Browse Books for Kids

With sturdy, streamlined bodies, outfitted with insulating blubber, flippers, tail flukes and fins, whales -- all known as cetaceans -- are built for life in the water. In Exploring the World of Whales, we meet the baleen whales and the largest members of the toothed whales, including the killer whale, the biggest of the dolphins. These marine mammals range in size from the 108-foot-long (33 m) blue whale to the barely 9-foot-long (2.7 m) dwarf sperm whale while boasting a range of distinctive physical traits, including the sperm whale's gigantic head, the humpback's barnacle-covered body and outsized flippers, and the narwhal's eight-foot-long tusk.

Young readers will learn the difference between the baleen and toothed whales and how these differences affect habitat, diet and behaviors. They'll discover how whales communicate with one another across vast stretches of ocean, how some cooperate to raise families and hunt their prey, and how some are capable of remarkable feats of migration and deep diving. A lively, fully illustrated introduction to some of the planet's most intelligent species, this book also addresses the ongoing risks to whale populations.

Reviews
"Crisp photographs accompany interesting text that provides fascinating information about both baleen and toothed whales of many varieties. There's information here about diet, habitat, communication, behavior, and social interactions." — Teresa Bateman, Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's and Young Adult Literature, August 2018

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

The Exploring the World of... nature series was created for young readers who are eager to learn more about the wild creatures of the world. Each title contains beautiful photographs of the animals in their natural habitats and the highly readable text explores their daily lives and physical characteristics, how they make their homes, how they raise their young and what they eat.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | full color throughout, index | Paperback 

Talittuq is excited to start his first day of grade two. He is looking forward to the new school year, but as he meets his friends again for the first time after summer vacation, he notices that a lot of his friends’ families are very different from his own. Some have one mom and one dad, and some have only a mom. Some kids live with their grandparents. Some live with two dads or two moms. As Talittuq hears about all the fun his friends have had with their families, he learns that families come in many different shapes and sizes, and what holds them all together is love!

Educator Information
Ages 5-7.

Additional Information
28 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

Looking for a little mischief after finding an old flare gun, Ron and Ben suddenly find themselves in trouble when the local gas bar on Agamiing Reserve goes up in flames, and they are wrongly accused of arson by the sheriff’s son. As the investigation goes forward, community attitudes are revealed, and the truth slowly comes to light.

Reviews
"Storm's story is a very thoughtful look at the two systems of justice. The Native boys in the White system, being interrogated is a stark contrast to what the White boy experiences in the Native system of justice. It points to the path Storm is looking for: how a community can heal, rather than how it could punish and inflict more harm on people... I recommend Jen Storm's Fire Starters. There's a lot to study, think about, and of course, talk about." -- Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature

"Fire Starters reminds readers of the many perspectives involved in reconciliation. The story moves beyond Ron and Ben’s experiences as aboriginal teens poorly treated by a white community to include the experiences of law enforcement officers, family members, and even the arsonists themselves. Complementing the fast-paced plot, Henderson’s artwork is drawn from a wide variety of perspectives, and Yaciuk’s moody colours suit the rising tension experienced by all characters. A cautionary tale about the consequences of prejudice and racism, Fire Starters is a valuable addition to conversations about the importance of reconciliation and the power of the truth." -- Roseanne Gauthier, National Reading Campaign 

Educator & Series Information
Recommended Grades: 6-9

Fire Starters is one book in The Debwe Series.  This series features exceptional Indigenous writing from across Canada.

With bright and bold illustrations of the wild and magical West Coast by celebrated artist Roy Henry Vickers, this sturdy board book will delight babies and toddlers as they begin to experience and recognize the sights and sounds of the natural world. Hello Humpback!, a "first words" book, introduces iconic West Coast animals, from hungry sea otters to hopping orcas, and is sure to become an instant classic.

Educator & Series Information
This book is a part of the First West Coast Books series.

Additional Information
20 pages | 6.00" x 6.00" | Board Book

Authenticity Note: The art in this book is Indigenous, but the text simply discusses West Coast ecology and animals and is from a non-Indigenous author.

Nivi has always known that her names were special, but she does not know where they came from. So, one sunny afternoon, Nivi decides to ask her mom how she got her names. The stories of the people Nivi is named after lead her to an understanding of traditional Inuit naming practices and knowledge of what those practices mean to Inuit.

How Nivi Got Her Names is an easy-to-understand introduction to traditional Inuit naming, with a story that touches on Inuit custom adoption.

Review
"Charlene Chua's gentle illustrations help to unify the concepts in the story quite clearly. The reader is able to grasp the concepts of Nivi's ancestry by viewing the photographs in the story of loving, smiling and welcoming namesakes of both Nova Scotian and Inuit relatives. I particularly like the illustrations that depict Nivi's namesakes surrounding her in circles of love and family. The messages of love, respect and identity are important ones and ultimately make How Nivi Got Her Names relatable to all children. It can be read as both a story and an information book, and it could be used effectively in classrooms to teach concepts of heritage, community, history and family." — CM Magazine

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

I am Dreaming Of... is authored by Coast Salish, Musqueam artist Melaney Gleeson-Lyall.

Over 10 Northwest Coast Indigenous Artists have come together in I am Dreaming of... to create a bedtime story that rhymes. Dream your way through the forest as you encounter animals of the Pacific Northwest all drawn in beautiful coastal First Nations styles.

Additional Information
24 pages | 5.75" x 7.5"

A book about the Mi'kmaq. 

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Indigenous Communities in Canada series.

Additional Information
24 Pages

Discover a world of creepy-crawly insects!

