Browse Books for Kids

A comprehensive exploration of sound for young children that's friendly, fun and easy to digest.

From a cat's purr to a thunderstorm's clap, from a friend's voice to a school bell's clang, sounds can lull us, entice us or call us to action. But how does sound happen? How do we hear it? What makes some sounds loud and some soft? Some high pitched and some low pitched? How do humans and animals use sound to communicate? Which sounds happen naturally, and which are created for a specific purpose? This charming picture book explores all of these questions in child-friendly language, offering readers a gentle introduction to how sound works that will encourage them to stop and listen.

In this highly original book, Susan Hughes uses appealing and inviting text that speaks directly to young children to explain the physics of sound. From describing how sounds are made by the vibrations of air, to identifying and considering the different sources of sound and its properties (pitch, tone, volume), this book is an excellent curriculum-based tool for physical science that strongly supports the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for kindergarten and first grade. Ellen Rooney's sweet, playful illustrations colorfully illuminate the concepts, incorporating the same character and his dog on every spread. Easy-to-understand decibel and hertz charts are included. There is also a fun activity and a glossary.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.55" x 10.45"

Spencer can't wait to go outside and play with his friends. He wants to play basketball and practise for the tryouts at school. But Gary the Snow Goose doesn't want to play basketball with him. Gary wants to play street hockey. The two friends can't come to an agreement. When Spencer sees that there is a reason why Gary doesn't want to play basketball, he remembers what his grandmother taught him about showing respect.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of a series that teaches children about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles, or "IQ" principles, which are a set of communal laws that focus on the ways one is expected to behave. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit literally translates to "that which Inuit have always known to be true." This book incorporates the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) principle of Inuuqatigiitsiarniq: respecting others, relationships, and caring for people. IQ principles are a set of communal laws that focus on the ways one is expected to behave.

Recommended ages: 6 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Colour Illustrations | Paperback 

Spencer the siksik is excited for the first day of school! When he gets to class, the teacher introduces a new student: Gary the snow goose. Spencer doesn't want to let Gary play with him and his friends. He thinks Gary will just confuse things because he is new. But when Spencer sees that Gary is upset, he remembers what his grandmother taught him about being welcoming.

Educator & Series Information
This book is the first in a series that teaches children about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles, or "IQ" principles, which are a set of communal laws that focus on the ways one is expected to behave. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit literally translates to "that which Inuit have always known to be true." This book teaches the IQ principle of Tunnganarniq: Being Welcoming.

Recommended ages: 6 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Colour Illustrations | Paperback 

Au cours des 13 dernières années, Spirit Bear a travaillé fort pour s’assurer que les enfants des Premières Nations obtiennent l’aide dont ils ont besoin lorsqu’ils en ont besoin afin de grandir en toute sécurité au sein de leur foyer, d’être en bonne santé, d’avoir une bonne éducation et d’être fiers de qui ils sont.

Le voyage a été long et Spirit Bear a besoin de vacances! Sa famille et lui partirent pour les territoires Songhees et Esquimalt (Victoria, Colombie‑Britannique) pour leur aventure de vacances. En chemin, ils voient une statue de John A. Macdonald, le 1er premier ministre du Canada, être enlevée des marches de l’hôtel de ville de Victoria. Certaines personnes ont des pancartes qui disent « Sauvez la statue », et d’autres ont des pancartes qui disent « La statue doit partir! » Spirit Bear et sa famille apprennent pourquoi les gens ne sont pas d’accord et comment nous pouvons apprendre des bons et des mauvais moments de l’histoire pour prendre de meilleures décisions maintenant et pour les générations futures d’enfants des Premières Nations, des Métis et des Inuit.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

This book is available in English: Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past: Based on a True Story

Additional Information
51 pages | 8.25" x 8.25" | Paperback 

This chapter book edition of the groundbreaking #1 bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of racism and antiracism in America.

RACE. Uh-oh. The R-word.
But actually talking about race is one of the most important things to learn how to do.

Adapted from the award-winning, bestselling Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.

Ibram X. Kendi’s research, Jason Reynolds’s and Sonja Cherry-Paul’s writing, and Rachelle Baker’s art come together in this vital read, enhanced with a glossary, timeline, and more.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 10

Additional Information
176 pages | 5.50" x 7.90" | Hardcover 

When you go for a walk in nature, who do you see? What do you hear?

Award-winning storyteller Nicola I. Campbell shows what it means “to stand like a cedar” on this beautiful journey of discovery through the wilderness. Learn the names of animals in the Nłe7kepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us. Experience a celebration of sustainability and connection to the land through lyrical storytelling and Carrielynn Victor’s breathtaking art in this children’s illustrated book.

Discover new sights and sounds with every read.

