Picture Books

Ants in my Pants is a story about a young Indigenous girl who struggles to focus. She has a hard time sitting still and loves to be active. The rhyming story goes through what a day in her life is like both at school and home. Through her struggles to focus, she begins to understand that she also has many strengths. Learn the tools and techniques that she uses to stay calm and to focus. A perfect book for students who struggle to focus.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 1 to 4.

Keywords / Themes: Indigenous Inclusive Education; Focus; Self-Regulation; Personal Strengths

Additional Information
Pages: 20 | Paperback

Rooted in Indigenous teachings, this stunning picture book encourages readers of all ages to consider the ways in which they live in connection to the world around them and to think deeply about their behaviors.

Addressing environmental issues, animal welfare, self-esteem and self-respect, and the importance of community, the authors deliver a poignant and universal message in an accessible way: Be a good ancestor to the world around you. Thought-provoking stanzas offer a call to action for each one of us to consider how we affect future generations. Every decision we make ripples out, and we can affect the world around us by thinking deeply about those decisions.

Awards

• 2023 Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award
• 2023 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards - Children's Picture Book

Reviews
"Be A Good Ancestor is a story rooted in Indigenous teachings that ask readers to examine how they connect to the world around them and think deeply about their actions' consequences. The story looks at environmental issues, animal welfare, self-esteem and self-respect, and the importance of community making the delivery of a universal message accessible." - The Dalai Lama Center 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

This book is available in French: Laisse un bel héritage.

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

A child who looks different from her mother finds beauty and belonging in this new book from the creator of the New York Times bestseller I Sang You Down from the Stars

Izzy’s favorite place to be is in Mama’s arms—skin to skin, safe and warm. One night, cuddled up on Mama’s lap, Izzy notices something she’s never noticed before: her skin is the color of chocolate, but Mama’s skin is the color of sand.

When Izzy realizes she’s different from Mama in other ways, too, she feels sad and confused. She wants to be beautiful like Mama! But Mama addresses Izzy’s disappointment with a gentle, loving refrain: You’re part of me, and I’m part of you. I’m beautiful like me, and you’re beautiful like you. Finding lessons from nature and repeating her affirming message, Mama encourages Izzy to see her own unique beauty.

This story about a multiracial child navigating identity and belonging draws from author Tasha Spillett-Sumner’s own experience growing up as an Afro-Indigenous girl. Lyrical text and warm, lively illustrations show Izzy’s journey as she learns to celebrate the differences that make her uniquely beautiful, and the connection to her mother that transcends physical traits.  

Reviews
"Spillett-Sumner’s quiet text strikes a steady rhythm of call and response: Izzy’s uncertainties and her mother’s answering refrain that celebrates rather than dismisses the pair’s differences ... A lovely accompaniment to any cuddle."— Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW

"This could give rise to story hour discussions of differences that matter and those that do not ... [A] sweet portrait of a mother-daughter relationship."— School Library Journal

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

This book is available in French: Belle comme toi, belle comme moi 

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.25" x 11.00" | Hardcover

A sweet, beautiful book for children depicting the transformative dreams envisioned by a young Inuk girl, with the help of her loving mother.

In Bedtime in Nunatsiavut, a little girl named Nya yearns to fly, swim, and wander like the goose, salmon, bear, fox, and other animals that populate her world. Each night, her loving Ananak (mother) tucks her into bed and gives her a kunik (nose-to-nose rub) to help Nya dream and transform into the animals she longs to be like.

In Nya's dreams, she moves with the wonder and the freedom of the natural world, dancing beneath the dark Nunatsiavut skies, empowered and emboldened by her Ananak's constant love. Written and illustrated by first-time author Raeann Brown, Bedtime in Nunatsiavut is a beautiful and joyful tribute to an Inuit childhood.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.00" x 12.00" | Hardcover

Tsimshian storyteller and artist Roy Henry Vickers shares an adventure from his childhood in the Indigenous village of Kitkatla, on BC’s north coast.

