Inuit
Synopsis:
Kudlu's children will not go to sleep until he tells them a story of long ago. Before they will shut their eyes, they want to hear about a time long before Kudlu was born, a time when the world was magic. Before they can sleep, they want to hear about giants, animals disguised as humans, little people the size of lemmings, and all of the other wonderful things that existed way back then.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.
Bilingual: English and Inuktitut
Reviews
“A bilingual sampler—cold of setting but warm of spirit.” — ★ Kirkus
Additional Information
44 pages | 8.75" x 8.75" | Paperback
Synopsis:
"There are many things I would like to do and see with my friend in Qikiqtarjuaq."
Monica wants to visit her friend Mary in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut. Monica likes to imagine all the fun they will have together there. Monica and Mary will go camping, fish for delicious Arctic char, and see the big icebergs around the community. There will be lots to do when Monica visits Qikiqtarjuaq in this bilingual picture book!
Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.
Dual-Language: English and Inuktitut.
This book is part of the Community Connections series.
Additional Information
19 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Paperback
Synopsis:
You Are Not Alone is an illustrated children's book about growing up in the North as an Inuit child and looking for friends. This book is a debut collaboration between Tagiuk Ikkidluak, an emerging Inuit author and Arnaq Pitsiulak, an Inuit artist and illustrator.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Additional Information
26 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Paperback
Synopsis:
Animals Illustrated mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books about Arctic animals.
Each volume contains first-hand accounts from authors who live in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal. In this book, kids will learn about the many body adaptations that make Arctic foxes perfectly designed for life in the Arctic, as well as some of their amazing abilities—like being able to travel huge distances in search of food, even swimming between islands on their quest!
Educator & Series Information
Recommended Ages: 6-8
This book is part of the non-fiction Animals Illustrated series, which mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books on Arctic animals. Each volume contains firsthand accounts from authors who live in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal.
This book is available in French: Renard Arctique.
Additional Information
28 pages | 6.50" x 9.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
This poetic journey through Inuit oral history gives a glimpse of traditional beliefs surrounding the creation of the world. From the creation of day and night and the Sun and the Moon, to the origin of Death, this collection of simple retellings is richly supported by the artwork of acclaimed artist Germaine Arnattaujuq.
Featuring a foreword by the artist about her work illustrating Inuit myths and legends, this introduction to traditional Inuit stories is based on the animated film Arctic Song, which was co-produced and co-directed by Germaine Arnattaujuq and Neil Christopher.
Educator Information
Dual-language: English and Inuktitut
Additional Information
72 pages | 9.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Busy beavers have a family reunion in this story that celebrates Indigenous perspectives.
It’s a special day for Amik the beaver and her little sister, Nishiime. Their cousins are coming to visit! Amik is excited, but Nishiime feels nervous about meeting new people, and when the cousins finally arrive, Nishiime disappears.
Lively, immersive illustrations show Amik and her cousins as they search the woods for Nishiime. Each creature they encounter, introduced to readers using their Anishinaabe names, reveals how beavers help the forest community. A fish thanks them for digging canals in the mud that they swim through. A deer thanks the beavers for cutting down trees so they can reach the tastiest leaves. None of the creatures have seen Nishiime, but keen-eyed kids will have spotted her hiding in the background throughout the story.
Eventually, Nishiime returns to the group, having overcome her shyness by learning an important lesson: despite being from different places, the beavers are all united by the ways they support the forest ecosystem. With the perfect blend of fact and fun, this salute to the industrious beaver is also an energetic celebration of Indigenous perspectives, languages, and diversity.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.
Includes some Anishinaabe words. A glossary is found at the back of the book.
Each beaver in the story comes from a different Nation, and their names mean "beaver" in their own language.
Curriculum Connections
Language Arts: Reading
Science: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things; Habitats
Social Studies: Indigenous Peoples
Additional Information
32 pages | 10.50" x 9.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
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
Synopsis:
Additional Information
Spiral bound
Synopsis:
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
Synopsis:
A gorgeous picture book that pays homage to aviator Freddie Carmichael — the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic —with each month of the year highlighting moments from his life, the beauty of the North and the power of dreams.
When Freddie was young, he saw a plane up close for the first time when it dropped off supplies at his family’s remote bush camp. He was instantly hooked.
Freddie has flown for nearly seventy years, doing everything from supply runs to search and rescue to transporting dog teams to far-flung areas.