Meet the tiny creatures in the air, water, and soil all around you!

The North is full of little creatures that skitter, swim, and fly. This nature book introduces children to insects, spiders, and other Arctic bugs, what they are, their body parts, their habits, and their habitats.

Educator 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. Insects of the Arctic: What Is an Insect is a Level 8-11 book in the series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. Insects of the Arctic: What Is an Insect F&P Level is K.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information
32 pages | 7.00" x 9.00"

Irene, huit ans et ses deux frères sont forcés de quitter leur famille pour aller dans un pensionnat loin de chez eux. C'est la loi! Dans cet endroit austère, on les empêche de parler leur langue et on leur donne un numéro en guise de nom. À la fin de l'année scolaire, les enfants rentrent à la maison et informent leurs parents des conditions exécrables dans lesquelles ils doivent vivre au pensionnat. Trouveront-ils un moyen de cacher les enfants afin qu'ils n'y retournent jamais?

Inspiré de la vie de la grand-mère de Jenny Kay Dupuis, Je ne suis pas un numéro met en lumière une sombre partie de l'histoire du Canada de manière à sensibiliser les enfants et à leur permettre d'en tirer une leçon humaine et historique.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English: I Am Not a Number.

This resource is also available in English and Nishnaabemwin (Ojibwe) Nbisiing dialect: Gaawin Gindaaswin Ndaawsii / I Am Not A Number.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.53" x 11.01"

Jon loves his life in the North. But when he feels a pain that won’t go away, he must go to a children’s hospital in the south to find out what is wrong. A doctor there tells Jon he has cancer and will have to stay at the hospital for a while.

Suddenly Jon’s life is upside down! But with a handful of tricks from the doctors and nurses, and new friends, Jon discovers ways to cope with some of the tricky parts of having cancer.

Accompanied by a resource guide for parents and caregivers, including hospital and support information, Jon’s Tricky Journey opens a conversation between Inuit children facing a cancer diagnosis and their families to help make a difficult and confusing time more manageable.

Educator Information
Ages 5-7.

Bilingual: Inuktitut and English.

Additional Information
70 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

The northern lights shine, women gather to eat raw caribou meat and everyone could be family in this ode to small-town life in Nunavut, written in English and Inuktitut.

Sisters Angnakuluk Friesen and Ippiksaut Friesen collaborate on this story about what it’s like to grow up in an Inuit community in Nunavut. Every line about the hometown in this book will have readers thinking about what makes their own hometowns unique. With strong social studies curriculum connections, Kisimi Taimaippaktut Angirrarijarani / ᑭᓯᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑉᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᔭᕋᓂ / Only in My Hometown introduces young readers to life in the Canadian North, as well as the Inuit language and culture.

Angnakuluk’s simple text, translated into Inuktitut and written out in syllabics and transliterated roman characters, is complemented by Ippiksaut’s warm paintings of their shared hometown.

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 3-7.

Recommended for Grades K-2.

Curriculum Connections: Health & Daily Living, Language Arts, Social Studies.

Additional Information
24 pages | 11.00" x 8.25"

Learn some of the ways people in the North use the outdoors for travel, gathering food, and having fun!

This non-fiction book uses a friendly child narrator to introduce readers to some of the traditional skills used by people living in the Arctic, such as dogsledding, igloo building, and ice fishing. With impressive photographs and descriptive text, this is an excellent support material for a classroom unit on Aboriginal peoples.

Educator 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. Land Skills is a Level 9 book in the series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. Land Skills' F&P Level is L.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information
20 pages | 6.00" x 9.00"

Quand une fillette de la Nation Gitxsan se dispute avec son frère, elle se souvient d’un des contes de sa grand-mère et part à la recherche d’un caillou avec qui parler de ses sentiments

Ce charmant récit autochtone enseigne aux enfants qu’il est normal d’avoir des sentiments et leur explique comment traiter et relâcher les sentiments négatifs.

When a young girl from the Gitxsan Nation argues with her brother, she remembers the teachings of her grandmother and goes in search of a stone to share her feelings with.

This engaging First Nation’s story teaches children that it is okay to have feelings and shows them how to process and release negative thoughts.

Educator Information
This book is also available in English: Trudy's Rock Story.

Recommended in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list for Grades Pre-K to 1 as a French resource.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.5 x 11

Le Nord regorge d’adorables animaux et de leurs bébés! Ce livre simple introduit les enfants aux noms des différents animaux de l’Arctique (comme le boeuf musqué, le harfang des neiges et l’ours polaire) et de leurs petits.

The North is full of adorable animals and their babies! This simple nature book introduces children to the terms for different Arctic animals (including the muskox, snowy owl, and polar bear) and their young.

Educator 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. Les animaux et leurs bébés is a Level 6 book in the series.

Recommended for ages 4-6.

This book is also available in English: Adult and Baby Animals

Additional Information
8 pages | 6.00" x 8.00"

Apprenez comment les gens demeurent au chaud durant les longs hivers arctiques!

Dans ce livre, des phrases simples décrivent des objets communs à toutes les régions du Canada, comme la parka, et d’autres typiquement nordiques, comme le qulliq (lampe à l’huile traditionnelle).

Learn how people stay warm during the long Arctic winters!

This book uses simple sentences to describe items common throughout Canada, like the parka, and some items that are uniquely Northern, like the qulliq (oil lamp).

Educator 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. Les choses qui nous tiennent au chaud is a Level 4 book in the series.

Recommended for ages 3-5.

This resource is also available in English: Things That Keep Us Warm

Additional Information
8 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"