplishments.

Educator Information
Recommended ages: 6-10.

Themes/Key Ideas: Biography, Sports, Canada, Indigenous Canadians, Social Topics, Prejudice & Racism.

Additional Information
32 pages