This book celebrates Freddie’s early dreams of flying and his later achievements. Readers move with Freddie through the year, hearing about his journey as a pilot and leader, while learning the names of the months in Gwich’in and Inuvialuktun at the same time. Art from Inuvialuit painter Audrea Loreen-Wulf perfectly captures the incredible Western Arctic as well as Freddie’s love for aviation.
Reviews
"The story of an Indigenous boy who dreamed of taking to the sky unfolds across the year in this picture-book biography that draws on Gwich’in language, the power of an unshakable passion, and, as rendered in the gorgeous painted illustrations, the beauty of nature." —Booklist
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.
Additional Information
32 pages | 11.31" x 8.25" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Pauloosie loves his pet rock, Miki Rock. Pauloosie’s Anaana, his mother, tells him a bedtime story about what Miki Rock sees, hears, and feels in his Arctic home. As part of the land, Miki Rock sees char and beluga, listens to chirps and howls, and feels the snow and sun.
Through lyrical text and ethereal landscape illustrations by Pelin Turgut, readers are taken on an Arctic journey from the point of view of a most unlikely object—a child’s pet rock.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.
Recommended in the Indigenous Books for Schools catalogue as a valuable resource for English Language Arts and Science for K to 2.
Themes: Animals, Land, Respect, Arctic, Connection to Nature
Additional Information
28 pages | 9.00" x 9.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Two sisters have waited all spring and summer to pick berries with their ningiuq, their grandmother. They've gone fishing, dug for clams, and by the time late summer arrives, it's finally time for berries!
Ninguiq and the girls head out to pick berries, rain or shine—nothing will stop Ningiuq! Through driving rain and early autumn snow the girls and Ningiuq pick as many sweet berries as their buckets can hold. The hard work is all worth it to enjoy the delicious treats Ninguiq creates with her berries.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.
Additional Information
28 pages | 9.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
Par une nuit sans nuages, une renarde tombe sur Terre et croise une famille d’humains. Au fil des saisons, elle suit les déplacements de la famille de campement en campement. Sa fascination pour les humains ne cesse de croître, mais elle se fait plus forte encore pour Irniq, le plus vieux des fils.En âge de chasser pour subvenir à ses besoins, Irniq part de son côté. Un jour, en entrant dans sa tente, il s’étonne de trouver la lampe allumée, un thé chaud qui l’attend et une femme qui prétend être sa compagne. Fatigué de vivre seul, Irniq l’accueille, mais, bientôt, il ne peut s’empêcher de se poser des questions.Reconnue pour l’excellence de son travail musical, Beatrice Deer signe ici une adaptation de sa magnifique chanson Fox, inspirée d’un conte traditionnel inuit.
Educator Information
The French edition publisher of this work recommends it for ages 3+; however, the original English edition is recommended for grades 2 - 4.
This book is available in English: The Fox Wife
Synopsis:
Je vais vous parler un peu de mon hibou. En vérité, ce n’était pas «mon» hibou. Je ne crois pas qu’une personne puisse posséder un animal. Ou une partie de la terre. Ou quoi que ce soit, en fait. On ne peut que créer des liens entre ces choses.
Ou apprendre à aider, à se sentir concerné.
Je me demande si c’est ce que mon père voulait que j’apprenne...
Educator Information
The publisher recommends this title for ages 3 to 5.
This book is available in English: Tanna's Owl
Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 9.50" | Hardcover
Synopsis:
In this immersive first-person account, Innu author Melissa Mollen Dupuis teams up with award-winning author and illustrator Elise Gravel to take readers on a journey through Innu culture, from creation legends to life today.
The Innu word Nutshimit signifies the physical and social space to practice traditional activities and language. Join author Melissa Mollen Dupuis on a guided walk deep through the forest to learn some of the rich culture of the Innu people.
Readers will discover the importance of natural world and learn a few Innu words along the way. Thoughtfully brought to life by Elise Gravel’s signature comic style illustrations, Melissa’s colloquial narrative and anecdotes detailing her lived experiences offer a deeply personal look at Innu life.
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.
Children learn Innu nature vocabulary through anecdotes from author’s lived experiences.
Populated with Elise Gravel’s hilarious characters and plenty of fun details.
This book is available in French: Nutshimit: Un bain de forêt
Find an activity book for this title here: Nutshimit: Activity Book
Additional Information
88 pages | 8.00" x 11.00" | Hardcover