Browse Books for Kids

In this innovative book, Emma Adbåge encourages children to get outside, where they can have fun interacting with the natural world while learning math. Adbåge has created twenty-two outdoor activities, organized by season.

Through play, children will learn about numeracy and arithmetic, as well as math concepts such as shapes, time, greater/less than, even and odd numbers, patterns and grids. The activities have simple-to-follow instructions and are accompanied by adorable illustrations that provide clear visual demonstrations. The natural materials required --- stones, pinecones, snowballs, worms --- are easy to find in many environments. Supplementary spreads introduce the numbers 1 to 10 and further explore addition/subtraction and multiplication/division, with simplified explanations and illustrated examples.

Studies have shown that learning outdoors helps kids retain information and skills, and that physically active children perform better in a variety of subjects --- including math. This book could be used alongside other math coursework all school year, since the activities have direct curricular applications. While the thrust of the book is math, there are also science lessons here, particularly regarding the properties of nature and how things change during the four seasons. Many of the activities can be done in pairs or groups, promoting teamwork and cooperation. A list of activities in the back matter indexes the activities and categorizes them by the math skills they develop.

All activities promote active living and an understanding of the natural world, while developing important character skills, such as teamwork and cooperation.

Review
"This is a worthy addition to a school collection or a public library shelf for motivated parents and preschool teachers who strive to create a rich learning environment."
—School Library Journal

Educator Information
Curriculum Links: Math, Number Sense, Early Numeracy.

Covers math fundamentals including counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Cross-curricular applications in math, science, physical education, and language arts.

Recommended for ages 5 to 8 / grades K to 3.

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.12" x 9.75"

During Passover, Jews are reminded of how, more than three thousand years ago, their ancestors emerged from slavery to become free men and women. Bestselling author Monique Polak explores her own Jewish roots as she tells the Passover story, which reminds us that the freedom to be who we are and practice our religion, whatever it may be, is a great gift. It also teaches us that if we summon our courage and look out for each other, we can endure and overcome the most challenging circumstances. Enlivened by personal stories, Passover reminds us that we can all endure and overcome the most challenging circumstances.

Passover is the first in a series of books called Orca Origins that will examine ancient traditions kept alive in the modern world. 

Reviews
"While this title in the Orca Origins series explains the holiday of Passover, it also goes further. In the introduction, Polak remembers her associations with the holiday while growing up in Montreal, mostly through friends’ seders...The sections in which the Holocaust survivors remember is both chilling and moving...Kids’ holiday rituals and personal stories make for an interesting mix. Illustrated with many color photos, this unique take on an ancient holiday should resonate with readers."— Booklist

"An overview of the holiday of Passover is elaborated with personal narratives, the story's connection to the Holocaust, and various Seder customs practiced in several countries around the world...A plethora of photographs, informational sidebars, drawings, and recipes break up the substantial yet enlightening text. Good supplementary material to increase the holiday's meaning and currency for older children."— Kirkus Reviews

"Each chapter is detailed with an abundance of information...Personal stories of Holocaust survivors, Ben and Liselotte, add to the appeal and authenticity of this title...A helpful glossary, and a list of references and resources are also included. Passover is the first in a series of books in the 'Orca Origins' series which will examine 'ancient traditions kept alive in the modern world.'"— CM Magazine

"The author does a thorough job of describing the origins of Passover, the intricacies of the seder, and the importance of this event to Jews around the world. She makes it all accessible to middle-grade readers, regardless of their ethnicity, by including the stories of specific individuals (including a couple of elderly Montrealers who survived the Holocaust), focusing on the participation of children in the seder, and including some simple recipes. The result is a lively read, illustrated with many photos."— The Montreal Gazette

"With her convivial, chatty writing style, the material is easily absorbed, and the richness of the culture and festival shine through. Facts are augmented and enriched by the narratives of many participants...Undoubtedly, the book will encourage much discussion and sharing of religious traditions and will be a welcome and highly readable addition to various library collections."— Canadian Children's Booknews

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
72 pages | 7.50" x 9.00"

The children of the Tsimshian village of Kitkatla love to play at being hunters, eager for their turn to join the grown-ups. But when they capture and mistreat a crow, the Chief of the Heavens, angered at their disrespect, brings down a powerful storm.

