Orca Origins

Feel the power of the powwow dance.

Powwow is a celebration of Indigenous song and dance. It’s a journey through the history of powwow culture in North America, from its origins in colonization, the Indian Act and the Wild West shows of the late 1800s to the thriving powwow culture of today. As a lifelong competitive powwow dancer, Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is a guide to the protocols, regalia, songs, dances and even food you can find at powwows from coast to coast, as well as the important role they play in Indigenous culture and reconciliation.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Beginning with a historical look at the origins of the powwow and then moving on to what they look like today, this book is a practical guide to the songs, dances, regalia, culture, and food associated with different powwows across North America.

This book explores how powwow culture, and an understanding of its importance in Indigenous culture, can be a part of the narrative of reconciliation.

The author is a longtime competitive powwow dancer who has travelled to powwows across North America.

This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Keywords: powwow dance, Indigenous culture, reconciliation, history, ceremonial dance.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for grades 4 to 8 for English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Dance.

Additional Information
88 pages | 7.50" x 9.00" | colour illustrations / photographs

Orca Origins is a nonfiction series for middle readers that explores cultural traditions around the world. This guide helps educators use the Orca Origins series to build an inquiry-based unit plan that focuses on the diverse traditions from different cultural celebrations around the world and teaches students tolerance. This is done with a variety of dynamic learning activities, handouts and graphic organizers to support students’ learning. The guide includes introductions to six Orca Origins titles: Birthdays, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Passover, and Ramadan.

Key Points:

• In the current climate of divisiveness, it is now more important than ever to encourage multicultural understanding -- this guide shows educators how to do that in the classroom.
• Tasha Henry is an experienced educator who holds a Master of Education in Language, Culture, and Teaching.
• Themes include inquiry-based learning, responsive teaching, multicultural education, teaching to diversity.

Additional Information
48 pages | 11.00" x 8.50"

Christmas is a popular holiday celebrated by people all over the world. This informative and engaging exploration of Christmas is aimed at the middle grades but will entertain readers of a much wider age range. Learn about the games played, foods eaten, music played and favorite ways of decorating in different parts of the world. With lots of fun facts (about everything from frumenty to the jolly old man in red himself) and recipes, there's plenty in this beautifully illustrated volume to satisfy anyone with an interest in the festive season.

Reviews
"The conversational tone is as delightful and jovial as Santa Claus himself…[A] survey of the holiday in a pretty package, made a bit more special with its personal touches."— Kirkus Reviews

"A very personal feel. The design is particularly pleasing…[and] adds to the festive feelings suited to the season…One cannot stop reading snippets aloud with the comment 'Did you know this?'"— Resource Links

"A delightful stocking stuffer for any Christmas lover." — Rocky Mountain Outlook

“With personal anecdotes, this is a complete guide to a multiplicity of customs behind Christmas celebrations.”— The International Educator

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Recommended for ages 9-12.

Additional Information
80 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"

The month of Ramadan offers the opportunity to improve one's personal and spiritual behavior.

By focusing on positive thoughts and actions, Muslims build a closer connection with God and come away from the month feeling spiritually renewed. Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting explores the richness and diversity of the Islamic tradition by focusing on an event of great spiritual significance and beauty in the lives of Muslims. Rich with personal stories and stunning photographs, Ramadan demystifies the traditions and emphasizes the importance of diversity in a world where Islamophobia is on the rise.

Reviews
"The personal perspectives elevate this volume above an average informational book; readers, both non-Muslims and Muslims, can step into the shoes of someone from another background. Wide in scope and personal in presentation, this book is a good choice for learning about Muslims' traditions as expressed in various cultures."— Kirkus Reviews

"The book is sprinkled with many colourful photos of people praying and celebrating around the world, mosques, food and more which illustrate the joy that this holiday brings to Muslims…I would recommend Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting to children learning about Ramadan and the Muslim faith as well as to children who do celebrate this holiday as they will see a reflection of their lives in its pages. Recommended."— CM Magazine

"This is a comprehensive book of facts and experiences for any child who is learning about what it means to follow Islam. A solid choice for children seeking to learn more about the faith for assignments or to satisfy their own intellectual curiosity."— School Library Journal

"Ramadan provides a clear, accessible introduction to Ramadan and Islamic beliefs generally…This series has been insightfully planned and carried out: books like Khan's Ramadan make intercultural discovery and understanding fascinating and fun. I particularly like how prominent girls and women are in this text. And while the book is intended for kids, there are many adults who would benefit from reading it to dispel their misunderstandings. I emphatically recommend Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting to any class or community interested in reading for multicultural understanding."— Resource Links

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
88 pages | 7.50" x 9.00" | Paperback 

Inspired by memories of fantastic family birthday parties, mother-and-daughter team Nikki Tate and Dani Tate-Stratton researched the history of birthdays in order to answer such questions as, How much does where you grow up influence the way you celebrate getting a year older? Have people always celebrated birthdays? The more they investigated, the more they realized that there's a lot more to birthdays than cake, presents, a few games and perhaps a goody bag. They discovered there are as many ways to observe birthdays as there are places in which to do it.

