This Place: 150 Years Retold

Written by: Assorted Indigenous authors Illustrated by: Assorted Indigenous illustrators For ages: YA & Middle Grades Language: Majority English, Topics Covered: Own Voices, First Nations, Indigenous Voices, Graphic Novels, First Contact, History, Summary:  This Place is a graphic novel produced by one of my favorite Indigenous publishers, Highwater. It is an anthology of comics retelling history from a First Nations…

Tanna’s Owl

Written by: Rachel & Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley Illustrated by: Yong Ling Kang For ages: 4 years and up Language: English, some Inuktitut (pronunciation guide in back as well) Topics Covered: First Nations, Residential Schools, Own Voices, Responsibility, Pets, Growing Up, Indigenous Voices.  Summary:  This is a lovely book based on author Rachel’s own life experience raising an owl.  Tanna, or main…

Canadian Women: Now + Then

Written by: Elizabeth MacLeod Illustrated by: Maïa Faddoul For ages: 8 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: History, Biography, Canadian Women, Indigenous Voices, First Nations, Women in STEM, Women in Sports, Feminism, Journalism.  Summary:  Happy International Women’s Day! Today is a fantastic day to honor those past and present who have changed the world, and Canadian Women: Now + Then is…

Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock

Written by: Dallas Hunt Illustrated by: Amanda Strong For ages: 3-8 years Language: English & Cree Topics Covered: First Nations, Indigenous Voices, Family, Problem-Solving, Accountability, Love, Animals, Nature, Natural World, Bilingual Stories, Social-Emotional Learning, Own Voices.  Summary: More skills we wish to take into the new year are found in this book, and they are: accountability and problem-solving!  We really enjoyed…

Way Back Then

Written by: Neil Christopher Illustrated by: Germaine Arnaktauyok For ages: 3 years and up Language: Inuktitut & English, pronunciation guide included.  Topics Covered: First Nations, Indigenous Voices, Folklore, Culture & Traditions,  Summary: Kudlu’s children cannot sleep.  They beg him for stories about olden times, when there was magic and the mountains were made of giants.  Kudlu tells his children of a fox…

Anguti’s Amulet

Written by: The Central Coast of Labrador Archaeology Partnership Translated by: Sophie Tuglavina Illustrated by: Cynthia Colosimo For ages: 8 years and up Language: Inuktitut & English Topics Covered: First Nations People, Indigenous Voices, Culture & Traditions, Family, Community, Love, Historical Events, Historical Fiction. Summary: This is a two-part book.  The first tells of a young Inuit boy named Anguti and his…

Arctic Animals

Written & Illustrated by: Inhabit Media Inc., which is part of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. For Ages: Board book, infant and up. Language: Inuksiutiit & English, also contains Inuksiutiit pronunciation in Roman alphabet. Topics Covered: First Nations, Indigenous Voices, Literacy, Bilingualism, Numeracy, Culture & Traditions, Own Voices. Summary: Like the counting book we reviewed before, this is a simple board…

Inuit Tools

Written & Illustrated by: Inhabit Media Inc. which is part of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association For Ages: board book, infant and up. Language: Inuksiutiit & English, also contains Inuksiutiit pronunciation in Roman alphabet. Topics Covered: First Nations, Indigenous Voices, Literacy, Bilingualism, Numeracy, Culture & Traditions, Own Voices. Summary: This is a simple counting book that also includes traditional Inuksiutiit Inuit tools…

Go Show the World; A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes

Written by: Wab Kinew Illustrated by: Joe Morse For ages: 5-9 years Language: English Topics Covered: Indigenous Voices, Native Heroes, Historical Events, Historical Figures, First Nations. Summary: This book pairs beautiful illustrations with spare lyrical prose, sharing names and basic information about indigenous heroes across North America.  Kinew’s words also form the basis for a rap song highlighting the endurance and…

Top 5 Books We Read in 2018

2018 was a rollercoaster of a year, with so many opportunities for growth and learning all over the place! We launched this site as a passion project, and we have been so lucky to connect with many people from all over the globe, sharing our mutual love of diverse literature! We have no idea what…