When Uncle Johnny accidentally catches an orphaned sea lion pup in his fishing net, young Roy and his cousin Bussy take responsibility for nursing the tiny creature back to health. They name the pup Ben, short for Teeben—the Tsimshian word for sea lion. With the boys’ loving care, Ben eats and eats and grows and grows, getting up to all sorts of fun in Kitkatla, including towing the boys in their skiff and showing local dogs who is boss! Eventually, Ben must return to the wild, leaving his human friends to remember him fondly.

Fifteen original illustrations by Roy Henry Vickers accompany the text, capturing the beauty of the West Coast and the richness of village life. Ben the Sea Lion will delight readers of all ages.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
32 pages | 12.00" x 8.25" | Hardcover 

Benny loves bananas. He eats them morning, noon, and night. He even rides a bike with a yellow banana seat. In fact, Benny has a secret, he hopes one day he will turn into a banana! And if there is one thing Benny knows, it’s that with a little imagination anything is possible.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
28 pages | 9.50" x 9.50" | Hardcover 

Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade's first self-authored picture book is a gorgeous celebration of the land she knows well and the powerful wisdom of elders.

On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth. Salmon from the stream, herring eggs from the ocean, and in the forest, a world of berries.

Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry.

Huckleberry, Snowberry, Strawberry, Crowberry.

Through the seasons, they sing to the land as the land sings to them. Brimming with joy and gratitude, in every step of their journey, they forge a deeper kinship with both the earth and the generations that came before, joining in the song that connects us all. Michaela Goade's luminous rendering of water and forest, berries and jams glows with her love of the land and offers an invitation to readers to deepen their own relationship with the earth.

Reviews
"Tapping into themes of people’s connection to nature—and nature’s to people—the volume crucially invites readers to recognize this intersection. An author’s note contextualizes core Tlingit tenets discussed."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Useful for outdoor learning, exploring connection to the land, and developing a relationship with the earth.

This book is available in French: La mélodie des petits fruits

Additional Information
40 pages | 9.45" x 12.10" | Hardcover 

Additional Information
40 Pages | Author-signed copy 

In this tender picture book, Sara Florence Davidson transports readers to the excitement of a potlatch in Hydaburg, Alaska—her last memory of dancing with her late brother.

It feels like my brother and I have always known how to sing the songs and dance the dances of our Haida ancestors. Unlike our father, we were born after the laws that banned our cultural practices were changed. The potlatch ban did not exist during our time, so we grew up dancing and singing side by side.

The invitations have been sent. The food has been prepared. The decorations have been hung. And now the day of the potlatch has finally arrived! Guests from all over come to witness this bittersweet but joyful celebration of Haida culture and community.

Written by the creators of Potlatch as Pedagogy, this book brings the Sk'ad'a Principles to life through the art of Janine Gibbons.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

This book is part of the Sk'ad'a Stories series.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.12" x 9.00" | Hardcover 

The creators of Raven, Rabbit, Deer are back with another thoughtful tale of a young boy and his grandfather taking a walk through the woods and all the creatures and plants they encounter.

Walking as “quiet as mice and rabbits and deer” they come upon fresh moose droppings and set out to find the moose itself. They discover the branches where the moose ate breakfast, greet a chipmunk and goose, and inspect rosehips and pussy willows, but the moose is nowhere to be found. Finally, after accepting that they will have to try again next time, the boy and his grandfather head home… only to be met with a big surprise.

In Finding Moose, Governor General’s Award-nominated author Sue Farrell Holler gives us a glimpse into the wondrous world of nature through the eyes of a curious child. Grandpa quietly encourages this curiosity while offering answers and further lessons where he can. Illustrator Jennifer Faria draws us in with gentle paintings that make us want to reach out and touch the scenery.

Reviews
“For a lovely early spring walk, learning about nature and being introduced to words in Ojibwemowin, join an Anishinaabe grandfather with his grandson to see how forest life reveals itself and search for an elusive mooz.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“Children will enjoy this simple story that introduces them to some of their forest neighbours whose names are in both English and Ojibwemowin. Highly recommended.”— Simcoe.com

“[T]his joyful book reinforces the need to listen, see, and be present in the woods so that the wonders of nature can unfold. The power of loving inter-generational relationships rests at the core of this simple story… The end result is a touching story that addresses important lessons at a time when environmental change is such a pressing concern.”—Children’s Literature

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 8.00" | Hardcover

In this Native American story, Kara and Amanda are best-friend cousins. Then Kara leaves the city to move back to the Rez. Will their friendship stay the same?

