Browse Books for Kids

Nalvana feels like all of her friends have some type of superpower. She has friends with super speed (who always beat her in races), friends with super strength (who can dangle from the monkey bars for hours), and friends who are better than her at a million other things.

Nalvana thinks she must be the only kid in town without a superpower.

But then her mom shows Nalvana that she is unique and special—and that her superpower was right in front of her all along.

Awards
- 2017 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens

Reviews
“. . . [W]ell-written, [and] heart-warming . . .” — Quill & Quire

“Nalvana is a bundle of creativity, spunk, and determination—readers will be happy to know her.” — Kirkus

“. . . [A] very sweet story that encourages children to rethink how they evaluate success . . .” — The Book Wars

“. . . Nalvana’s superpower is not one of the athletic or other overt skills that are normally so admired in our current society . . ., Aviaq Johnston has made her story one of inclusivity, not exclusivity.” — CanLit for Little Canadians

“. . . [A] book kids will clamor to read, even as they learn terms like ‘anaana’, ‘inuksuk’, and ‘panik’. That’s its superpower.” — School Library Journal

Educator Information
An Inuktitut Glossary consisting of four words is included at the back of the book.

Recommended ages: 3-5

This book has been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. Its F&P level is L.

This book is available in a revised board book edition: What's My Superpower? (BB) 

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.75" x 8.75"

Ten-year-old Isaac, now a ghost, continues with his people as they walk the Choctaw Trail of Tears headed to Indian Territory in what will one day become Oklahoma. There have been surprises aplenty on their trek, but now Isaac and his three Choctaw comrades learn they can time travel. The foursome heads back in time to Washington, D.C., to bear witness for Choctaw Chief Pushmataha who has come to the nation's capital at the invitation of Andrew Jackson.

Educator & Series Information
This is the second book in the How I Became a Ghost series by Tim Tingle.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
200 pages | 5.50" x 8.50"

A bear sleeping safely in her den, Kohkom telling a story by the fire, the trees crackling with cold—we are all connected to the seasons and the cycle of nature. The calming rhythm of the words echoes the rhythm of the land in this timeless picture book about the moon calendar of the northern Cree, and its warmly rendered watercolour illustrations bring Saskatchewan’s north to life.

When the Trees Crackle with Cold is written in English and the northern Plains Cree y-dialect, inviting Cree and non-Cree speakers alike to explore the traditional moon calendar.

Educator Information
Recommended Grades/Subjects: K-5: English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies.

Written in English and northern Plains Cree y-dialect.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 9.00"

"A bunch of Wild women once wandered this land and thought that their dinners had gotten too bland. They set out in search of fine foods they could get and ate up the sounds of the whole alphabet."

This quirky ABC book for older children and adults has Indigenous themes and unusual collaged illustrations. Each letter of the alphabet presents a short story designed to cover teaching objectives ranging from letter recognition, letter sounds, rhyming, word families, vocabulary, consonant blending, contractions, compound words and more.

Educator Information
Recommended for Grades K-7 for these subject areas: Art Education, English Language Arts.

Additional Information
72 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

What are some of the ways people in the North enjoy winter? This non-fiction book teaches children that even though the days are cold and dark in a Nunavut winter, there are a lot outdoor activities to enjoy, such as snowmobiling, ice fishing, and dogsledding.

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. Winter in Nunavut 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. Winter in Nunavut's F&P Level is M.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 6.00"

The Great Bear Rainforest is a majestic place full of tall trees, huge bears and endless schools of salmon. Award-winning photographer and author Ian McAllister's luminous photographs illustrate the story of a lone wolf who swims to one of the small islands that dot the rainforest's coast. The island provides him with everything he needs—deer, salmon, fresh water—everything, that is, but a mate. When a female wolf arrives on the island's rocky shores, she and he start a family and introduce their pups to the island's bounty.

