Browse Books for Kids

Mi’kmaw artist Alan Syliboy’s The Thundermaker is based on Alan’s spectacular mixed-media exhibit of the same name. In the book, Big Thunder teaches his son, Little Thunder, about the important responsibility he has making thunder for his people. Little Thunder learns about his Mi’kmaw identity through his father’s teachings and his mother’s traditional stories. Syliboy’s spectacular, vibrant artwork brings the story of Little Thunder to vivid life.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 9.00" | 

All the kids in Ms May’s classroom are making cards for Father’s Day. What are the kids with no dads supposed to do? Akilah has a great idea – with her friend Kai, she creates a club for the kids with families that don’t include dads. There’s mamas and tias and babas and moms and abuelas! Find out how the kids celebrate their families in The Zero Dads Club, a beautifully illustrated story showing that all families are just right.

Educator Information 
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Additional Information
28 pages | 10.75" x 8.25" | Paperback 

Three young men—Flinch, Bryce, and Rupert—have vandalized their community and are sent by its Elders to live nine months on the land as part of the circle sentencing process. There, the young men learn to take responsibility for their actions and acquire the humility required to return home. But, when they do return, will they be forgiven for what they’ve done?

Three Feathers explores the power and grace of restorative justice in one Northern community and the cultural legacy that can empower future generations.

Three Feathers is the third title in The Debwe Series. Created in the spirit of the Anishinaabe concept debwe (to speak the truth), The Debwe Series is a collection of exceptional Aboriginal writings from across Canada.

Reviews
"Three Feathers is a graphic novel illustrated by stark, black and white images. Many of the frames have no captioning, inviting the reader to intuit the narrative. K. Mateus, the illustrator, makes imaginative use of Aboriginal symbols and motifs in this 48 page book; when Gabe is attacked, demonic figures shadow the background, and when Bryce rails at the members of the community sentencing circle, the image of an angry wildcat snarls behind him." - CM Magazine

Educator & Series Information
Grades 10-12 BC English First Peoples Resource for units on Childhood and Place-Conscious Learning.

Recommended for grades 9 to 12.

This book is part of The Debwe Series, which features exceptional Indigenous writings from across Canada.

This book is available in French: Trois Plumes

Additional Information
48 pages | 6.50" x 10.00"

This beautifully illustrated children’s book is the second instalment of Treaty Tales, an original trilogy that makes learning about the treaties and their history fun and engaging.

When Neepin visits her kookoo to make homemade bannock, she learns about an important friendship that started a long time ago and still lasts today.

Educator Information
This resource is part of the Treaty Tales Series.

This resource is also available in French: L’amitié

Additional Information
30 pages | 10.23" x 9.25"

This beautifully illustrated children’s book is the third and final instalment of Treaty Tales, an original trilogy that makes learning about the treaties and their history fun and engaging.

Join Neepin and her kookoo around the campfire in We Are All Treaty People, and hear a story about the modern-day significance of the treaties for all those living in Canada. Maybe even become inspired, like Neepin, to take up the First Nations storytelling tradition.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Treaty Tales series.

This resource is also available in French: Les traités nous concernent tous

The majority of Natives in North America live "off the rez." How do they stay rooted to their culture? How do they connect with their community?

Urban Tribes offers unique insight into this growing and often misperceived group. This anthology profiles young urban Natives and how they connect with Native culture and values in their contemporary lives.

Their stories are as diverse as they are. From a young Dene woman pursuing an MBA at Stanford University to a Pima photographer in Phoenix to a Mohawk actress in New York City, these urban Natives share their unique insight to bridge the divide between their past and their future, their cultural home, and their adopted cities.

Unflinchingly honest and deeply moving, the contributors explore a wide range of topics: from the trials and tribulations of dating in the city to the alienating experience of leaving a remote reserve to attend high school in the city, from the mainstream success of the Electric Pow Wow music genre to the humiliation of racist school mascots.

Each of the personal perspectives helps to illuminate larger political issues. An innovative and highly visual design offers a dynamic reading experience.

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 11 - 18.

Recommended Authentic First Peoples resource.

Recommended English First Peoples resource.

Additional Information
136 pages | 6.75" x 9.50" | colour illustrations and photographs, foreward, introduction, bibliography

Miskwaadesi is puzzled about the teaching Truth. But she knows more than she thinks she does.

Educator Information
What is Truth, Betsy? is a part of the series The Seven Teachings Stories. The Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe—love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth—are revealed in seven stories for children. Set in urban landscapes, Indigenous children tell familiar stories about home, school, and community.

Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

This resource is also available in French: Qu'est-ce que la verite, Betsy ?: Une histoire sur la vérité 

Additional Information
24 pages | 6.00" x 8.00"

Whether they live alone or together, in a hive or in a hole in the ground, bees do some of the most important work on the planet: pollinating plants. What’s the Buzz? celebrates the magic of bees—from swarming to dancing to making honey—and encourages readers to do their part to keep the hives alive.

All over the world, bee colonies are dwindling, but everyone can do something to help save the bees, from buying local honey to growing a bee-friendly garden.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Orca FootPrints series. Kids today inhabit a world full of complex—and often mystifying—environmental issues. Orca Footprints aim to help kids answer their questions about the state of the natural world with well-researched, simply-expressed information and powerful images. With topics such as food production, water, cycling and sustainable energy, these books will inspire kids to take action.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Additional Information
48 pages | 8.00" x 9.50"

Akuluk is not excited about visiting her grandparents in Nunavut. She would rather head south for summer vacation, somewhere with roller coasters and cotton candy. There can't be much to do way up there, Akuluk figures. But as soon as she steps off the plane and sees all the exciting animals that the tundra has to offer, Akuluk forgets all about her dreams of going south. On her first full day in Nunavut, she can't wait to travel out on the land with her grandfather to hunt for wild eggs.

As she learns about the different types of eggs, how to collect them properly, and the delicious meals that can be prepared with them, Akuluk knows that this is just the beginning of the exciting things she'll learn about the Arctic.

Additional Information
36 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Paperback Edition Published: 2018

In Indigenous cultures, elders serve as a bridge across time: they are connected to the past, they live in the present and they offer wisdom for the future. In these fascinating biographical essays, twelve First Nation and Native American elders share stories from their lives and tell what it was like to live in a time before television, cell phones and video games. Their stories explain how their humble childhoods shaped the adults they became and the lessons they share as elders. All the elders profiled work to ensure that their Native culture is passed down to members of their tribe. Settle in with this book and “listen” to the stories of these elders’ lives. As you take in their history, you just might gain wisdom that could make a difference in your own life.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the First Nations Series for Young Readers. Each book is a collection of biographies of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and men who are leaders in their fields of work, in their art, and in their communities. 

For ages 9-14.

Additional Information 
128 pages | 6.00" x 9.00"

The Strong Readers: Métis Series launched in December 2014.

Guided Reading bundles include 6 copies of each of the 8 titles in the Métis Series.

The Métis Series includes a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books that provide cultural reflections of the Métis.

The series includes titles ranging from levels 3 to 18:

LV. 3 - My Métis Sash
LV. 6 - Métis People Travel!
LV. 8 - I Can Bead
LV. 10 - Giving Thanks
LV. 12 - A Métis New Year
LV. 14 - Two Métis Vests
LV. 16 - A Red River Cart
LV. 18 - Ways To Carry A Métis Baby

Educator Information
This resource is also available in French HERE!

Additional Information
ISBN 9781771746649

The Strong Readers Métis Series launched in December 2014.

Single sets include 1 copy each of the 8 titles in the Métis Series.

The Métis Series includes a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books that provide cultural reflections of the Métis.

The series includes titles ranging from levels 3 to 18:

LV. 3 - My Métis Sash
LV. 6 - Métis People Travel!
LV. 8 - I Can Bead
LV. 10 - Giving Thanks
LV. 12 - A Métis New Year
LV. 14 - Two Métis Vests
LV. 16 - A Red River Cart
LV. 18 - Ways To Carry A Métis Baby

Educator Information
This resource is also available in French HERE!

Additional Information
ISBN: 9781771745918

Written by Richelle Lovegrove and illustrated by Amber Green, A Big Mistake? is a beautiful children’s book that explores friendship, gifts and generosity.

When Summer’s best friend compliments the necklace her kokum gave her, she remembers her Elder’s teaching and gives the necklace away. But when her kokum comes over for supper, Summer worries that she made a big mistake by giving away such a special gift.

Nearly 200 species of birds nest in the North American Arctic. While a few hardy species live in the Arctic year-round, most birds travel seasonally to the Arctic to lay their eggs and raise their young. In this first volume of A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds, young readers will learn about twelve of the birds that call the Arctic home, whether that be for the whole year or just for the summer. With a simple layout and easy-to-follow headings for each bird, this beautiful book is filled with fun, useful facts, including where each bird nests during the short Arctic summer, and how young readers can recognize each bird's song in the wind.

This beginner’s guide explores the major attributes of the forest biome and showcases its striking beauty and remarkable diversity using examples from around the globe.

Through simple, easy-to-understand language and beautifully detailed paintings, this guide describes the characteristics of different types of forests - from the cold boreal forests of the northern hemisphere to the warm tropical forests near the equator - and shows how various species of animals and plants have adapted to life in these habitats.

Awards
- Best Children’s Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education, 2008
- Society of School Librarians International Book Awards (Honor Book, Science K-6) ―Society of School Librarians International, 2007

Reviews
“It can be easy to forget that sometimes readers just need a simple concept, presented without bells and whistles: this book does just that… This is another strong series book for the Sills and would be a fine addition to elementary school and public libraries.” ― School Library Journal

“The Sills do a good job of showing (and especially identifying) both plants and animals… A solid introduction…” ― Kirkus Reviews

“Need an engaging K-2 book to help you teach habitats? Forests does a wonderful job of introducing early childhood learners to forest habitats and the organisms found there. ―NSTA Recommends

Educator Information
With simple text and language, and strong picture support (paintings), this non-fiction narrative teaches children what forests 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"