The rain floods the Earth and villagers have no choice but to abandon their homes and flee to their canoes. As the seas rise, the villagers tie themselves to the top of Anchor Mountain, where they pray for days on end and promise to teach their children to value all life. The storm stops and the waters recede. From that point on, the villagers appoint a chief to perform the Peace Dance at every potlatch and, with it, pass on the story of the flood and the importance of respect.

With eighteen new illustrations from Roy Henry Vickers and exceptional narrative, Peace Dancer will delight readers of all ages and add to the collection of global flood stories.

Reviews
"Parents and teachers will enjoy sharing Peace Dancer with children. Highly recommended." — Dr. Gregory Bryan, CM Magazine, October 2016 

Additional Information
40 pages | 12.00" x 8.25"

The Raven Series is a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

The titles and their learning intentions are:

• Raven and the Box: promotes an oral retell
• Raven and Duck: basic concepts
• Raven and Frog Count: number recognition
• I Spy Raven: rhyme and perspective
• Raven Sings the ABC's: letter recognition, vocabulary building
• Raven Makes a Necklace: colours and patterns

Educator Information
This resource is also available in French HERE!

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745888

Watch as six little insects keep an eye on Raven as he settles in to go to sleep. The sky darkens and the stars come out only to reveal something very big at the end.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Raven Series, a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

A Little Note about Rhyming and Perspective:
Learning rhyme is a foundational skill and this book provides opportunity to explore rhythm, rhyme and visual perspective. A learner’s ability to recognize words that rhyme will support them as they begin to learn word families later on. A simple word family is the “at” family: bat, cat, hat, mat etc. When a learner can recognize the rhyming sounds, or words, they can begin to anticipate the text. As well, a learner’s ability to understand visual perspective allows them to understand the storyline deeper. The visual perspective changes under a magnifying glass.

This resource is available in French: Je vois Corbeau
Note: French book dimensions differ.

Additional Information
16 pages | Dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771741545

Raven and Duck are good friends. They like to play together outside in the summer sun but most of what they do is opposite to the other.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Raven Series, a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

A Little Note about Opposites:
Learning opposites is a foundational skill. So many functions of our daily lives are around sorting and categorizing and understanding opposites is a great beginning. As well, knowing what opposites are supports a young learner in both comprehension and vocabulary. Understanding a storyline that describes something big and something small will support comprehension. With the addition of opposite words in a young learner’s vocabulary, they can now add a description to things. As an example, the beginning stages of use may be the big boat and the small boat. As language progresses it may turn to the large boat and the little boat. At an even deeper progression, it may turn to the humongous boat and the tiny boat.

This resource is available in French: Corbeau et Canard
Note: Book dimensions differ in French. 

Additional Information
16 pages | Dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771741569

Join Raven and Frog as they both count to ten in their own way. Raven teaches one to ten in rhyme and with a focus on number recognition. Frog teaches one to ten with visual supports of number representation.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Raven Series, a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

A Little Note about Counting:
Learning to count is a foundational skill and our world is full of numbers. Young learners will learn early on in life that they can have one candy, not ten. In order to support the learning we can teach first what the numbers 1 to 10 look like while counting/naming them. After many practises counting/naming, we can then teach the amount of each number. For example, we can show the learners; I can hold one cracker in my left hand and two crackers in my right hand. Last, we can show number representation in a pattern, like the number patterns on dice. Of course, this is only the beginning of discovering that our world is full of math but this is such a great start for any young learner.

This resource is available in French: Corbeau et Grenouille comptent
Note: French book dimensions differ.

Additional Information
16 pages | Dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771741538

Based on a traditional story, Raven and the Box is a simple storyline. With each action that Raven makes you can play along with your own actions.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Raven Series, a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

A Little Note about Retelling:
Learning to tell and retell stories is a foundational skill. Oral retells promote comprehension and build vocabulary capacity. This story allows actions to be performed as it is being told. Actions can sometimes support the retelling of a storyline. Invite learners and their families to come in and share one of their own traditional family stories.

This resource is available in French: Corbeau et la boîte
Note: French book dimensions differ. 

Additional Information
16 pages | Dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771741521

Follow Raven as he flies around looking for coloured beads to make a necklace. The beads he finds are different shapes and colours.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Raven Series, a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

A Little Note about Shapes and Colours:
Sorting by shapes and colours is a foundational skill. Our world is full of shapes and colours! Young learners strive to make sense of their surroundings and look to identify shapes and colours either in real life or through multimedia. Once learned a young learner can then sort and categorize many things by shape or colour.