Awards
2018 Silver Birch Express Award short-listed

2017 Resource Links The Year's Best commendation

2018 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize short-listed

Reviews
"The story is really told by the big, bright pictures—which glow with the rhythms and beauties of this remote habitat...Enthralling fare for budding naturalists." — Kirkus Reviews, January 2017

"Striking photographs chronicle the life span of a male wolf in the Great Bear Rainforest...Careful and varied page layouts include concise, vivid language that describes his journey and images that bring the reader up close—all this is missing is the feeling of misty air on skin...This well-made title offers great visual detail supported by age-appropriate text." — School Library Journal, February 2017

"Readers will find much to like about the written account of the wolf's first year on his own...With Ian McAllister's wondrous photos and Nicholas Read's accessible text, young readers are sure to learn why it is of great importance to protect and sustain the Great Bear Rainforest." — Sal's Fiction Addiction, April 2017

"This non-fiction narrative is filled with facts and scientific details to explain the habitat and lifestyle of wolves living on an island. Their story is compelling and interesting. The photography in this book is stunning with panoramic views and detailed close-up images to support the text…This book is a good choice for those looking for engaging narrative nonfiction." — School Library Connection, June 2017

Educator & Series Information
This is the first book in the My Great Bear Rainforest series.

Books in this series include:
Wolf Island
A Bear's Life
The Seal Garden
A Whale's World

Recommended Ages: 5-8

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.75" x 10.75" | Hardcover (HC)

Encourage children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other’s well-being in their everyday actions.

Consultant, international speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote You Hold Me Up to prompt a dialogue among young people, their care providers and educators about reconciliation and the importance of the connections children make with their friends, classmates and families. This is a foundational book about building relationships, fostering empathy and encouraging respect between peers, starting with our littlest citizens.

Reviews
"Smith's text is heartwarming! And the illustrations, by Danielle Daniel, reflect Native people in the present day. Like My Heart Fills with Happiness, this new book by Smith is one that parents, grandparents, pre-school and elementary teachers, and librarians, will want to have on their shelves." — Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature

"People of all ages can find something of value within the pages of Monique Gray Smith and Danielle Daniel's book…Smith has Cree and Lakota ancestry, while Daniel is Métis. With this book, they become quiet and understated—yet powerful—voices in an age of reconciliation. You Hold Me Up is simple, yet beautiful, subtle but thought-provoking. It contains critical messages about love, unity, and support. Through carefully chosen words and strong, colourful are, the book presents an important reminder to readers to sustain and support one another. Highly Recommended." — CM Magazine

"Perfect for a shared storytime as well as a lap-sit reading session, the actions of each person emphasize community, togetherness, and mutual respect. While sharing is a universal concept, Daniel's illustrations bring specificity to the narrative…Just as in Smith's board book My Heart Fills with Happiness, readers will joyfully make connections between their own communities and the indigenous one depicted here." — IndiePicks Magazine

"You Hold Me Up is a rhythmic story that reinforces for young readers about reconciliation and the importance of the connections children make with others. The story aims to encourage children to build relationships, foster empathy and encourage respect between peers while considering each other’s well-being in their everyday actions." — The Dalai Lama Center 

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

This book is available in English and Plains Cree: You Hold Me Up / ê-ohpinitoyahk

This book is available in English and Anishinaabemowin: You Hold Me Up / Gimanaadenim 

This book is also available in French: Tu es là pour moi

This book is available in a board book format for younger audiences: You Hold Me Up (BB)

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 9.00"

Let them go outside and play! More parents are heeding the advice of specialists who urge them to do just that. By playing outside with friends, kids learn valuable interpersonal and negotiation skills and how to make decisions. Outdoor play teaches about the natural world, fosters creativity, and encourages physical activity.

101 Things For Kids To Do Outside is ideal for parents, teachers, and all those working with youth. This book is ideal for the children who like gaming, TV, movies, the soft couch, and even too many snacks. The kids who believe "there's nothing to do outside" can learn and be encouraged to experience the joy of outdoor play.

Each activity is described in language easy for a 6- to 9-year-old and illustrated with engaging graphics. Younger children may need direction, at least the first time. Large pictures display all the fun to be had. The activities range from 10 minutes to hours and hours of fun. Some require creativity, make-believe or physical exertion but they are all outside. Perfect for rainy days, sunshiny days, even snowy days.

Examples of the 101 activities are:
Weave a bird's nest
Set up a potion lab
Make nature rubbings
Build a crawl tunnel
Hold a mini Olympics
Build a human sundial
Make a nature walk bracelet
Capture animal tracks
Fly a homemade kite
Make a rain gauge
Make a snow maze.

Reviews
While the cover art is adorable, the photos inside are stunning! This book is full of creative, easy, and original ideas that your kids will adore.
— MaryAnne, Mama Smiles Blog

Great gift for any child... Would also be resourceful to any parent, teacher or caregivers... Plenty of fun ideas not only for children, but for families to enjoy together. And the most important thing -- with 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside, your kids will never be bored again.
— Lily Zunic, Craft, Learn and Play Blog

The hands-on guide, 101 Things for Kids to Do Outside, gives you more than enough activities, games and projects to get your children or students moving and learning in the great outdoors. Colorful illustrations and photographs combine with detailed and easy to follow instructions in order to spark lots of outdoor exploration... This book is great for parents and educators, but also for young people ages 5-12 to lead their own explorations.
— Raine Sillito, Green Teacher

Additional Information
224 pages | 8.25" x 8.50" | full colour throughout, line drawings, resources, index

Who are the Ojibway people, and how did they come to live in the lands of the Great Lake? Let Mishomis, or “Grandfather” in the Ojibway language, draw you a picture. In these delightful coloring books, the history of the Ojibway unfolds, beginning with the story of creation.

As Original Man (some will call him Anishinabe) walks the Earth, giving names to all things, Mishomis carries young readers along with Ojibway lore and wonder and with pictures asking to be brought to colorful life. The story follows the first five books of The Mishomis Book, telling of the Original Man’s grandmother, Nokomis; of the Earth’s first people; and of the Great Flood that changed everything. Thank Gitchie Manito for Turtle, on whose back the new world rests! Coloring along with Mishomis’s words, readers will be enchanted to learn the legends and discover the spirit of the Ojibway traditions and way of life.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 4 to 6.

This is a set of five coloring books that accompany the book The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway (sold separately).

Additional Information
111 pages | 11.00" x 11.00"

Children (and adults, too) have become aware of the ecological importance of bees. Wasps are ecologically important, too. They pollinate plants and provide pest control by eating insects and feeding them to their young.

Paper wasps construct open-celled paper nests. A mated female wasp -- the queen -- starts the nest by chewing wood fibers into a pulp to build paper layers. As soon as she has built enough of the nest, she lays some eggs which grow into young female wasps. They lay more eggs, mostly males, and these become workers whose job is to build the nest for the growing colony. It can end up being quite large. Come winter, the old queen and the workers die and the young females hibernate. In spring, they will be new queens that will build their own nest for a new wasp colony.

This elegantly illustrated book explains stage by stage in easy text how a wasp nest is built. It follows by days and weeks and shows how the queen's industrious workers create a sturdy, weatherproof home. Readers see the inside of the growing nest where the eggs turn into larvae and emerge 20 days later as juveniles. As the nest gets bigger and the story progresses, the book's pages become bigger too. Cross sections show the amazing construction of the nest and how the wasps live and work.

The interior pages in A Wasp Build a Nest are shingled, starting as a partial page and getting larger as the story progresses.

Reviews
"Readers are invited to experience the construction of a wasp's nest. Each shingled page reveals an inside look at the step-by-step progress of building the nest from start to finish--both the nest and the pages grow together. Readers will learn about wasp anatomy, reproduction, life cycle, and nest structure... This book is a great option for readers who are comfortable learning new vocabulary, as it provides so much information about wasps and their behavior." — Samantha D'Acunto, New York Botanical Garden Blog, May 2018

"This colorful book presents a close-up view of a new wasp nest in a hollow tree... Though visually the book is tightly focused on the nest and its growing complexity, within that context, both the text and the illustrations convey a good deal of information about the life cycle of wasps, their stages of development, and the different roles played by the queen, the males, and the female workers. Each double-page spread displays the growing nest along with pictures of detail such as the pupal development. The cutaway views of the nest, the cones, and the cells are particularly effective. Each sturdy, glossy page is about one centimeter wider than the preceding one, giving the book's interior an attractive, layered look. A well-focused, informative book on wasps and their nests." — Carolyn Phelan, Booklist, October 2016

"Wasps are often a source of fear and discomfort for children, but this title does a compelling job of showing wasps in a more favorable light. The book opens with a queen wasp awakening from hibernation and follows her through the creation of a colony to her eventual death in the fall. The information is presented scientifically but is also accessible for young readers, with any potentially unfamiliar words well explained. The illustrations are detailed and support the text. The view of the inside of a wasp's nest is likely new to most, and students will find it helpful to see the structures in question. The pages are shingled, starting as a quarter-page and gradually expanding in size until they fill the full dimensions of the book, which works well to mimic the growing colony depicted in the illustrations. The material emphasizes the growth of the wasps and the colony rather than what wasps do outside of the hive; however, this narrow focus keeps the text from becoming confusing for younger readers. A pleasing introduction to wasps and their life cycle, suitable for young entomology fans. Consider for most libraries." — Ellen Norton, School Library Journal, November 2016

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.50" x 9.50"

A thoughtful yet entertaining glimpse into the amazing world of the ocean for young children.

