Great Reads
Indigenous Writers
A Coyote Solstice Tale
Author: Thomas King; Illustrator: Gary Clement
Coyote has a solstice party with his friends. A human arrives and invites everyone to the mall. The animals are excited to go somewhere new. Raven learns a big lesson about consumerism.
The Orange Shirt Story
Author: Phyllis Webstad; Illustrator: Brock Nichol
This is the true story of Phyllis, a girl scooped up into the Residential School system travesty. It tells the story of a prized gift from her grandmother stolen from her as well as introduces the ideas behind our current "Orange Shirt Day".
"Orange Shirt Day" is an important topic and one that we cannot shy away from, even for our youngest learners. I appreciate the conversations it brings about and that its themes of fear and resilience are relatable for all children. This is a good way to learn about how schools have changed and about prejudice.
My Sweetest Kulu
Author: Celina Kalluk; Illustrator: Alexia Neonakis
It is a lovely story of the birth of a new child into the community. To honor the event, all the animals come and bring gifts (strength, love, courage, etc) for the child. It teaches the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants.
A Salmon For Simon
Author: Betty Waterton; Illustrator: Anne Blades
Simon has always wanted to catch a salmon. One day, an eagle drops one into a tidal pool in front of him. He suddenly finds himself feeling torn between helping the salmon and keeping it.
I use this book several times throughout the year. I like the lessons of compassion and persistence it teaches. I use the images to discuss similarities and differences in communities. I also use it as part of our unit of salmon in which we raise salmon in the classroom. Strong Nations also offers a lesson plan on its website.
A Day with Yayah
Author: Nicola I. Campbell; Illustrator: Julie Flett
A family goes out to forage for local foods/medicines. The matriarch of the family, Grandmother, teaches and shares her knowledge and wisdom on their outing.
I like that this story illustrates the importance of inter-generational teachings and learning. I use this story to preface discussions about family and knowledge keeping. I think it would be an interesting story to introduce that we will be learning from a local Indigenous elder who will be joining us to teach about our local environment and its stories.
The Elders Are Watching
Authors: David Bouchard & Roy Henry Vickers; Illustrator: Roy Henry Vickers
This book is written in poetic form and uses rich, sophisticated language. It is the story of the concern the elders have as they bear witness to our current unsustainable, destructive ways.
The topics of environmental care/concern and inter-generational teaching are very important to my unit on community. But I also think beauty and wonder are equally important and the artwork of Roy Henry Vickers is some of my favorite. I use this book to teach higher level thinking about social responsibility and also as an inspiration for art work.
We Are a Community
Author: Brenda Boreham & Terri Mack; Illustrator: Bill Helon
This book is a part of a series that includes a variety of topics relevant to BC communities. This one is a story about a river and how it connects people and place. The books in this series use photographs, illustrations and story to intertwine ancient and modern; stories and knowledge.
I refer to this book numerous times throughout the unit. At first I will read it as a read aloud and then it will become a reference text in our inquiry center. Its mix of photographs and illustrations make it approachable to beginning readers for research.