Kara and Amanda hate not being together. Then it's time for the family reunion on the Rez. Each girl worries that the other hasn't missed her. But once they reconnect, they realize that they are still forever cousins. This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today.

This tender story about navigating change reminds readers that the power of friendship and family can bridge any distance.

Awards

• American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner

Reviews
"Amanda loves purple, while Kara’s favorite is pink, but “they agree that sunflowers are beautiful, powwow dancing is fun, and chokecherry jam on toast is the best.” When the time comes for Kara’s family to leave, both girls’ parents assure them that the family will be together again next summer at the reunion. A year passes, and the cousins miss each other very much but keep in touch by phone and through letters. When it’s time for the reunion on the reservation, the families make preparations: Amanda’s family packs and gets the GPS set for the two-day drive; Kara’s family makes welcoming signs, and her dad hangs a picture of the family tree. But the girls are nervous: Will they still be friends? In an author’s note, Goodluck explains that in the past, many Native families have faced separations; she cites the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 as one cause. Nevertheless, she emphasizes that they still maintain close relationships due to shared family and tribal values. This matter-of-fact yet poignant story brings that bond to vivid life as the girls realize that no matter what, they are “forever cousins.” The illustrations rely on a muted palette, featuring appealing characters with large heads. Cultural references are scattered throughout, like the dolls made by the girls’ magúu (grandmother), powwow dancing, and a Hidatsa naming ceremony. Children facing separations of their own will find this reassuring. A sweet story of friendship, family, and community. "—Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover 

In this delightful Lumbee story, clever Rabbit outsmarts a selfish Great Snapping Turtle. When Rabbit discovers many animals could not find water, he sets out to solve the mystery. What he finds is the Great Snapping Turtle blocking the water of the Mother Spring. When the stubborn turtle refuses to move, Rabbit figures out a way to let the water flow. As the water flowed to all creatures, it also created the oceans of Turtle Island.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 2 and under.

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

Sometimes it's not as simple as being a boy or a girl. I Am Everything In Between highlights kids who may not fit into stereotypical gender ideals, and celebrates how they do identify by sending positive messages about gender identity. This book teaches children that regardless of biological gender, it's OK to feel like a boy, or a girl, or even both! The illustrations include bright and bold examples of boys that like to play dress up and wear makeup, girls that like to play sports and get dirty, and kids that want to grow up to be astronauts!

I Am Everything In Between uses diverse, relatable examples to help kids understand that sometimes it's not as simple as being a boy or a girl.

Reviews
"This book sends a great message to kids about exploring their self-expression and breaking out of traditional gender norms. It also aligns perfectly with the elementary curriculum." - Chantal Hughes, school teacher and author Breaking Boundaries

"A simple but powerful message. In a world that often constructs narrow boxes for gender roles and identity, I Am Everything in Between shows kids that it's okay feel and be who they are. I wish there was a book like this when I was a kid." - LS Stone, author What's in it for ME?

"This book is a perfect fit for discussions with my Grade 2 class about gender identity. It helped my students understand that expressing how they feel about their gender is OK and that they belonged. The artwork is bright and playful. I highly recommend this book." - Karen Williams, teacher.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

This joyful and soothing book about ocean sounds for kids 3-7 will transport readers to the seaside.

When a child visits the ocean with his little brother, he whispers to him, “The ocean has lots to say, if you listen.” Together, they hear wondrous things, like the rumble of pebbles tumbling and filling the beach with shiny gems, the bark of a seal playing peekaboo, and the whooshing of a shell murmuring messages.

The second book in the Sounds of Nature Series for young children, I Hear You, Ocean is an excellent resource for outdoor education and social-emotional learning, helping to teach:

• How to engage with nature in fun and respectful ways
• Mindfulness and empathy with the world around us
• Positive and gentle play with younger siblings
• The ocean makes magical sounds—you just have to listen!

Reviews
"Washes of muted jewel tones and soft pencil lines invite readers to enjoy oceanside delights. … A solid seaside escapade that will sit nicely alongside other books on the five senses.”—Kirkus Review

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

The second book in the Sounds of Nature series.

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover