Browse Books for Kids

A discussion of the history, language and cultural practices of the Mohawk Nation, both past and present.

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

Additional Information
24 Pages

Ojibwe traditionally moved as the season changed but today many live across the country. Learn about Ojibwe traditional ways of life and how they respect their traditions in modern Canada.

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

Additional Information
24 Pages

This colouring book features dozens of line drawings by renowned Inuit artist Germaine Arnaktauyok, followed by information on Germaine's own artistic process and her unique drawing style inspired by pointillism. Perfect for art lovers and avid colouring fans alike.

Additional Information
58 pages | 10.00" x 8.50"

Jake can't wait for his uncle to meet Kamik, and to see what an obedient puppy he is becoming. Jake's uncle is a great musher, who has won many dog sledding races, and if Kamik is good enough, Jake hopes today might be the day that Kamik finally gets to run with a dog team! Following Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story and Kamik's First Sled, Kamik Joins the Pack continues the story of Jake and his puppy Kamik as they learn from their elders everything they need to know to some day be part of a winning sled dog team.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Kamik series. Books in this series share traditional dog-rearing practices and dog-training techniques from the remote community of Arviat, Nunavut, through the life memories of community members. These books preserve the rich history of working dogs in Nunavut and celebrate the traditional bond between Inuit and their sled dogs.

This resource is also available in French: Kamik rejoint la meute.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.50" x 8.50"

The Mi'kmaq lived in Canada long before the country even got its name. Before Europeans arrived, they lived in homes called wigwams and hunted and fished throughout the Maritime provinces, living off and giving back to the land. They enjoyed storytelling, drumming, and dancing within their tight­knit communities.

In L'nuk: the Mi'kmaq of Atlantic Canada, First Nations educator Theresa Meuse traces the incredible lineage of today's Mi'kmaq people, sharing the fascinating details behind their customs, traditions, and history. Discover the proper way to make Luski (Mi'kmaw bread), the technique required for intricate quillwork and canoe­building, what happens at a powwow, and how North America earned its Aboriginal name, Turtle Island.

Educator Information
Includes informative sidebars, highlighted glossary terms, recommended reading, a historic timeline, index, and over 60 full­colour historical and contemporary images.

Recommended for Grades 5-12 for these subject areas: Social Studies.

Additional Information
128 pages | 6.75" x 8.50"

Il y a très longtemps, quand un grand déluge lava le monde de ses malheurs, le Grand-Père envoya l’aigle Wanjblí pour sauver un membre vertueux de la race humaine et lui enseigner comment bien vivre. L’aigle est un puissant symbole de courage, de sagesse et de force. Il est connu dans la culture autochtone comme le lien entre le monde de l’esprit et la Terre. Dans son premier livre, Kevin partage le récit traditionnel de l’aigle qui est venu comme messager pour guider le genre humain. Il partage une vision inspirante d’unité et d’espoir pour qu’une nouvelle génération d’enfants apprenne à reconnaître l’aigle en eux-mêmes et chez les autres afin de toujours s’éloigner des ténèbres et voler vers la lumière.

Long ago, when a great flood cleansed the land of unhappiness, the Grandfather sent Wanjblí the eagle to save one virtuous member of the human race and teach her how to live a good life. The eagle is a powerful symbol of courage, wisdom, and strength. In Kevin’s book he shares an inspiring vision of unity and hope for a new generation teaching children to recognize the eagle in themselves and others and always to soar above the darkness into the light.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English: Dawn Flight: A Lakota Story.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

Quand deux renardes rousses ont une dispute qui divise leur communauté, une gentille bisonne apporte une tresse d’herbe sacrée à une sage locale et lui demande de les aider en présidant un Cercle de Partage avec tous les animaux.

When two red foxes have an argument which breaks apart their community, a gentle buffalo decides to take a braid of sweetgrass to a local elder and asks her to help with a sharing circle for all the animals.

Educator Information
This resource is also available in English: The Sharing Circle 

Additional Information
38 pages | 8.50" x 11.00"

Après que le corbeau Yaahl eut fini de créer le monde, il se rendit compte qu’il se sentait seul. Alors, il invita le monde entier à le rejoindre à Haida Gwaii pour participer au plus grand festin que vous puissiez imaginer.

After the Raven (Yaahl) had finished creating the world; he realized that he was lonely. So he invited the whole world to join him in Haida Gwaii for the greatest feast you could ever imagine. At the end of the Feast each person, from all 4 sacred directions, was given a special gift that would change their lives forever!

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 2 to 5.

This book shares the message that every person is unique and has something special to share with the world. Le festin du corbeau is perfect for schools and other places of learning as its message inspires children to follow their hearts and see themselves as unique and important.

Author Kung Jaadee is a well-loved traditional storyteller, singer and drummer who delights audiences across Canada. She has a passion for teaching Xaad Kil/Haida language and sharing her culture with people of all ages. She has performed traditional Raven legends and personal stories for over twenty-five years.

This resource is also available in English as Raven's Feast

Additional Information
38 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" 

Native Explore - Learn from the Animals of the Salish Sea Colouring Book

Colour along as you learn about the significance of animals to the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest.

This book takes a focus on the creatures that inhabit the area known as the Salish Sea in coastal British Columbia, gathering them together in a colouring book format of medium difficulty.

Features:

• Features the artwork and insights of over 20 indigenous artists.
• Includes fun animal facts.
• Printed in Canada using non-toxic, vegetable-based ink, and water-based coating.
• 24 pages; measures 8.5" x 11".

Designed as an introduction for Cree language learners, Beginning Cree acts as a self-study aid--a much-needed resource in today's world where most students cannot speak Cree fluently. Basic grammar units and everyday vocabulary items guide the student through the building blocks of the language, and expansion drills and exercises reinforce lessons and prepare the student for further study. With over 100 delightful illustrations, Beginning Cree grounds the language in traditional and contemporary contexts.

Educator & Series Information
This book is recommended for ages 12+.

Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Nouns
Chapter Three: Prepositions and Pronouns
Chapter Four: Animate Intransitive Verbs
Chapter Five: Inanimate Intransitive Verbs
Chapter Six: Possessives: Kinship Terms
Chapter Seven: Transitive Inanimate Verbs
Chapter Eight: Transitive Animate Verbs
Verb Charts
Conjugation Patterns
Vocabulary List
Bibliography
Notes

The Canadian Indigenous Books for School list recommends this resource for Grades 1-12 for these subject areas: Indigenous Language Studies, Language Studies.

Part of the Indigenous Languages for Beginners series.

The book is specifically geared towards learners of the Plains Cree "Y" dialect, also known as the "Y" dialect.

Additional Information
165 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | black and white illustrations | spiral bound

A colourful photographic introduction to baby birds in their natural habitat, designed for young children.

This delightful follow-up to Baby Birds in the Wild features vivid bird photography and simple text. More Baby Birds in the Wild is designed to introduce very young children to the enchanting world of newborn nestlings and their rarely seen feedings and interactions with their parents. Highlighting over forty bird species, this book offers an early introduction to North America’s most popular pastime—birdwatching—and encourages a lifelong love of nature and wildlife.

Additional Information
48 pages | 5.87" x 5.87"

This follow-up to Baby Wild Animals features colourful photography and simple captions designed to instill an early interest in wildlife. More Baby Wild Animals features over species of mammals, birds, and marine life in their natural environments and captures them at the early stages of life as they learn to walk, run, swim, and fly. From baby otters and whales to bear cubs and baby ducks, this book is the perfect introduction to our wild and wonderful world for children ages three to six.

Additional Information
48 pages | 5.87" x 5.87"

The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.

International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.

Awards

• 2017 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize winner

Reviews
"A quiet loveliness, sense of gratitude, and—yes—happiness emanate from this tender celebration of simple pleasures, which features a cast of First Nations children and adults...Short, first-person phrases...revel in both solitary and familial activities...Flett’s crisp-edged paintings blend universal and culturally specific experiences." — Publishers Weekly, Starred, November 2015

"Joyful and tender, this board book celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections...Flett’s quietly powerful gouache and digital collage illustrations emphasize the relationships between people...The sweet family story has universal appeal. A first purchase for all libraries." — School Library Journal, Starred, March 2016

"A celebration of aboriginal culture...but also universal in its message: sometimes it's the simplest things that lift our spirits highest...[The book] is beautiful in both its appearance and its intention." — Quill & Quire, March 2016

"My Heart Fills With Happiness is a story that focuses on supporting the wellness of Indigenous children and families, encouraging them to reflect on what makes them happy. The story looks at happy memories that readers can connect to and serves as a reminder to reflect and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy." — The Dalai Lama Center 

Educator Information
This book is also available in French: J'ai le coeur rempli de bonheur.

This book is also available in English and Plains Cree: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih

This book is also available in English and Anishinaabemowin: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Nijiikendam

Additional Information
24 pages | 7.00" x 7.00"

Big Sister is learning what it's like when Little Brother isn't so little anymore!

This book uses a repeating sentence structure to help children follow the humorous family story, and will help children understand the concept of changing family roles.

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. My Little Brother is a Level 8 book in the series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. My Little Brother's F&P Level is I.

Recommended for ages 4-6

Additional Information
20 pages | 7.00" x 9.00"

This ingenious guide gives beginning stargazers instant access to just what they need to know