This resource is available in French: Corbeau fait un collier
Note: French book dimensions differ.

Additional Information
16 pages | Dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771741552

Follow Raven as he introduces each letter of the alphabet! Have fun naming each of the images for each letter.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Raven Series, a set of six books written for the emergent reader and learner. Each book focuses on a specific learning intention that builds on strengthening learning with the support of an adult.

A Little Note about the Alphabet:
Learning the alphabet is a foundational skill and learning through song is a wonderful way to learn! In hopes to eliminate confusion of learning to identify letters, we have typeset the letters in a specific manner. For example, L M N O P is not one letter and for young learners can be mistaken as such if not broken up. As you are singing the song slowly together, pointing at each letter will support young learners significantly. Notice that we pluralize alphabet to indicate there are many kinds.

Each letter of the alphabet in the book has a corresponding picture. Taking the time to talk about each picture, over several reads, will support building vocabulary. Some of the pictures are from other Raven books to help learners make connections from book to book.

This book is available in French: Corbeau chante la chanson de l’alphabet 
Note: French version dimensions differ.

Additional Information
16 pages | Dimensions: 10" x 14" | ISBN: 9781771741514

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. Raven’s Feast 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 French: Le Festin du Corbeau

Additional Information
40 pages | 11.00" x 8.50"

Colouring book for adults and children.

Sacred Feminine is a colouring book by Anishinaabe artist Jackie Traverse.

The beautiful and intricate works of art within depict images of strength, resilience, and empowerment. With each image, the artist explains the symbolism and meaning represented. The first of its kind, Sacred Feminine is intended to heal and educate readers and colourers of all ages.

Additional Information
64 pages | 10.00" x 8.00"

What do the different seasons look like in the North?

This book supports early science learning by teaching children about the seasonal changes that take place throughout the year in the Arctic.

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. Seasonal Changes is a Level 6 book in the series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. Seasonal Change's F&P Level is E.

Recommended for ages 4-6.

This book teaches about the five seasons in Nunavut. The Inuit have more seasons than just summer, spring, winter, and fall.

Additional Information
12 pages | 6.00" x 8.00" | Full-colour photographs throughout

Secret Path is a ten song album by Gord Downie with a graphic novel by illustrator Jeff Lemire that tells the story of Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack, a twelve-year-old boy who died in flight from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School fifty years ago.

Chanie, misnamed Charlie by his teachers, was a young boy who died on October 22, 1966, walking the railroad tracks, trying to escape from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School to return home. Chanie’s home was 400 miles away. He didn’t know that. He didn’t know where it was, nor how to find it, but, like so many kids—more than anyone will be able to imagine—he tried.

Chanie’s story is Canada’s story. We are not the country we thought we were. History will be re-written. We are all accountable. Secret Path acknowledges a dark part of Canada’s history—the long-suppressed mistreatment of Indigenous children and families by the residential school system—with the hope of starting our country on a road to reconciliation. Every year as we remember Chanie Wenjack, the hope for Secret Path is that it educates all Canadians young and old on this omitted part of our history, urging our entire nation to play an active role in the preservation of Indigenous lives and culture in Canada.

The next hundred years are going to be painful as we come to know Chanie Wenjack and thousands like him—as we find out about ourselves, about all of us—but only when we do can we truly call ourselves, “Canada.”

Proceeds from Secret Path will be donated to The Gord Downie Secret Path Fund for Truth and Reconciliation via The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at The University of Manitoba.

Educator Information
Recommended resource for English First Peoples grades 10-11 for units on Childhood through the Eyes of Indigenous Writers and First Steps - Exploring Residential School and Reconciliation through Children's Literature.

Note: This resource is not considered an authentic First Peoples resource.

Additional Information
96 pages | 12.00" x 12.00"

The Seven Grandfather Teachings are traditional values that are respected around the world by most Indigenous peoples as universal teachings. The Seven Grandfather Teachings depict the meaning behind all that we say, do and create.

In this colouring book you will explore the seven sacred teachings and the animals that represent each one. Written and Illustrated by Chippewa artist Gloria Hope.

"I was smitten when I first saw this colouring book. Not only have colouring books come into vogue, but Gloria's art and understanding of our Sacred Teachings are uniquely amazing! To allow children the pleasure of becoming a part of the book while coming to better understand the Sacred Teachings is nothing less than brilliant." David Bouchard