Reviews
"The authors...occasionally write in first person, giving the informative text a more personal, chummy tone...[C]olorful photos appear on almost every page of this attractive book."— Booklist

"It illuminates so much, so positively, with nuggets of knowledge that many readers love to collect...Birthdays offers a solid resource, and I'd recommend it for classroom and in-school libraries as well as public libraries."— Resource Links

"The co-authors have done a thorough job of researching historical detail about birthday origins and the evolution of traditions. Photos and sidebars serve well to anticipate reader questions or extend the learning beyond what's in the main text...Some lesser-known information is of particular interest...Photos are well-chosen, clear and nicely integrated with the text...Birthdays: Beyond Cake and Ice Cream is a valuable addition to the series in which several more titles are planned."— CM Magazine

"Birthdays: Beyond Cake and Ice Cream is a book that lives up to its title…a volume that will appeal to a range of readers…Written in a style that works for a range of reading levels, from advanced primary-school readers to reluctant secondary-school readers. The colourful photos are eye-catching and support the text…Birthdays is a highly engaging read."— Quill & Quire

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
80 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"

During Diwali, Hindus, Sikhs and Jains celebrate the legends and stories that describe the triumph of good over evil and justice over oppression. Critically acclaimed author Rina Singh explores her Indian roots as she tells the Diwali stories, which remind us that eventually light will prevail over darkness.

Enriched by personal stories and spiced with festive recipes, including two by acclaimed chef, Vikram Vij, Diwali: Festival of Lights brings to life the holiday’s traditions, food and rituals and takes you on a journey to see how this festival is celebrated around the world!

Diwali is the second book in the Orca Origins series, which examines how ancient traditions are kept alive in the modern world.

Reviews
"This sophisticated volume incorporates information about the major Indian religions; Hindu, Sikh, and Jain Diwali traditions; and Indian immigration to the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean...An exceptionally valuable resource." — Kirkus Reviews

"A standout volume...an excellent introduction to Diwali and Indian culture, highly recommended for all geography collections." — School Library Journal

"Provides a remarkably comprehensive look at the origins of the Hindu festival of lights...The intimate tone and vibrant photographs make this book an enjoyable and informative read from start to finish. Young readers will love the photographs, and older ones will appreciate the joy and concept of a celebration of light." — Booklist

"Written in a very readable text accompanied by colourful historical and contemporary captioned photographs...This book would be a great compliment to a study of religious customs and multiculturalism...I would highly recommend it for inclusion in school and public libraries." — Resource Links

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Recommended for ages 9-12.

Additional Information
96 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"

During Passover, Jews are reminded of how, more than three thousand years ago, their ancestors emerged from slavery to become free men and women. Bestselling author Monique Polak explores her own Jewish roots as she tells the Passover story, which reminds us that the freedom to be who we are and practice our religion, whatever it may be, is a great gift. It also teaches us that if we summon our courage and look out for each other, we can endure and overcome the most challenging circumstances. Enlivened by personal stories, Passover reminds us that we can all endure and overcome the most challenging circumstances.

Passover is the first in a series of books called Orca Origins that will examine ancient traditions kept alive in the modern world. 

Reviews
"While this title in the Orca Origins series explains the holiday of Passover, it also goes further. In the introduction, Polak remembers her associations with the holiday while growing up in Montreal, mostly through friends’ seders...The sections in which the Holocaust survivors remember is both chilling and moving...Kids’ holiday rituals and personal stories make for an interesting mix. Illustrated with many color photos, this unique take on an ancient holiday should resonate with readers."— Booklist

"An overview of the holiday of Passover is elaborated with personal narratives, the story's connection to the Holocaust, and various Seder customs practiced in several countries around the world...A plethora of photographs, informational sidebars, drawings, and recipes break up the substantial yet enlightening text. Good supplementary material to increase the holiday's meaning and currency for older children."— Kirkus Reviews

"Each chapter is detailed with an abundance of information...Personal stories of Holocaust survivors, Ben and Liselotte, add to the appeal and authenticity of this title...A helpful glossary, and a list of references and resources are also included. Passover is the first in a series of books in the 'Orca Origins' series which will examine 'ancient traditions kept alive in the modern world.'"— CM Magazine

"The author does a thorough job of describing the origins of Passover, the intricacies of the seder, and the importance of this event to Jews around the world. She makes it all accessible to middle-grade readers, regardless of their ethnicity, by including the stories of specific individuals (including a couple of elderly Montrealers who survived the Holocaust), focusing on the participation of children in the seder, and including some simple recipes. The result is a lively read, illustrated with many photos."— The Montreal Gazette

"With her convivial, chatty writing style, the material is easily absorbed, and the richness of the culture and festival shine through. Facts are augmented and enriched by the narratives of many participants...Undoubtedly, the book will encourage much discussion and sharing of religious traditions and will be a welcome and highly readable addition to various library collections."— Canadian Children's Booknews

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
72 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"