Reviews
"Stand Like a Cedar is a work of grace and dignity, a celebration of land, family, and knowing who you are and where you come from and being so grateful for everything you’ve been given. Bravo, Nicola Campbell and Carrielynn Victor for creating this treasure. I love it."—Richard Van Camp, author of Little You and A Blanket of Butterflies

"Campbell’s rhythmic writing is wonderful, conveying important messages about the environment and family. Victor’s vibrant renderings accompany the engaging text nicely. Bold illustrations portray elements such as weather, nature, and animals alongside evocative details like glowing skylines. An Indigenous girl shares vivid lessons in this lovely, thoughtful environmental tale." —Kirkus Reviews

"Stand Like a Cedar is a story that connects the journey of building connections through a journey in the wilderness. Through the blended use of the Nłeʔkepmxcín and Halq'emeylem languages, readers are exposed to the healing that takes place in nature. The lyrical storytelling celebrates the healing and strength that comes from building one’s connections to their own journey." - The Dalai Lama Center

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Learn the names of animals in the Nłe7kepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us.

Includes a glossary of phrases and a translation guide.

Includes a page of back matter on Coastal and Interior Salish Languages.

This book is available in French: Debout comme un grand cedre

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.12" x 7.75"

With its smart design, beautiful illustrations and perfect size to pop in a backpack, Take Me Outdoors is a fun, lively way to engage with the wild and natural world. Each of the five ‘adventure’ chapters help children to engage with their surroundings, from their own backgarden or local park, to a beach, forest or lakeside. As they complete lists, draw pictures and answer questions, they will be thinking carefully about the environment and nature as they experience it – what they can see, hear and feel, and how they can look after it. A final chapter allows them to compare their adventures, and there's also a useful glossary so they can learn new words and ideas. Fun, quirky and bursting with facts about birds, bugs and plants; the weather and the environment; expeditions and explorers; and the artists and writers who have been inspired by nature, this book is a must for children curious about the incredible world they live in. It's both a great keepsake and a tool for sparking creative writing.

Reviews
"A book to make going outside an inspiring adventure. This little paperback does much more than it says on the tin. . . It really should make young people see and think differently about the natural world around them, and packs in a great deal of information and stimulation." -- Andrea Reece, LoveReading4Kids

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

Additional Information
96 pages | 6.20" x 8.00" | Colour illustrations throughout 

“Anaana, why do you have these lines on your chin?”

Arnaaleq wants to be just like her anaana, but she has a lot to learn before taking on the traditional responsibilities of a woman. Follow Arnaaleq as she grows up and works hard to master the skills to earn her own talloqut. Learn about West Greenlandic traditions in this story by tattoo artist Paninnguaq Lind Jensen.

Educator & Series Information
This book exposes children to Inuit traditions and ways of life.

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. This book is a level 13 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series. Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level is O.

Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Additional Information
52 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover

The A Girl Called Echo series tells the story of Métis teenager Echo Desjardins, who is struggling to adjust to a new school and a new home while in foster care. Readers follow Echo as she travels through time and experiences pivotal events from Métis history, gains new perspectives about where she came from, and imagines what the future might hold.

Written by Anishinaabe educator Reuben Boulette, the Teacher Guide for A Girl Called Echo includes

• lesson plans specific to each book in the A Girl Called Echo series
• original articles outlining the history of the Métis Nation and their fight for sovereignty
• in-depth reading activities that engage students’ critical thinking skills
• activities that introduce students to the critical study of graphic novels and sequential art

This teacher guide will engage students’ understanding of Métis history and culture and encourage reflection on the importance of learning Indigenous histories.

Educator Information
Recommended for grades 6 to 8.

Find the A Girl Called Echo Series HERE!

Additional Information
72 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Spiral Bound

When the narrator of this fun and silly book is startled by the buzzing of a bee, she sets off on an adventure that sees her running from community to community, trying to lose her buzzing companion. When she has run clear across Nunavut, she finally realizes that perhaps this little bee isn’t such a fearsome foe after all!

Reviews
"Should delight little ones with rhythmic and repetitive words and actions." —Kirkus

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Themes: Nunavut, Indigenous, Qaariaq, Arctic, fear of bees.

Includes an Inuktitut pronunciation guide.

The Bee is based on the author's award-winning song "Qaariaq".

Additional Information
28 pages | 8.50" x 8.50" | Hardcover 

She was named Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop.

Omakayas and her family live on an island in Lake Superior. Though there are growing numbers of white people encroaching on their land, life continues much as it always has.

But the satisfying rhythms of their life are shattered when a visitor comes to their lodge one winter night, bringing with him an invisible enemy that will change things forever—but that will eventually lead Omakayas to discover her calling.

By turns moving and humorous, this novel is a breathtaking tour de force by a gifted writer.

Educator & Series Information
This is the first book in the Birchbark House Series, a series of Indigenous juvenile fiction novels written by Ojibwe writer Louise Erdrich. The Birchbark House Series follows a character known as Omakayas and her Ojibwe community.

The series is set in the nineteenth century, in the same era as Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House books, but narrated from the points of view of members of an Ojibwe family. These books offer a unique and crucial perspective for fans of historical fiction.

The books in this series in order include: 
The Birchbark House
The Game of Silence
The Porcupine Year
Chickadee
Makoons

This story was inspired by Louise Erdrich and her mother's research of their own family history.

Additional Information
272 pages | 5.12" x 7.62" | Paperback

The Mighty Muskrats, four cousins from the Windy Lake First Nation, are back for another mystery!

The National Assembly of Cree Peoples has gathered together in the Windy Lake First Nation, home to the Mighty Muskrats—cousins Chickadee, Atim, Otter, and Sam. But when the treaty bundle, the center of a four-day-long ceremony, is taken, the four mystery-solving cousins set out to catch those responsible and help protect Windy Lake’s reputation!

What’s worse, prime suspect Pearl takes off to the city with her older brother and known troublemaker, Eddie. If they have the burgled bundle with them, the Mighty Muskrats fear it may be lost for good. With clues pointing in too many different directions, the cousins need to find and return the missing bundle before the assembly comes to an end. The history and knowledge passed down to each generation through the bundle is at stake.

Educator & Series Information
This is Book 3 in the Mighty Muskrats Mystery Series. It continues the entertaining dynamic of the Mighty Muskrats, the four cousins who each bring their unique talents to solving mysteries in their community.

This book's setting is the Windy Lake First Nation, where an important cultural gathering is happening, called in the book "The National Assembly of Cree People" and inspired by real-life First Nation/Cree gatherings and ceremonies.

Recommended for ages 9 to 12 (middle-grade read).

Subjects: Civil Rights, Indigenous (Rights to Land, Rights to Natural Resources, Knowledge, Protection of Cultural Ceremonies)

This book is available in French: Le Traité envolé: Une enquête des Rats musclés 

Additional Information
216 pages | 5.25" x 7.50"

Thomas loves to tell stories. Big stories. Stories about how skilled he is on the land. But when one of his friends grows tired of his tall tales, Thomas has to prove how skilled he really is. Taking the challenge to spend a night alone in the forest, Thomas heads into the wilderness. The trees, who have heard his stories, watch him tear off their bark and litter as he goes. And so, while Thomas sleeps, they dance a dance that will leave Thomas with a very different kind of story to tell—if he can find his way home…

In this book, Masiana Kelly draws on the beauty of the Northwest Territories and the wisdom of Elders to illustrate the importance of treating the land around us with respect.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Themes: Indigenous, Nature Conservation, Litter, Teaching Honesty, Values and Virtues

Additional Information
32 pages | 8.00" x 9.50" | Hardcover 

In this Own Voices Native American picture book, a modern Wabanaki girl is excited to accompany her grandmother for the first time to harvest sweetgrass for basket making. She must overcome her impatience while learning to distinguish sweetgrass from other salt marsh grasses, but slowly the spirit and peace of her surroundings speak to her, and she gathers sweetgrass as her ancestors have done for centuries, leaving the first blade she sees to grow for future generations. This sweet, authentic story from a Maliseet mother and her Passamaquoddy husband includes backmatter about traditional basket making and a Wabanaki glossary.

Reviews
"Quiet text shows how careful observation and the respect of nature can provide unexpected gifts." - Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 9.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

A story of hope and friendship, in which resilience trumps tragedy in the wake of a forest fire.

After moving from the city, one boy discovers his new home in the woods isn't so bad—there is friendship in the midst of the forest. But when he spots a fire on the horizon that soon engulfs everything he's come to know—the bugs, the plants, the fox who keeps him company—he is forced to flee. When his newfound comfort goes up in smoke, how can he ever feel at home again?

In a forest fire, so much can change in an instant. But both fox and boy learn that there are some things fire cannot burn. With time, the forest will regrow, the animals will return to their home, and so will the boy and his mom.

As we all search for tools for understanding the destruction of forest fires, this touching story shows that hope, friendship, and resilience shine the brightest.

Reviews
"Despite the serious and timely topic (with wildfires becoming increasingly common in the American West due to climate change), Popovici’s lean text and gentle cartoon-style paintings keep the tone suitable for young readers. . . . [T]he child audience will understand that families, both human and fox, can thrive after tragedy."—The Horn Book Magazine

"A sensitively told story of an all-too-common occurrence." — Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

TIMELY: As fires rage over a wider swath of the United States, Canada, and internationally, and as fire season lengthens year after year, and sets new records year after year, these are themes communities are engaging with daily during fire season.

WRITTEN BY A FIREFIGHTER: The author-illustrator was a volunteer firefighter, giving him a unique perspective on the topic of forest fires.

EMOTIONALLY RESONANT: This moving story ends with rebuilding—both for humans and for nature—and with a truly uplifting message of resilience.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING: A wonderful resource for families and communities experiencing the aftermath of a fire or other natural disasters, as well as anyone looking to empathize with, and better understand, those communities in need.

CLASSROOM RESOURCE: Not only is this the perfect resource for talking about topics like the environment, natural disasters, forest management, and emergency preparedness, this book will also spark important conversations about coping with personal and community tragedies. The author-illustrator reflects on his own experiences with forest fires in the author's note, and backmatter provides additional context.

Additional Information
44 pages | 9.35" x 11.35" | Hardcover