Award-winning author Cathryn Sill and her husband, noted wildlife illustrator John Sill, offer young readers an informative and entertaining first glimpse into ocean habitats. In simple, easy-to-understand language, this guide teaches children what oceans are and what kinds of animals and plants live there.

A glossary and afterword provide readers with further fascinating details.

Awards
- Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 ―National Science Teachers Association, Children’s Book Council, 2013 (US)
- NSTA Recommends ―National Science Teachers Association, 2012 (US)

Reviews
“This handsome volume from the Sills’ About Habitats series introduces the world’s largest habitat…The paintings are notable for the subtle use of color to recreate effects of water and light within the scenes…[A] fine addition to science collections…” ―Booklist

“A lovely primer on Earth’s largest habitat, this book illustrates all the ocean basics with spare text and vivid watercolors. A detailed afterword allows readers to dig deeper.” ―Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine

“What I like most is that it’s simple enough to share with preschoolers, but the afterward provides additional information that will appeal to older children. John’s illustrations are so beautiful…” ―What is Bridget Reading

“While Cathryn describes the variety of ocean bottom surfaces – flat and sandy, deep valleys, tall mountains – John illustrates the animals that live in those places: stingrays, scalloped hammerhead sharks, dolphins.” ―Sally’s Bookshelf

Educator Information
With simple text and language, and strong picture support (paintings), this non-fiction narrative teaches children what oceans are and what kinds of animals and plants live there.

Recommended ages: 3-7

Series Information
This book is a part of the About Habitats series, which introduces children to specific habitats and their living and nonliving components. 

Additional Information
48 pages | 10.00" x 8.50"

When Akilak must travel a great distance to another camp to gather food, she thinks she will never be able to make it. With a little help from her grandmother’s spirit, and her own imagination to keep her entertained, Akilak manages to turn a long journey into an adventure. Even though she at first feels that she will never be able to reach her destination, she keeps her grandmother’s assurance that her “destination is not running away; it will be reached eventually” in mind and ends up enjoying the journey that at first seemed so daunting.

Reviews

“Akilak’s Adventure is a worthy addition to school and public library collections.” — CM Magazine

“An engaging and recommended read-aloud for all collections.” — School Library Journal

“Akilak’s Adventure has timeless teachings about responsibility and the importance of imagination to make it a worthwhile read now and always.” — CanLit for Little Canadians

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 7.00"

Learn all about where polar bears live, what they eat, and how they hunt.

This simple nature book introduces children to concepts about the polar bear, along with beautiful photographs.

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. All About Polar Bears is a Level 7 book in the series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. All About Polar Bear's F&P Level is G.

Recommended for ages 4-6.

This resource is also available in French: Tout sur les ours polaires

Additional Information
16 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

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 nooks on 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.

Kids will learn how Muskoxen raise their babies, what they eat and how they forage, where they can be found, and other interesting information, like the many fascinating adaptations they exhibit that allow them to live in colder habitats than most other animals!

Awards

• 2017 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens

Reviews
“Design of the series is spot-on, with attractive covers and lay-out that is both consistent throughout the series and age-appropriate for conveying information visually and textually.” — Kid Lit North

“. . . [I]ncludes extensive information about the muskoxen’s strategies for defense and for withstanding the cold.” — CanLit for Little Canadians

“The author, a Nunavut hunter and trapper, knows the animal well and shares his knowledge.” — Sal’s Fiction Addiction

Educator & Series Information
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.

Recommended Ages: 5-7

Available in French: Bœuf musqué

Additional Information
24 pages | 6.75" x 9.25"

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 on 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.

Kids will learn about how narwhal raise their young in the cold Arctic ocean, what they eat, and where they can be found, along with other interested information, like the fact that a narwhals long tusk is actually a tooth!

Reviews
“Narwhal is definitely recommended for school libraries and classroom collections.” — CM Magazine

“The table of contents gives a clear sense of organization. The illustrations are both scientifically accurate, engaging, and beautiful.” — Kid Lit North

“. . . [I]ncludes comment about the narwhal’s deep diving and behaviour beneath the ice, as well as about its impressive tooth, often referred to as a tusk, that can grow up to almost 3 metres in length.” — CanLit for Little Canadians

Educator & Series Information
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.

Recommended Ages: 5-7

This book is available in French: Narval

Additional Information
24 pages | 6.75" x 9.25"