Indigenous writing for kids!

"One of the most terrifying creatures to be found in traditional Inuit stories is the nanurluk, a massive bear the size of an iceberg that lives under the sea ice. Its monstrous size and ice-covered fur make it an almost impenetrable foe. But when a lone hunter spots the breathing hole of the nanurluk on the sea ice near his iglu, he uses his quick thinking and excellent hunting skills to hatch a plan to outsmart the deadly bear. (Ages 5-9)" - Publisher

"Though more violent than much picture-book fare, this streamlined story effectively conveys the way in which the Inuit people historically understood their environment and acts as a valuable window into the culture." - Kirkus Reviews

"Seven Sacred Teachings is a message of traditional values and hope for the future. The Teachings are universal to most First Nation peoples. These Teachings are seen in school communities from coast to coast across North America. They are a link that ties all Native, Inuit and Métis communities together.

The seven teachings include: respect, humility, love, truth, honesty, wisdom and courage. The stories in the book provide an example of how each teaching came to be. (Ages 9-11)" - Publisher

"Mother Earth, we come from her, we go to her, without her we wouldn't be here, she gives all of us life and because of her we are all one family. In many segments of Indigenous life we speak of Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, and Grandmother Moon. Meet Your Family is a rhythmic poem that will enlighten readers on how to view these important figures and share a greater concept of seeing the world as our natural family. (Ages 4-11)" - Publisher

"This richly illustrated book weaves together Woodland style paintings with a rhythmic poem about the spiritual lessons that we can learn from the Sun and the seven sacred teachings (Ages 5-12)" - Publisher

"Discover this gigantic Northern tale. This book introduces children to a traditional Inuit legend. Learn how the great giant Inukpak adopted a human hunter as his son. (Ages 6-8)" - Publisher

"Despite a few flaws, Inukpak and his son is an enjoyable introduction to Inuit mythology that will leave readers hungry for more stories from the north." - Canadian Review of Materials

"In this colourful, illustrated children''s book, the dreaded amautalik haunts two Inuit communities, terrifying five young but resourceful children. With luck, courage, and the knowledge of their ancestors, these young adventurers are able to face one of the most frightening beings to roam the Arctic. Listen well, young ones, for the information in these stories might just save YOU one day! (Ages 7-10)" - Publisher

"The danger amautaliit represent to naughty children, and the value and good sense of humble, bullied children, is unmistakably intended to teach the reader/listener life lessons about obedience and respect for all. Yet the stories do not come across as preachy or distractingly didactic. Even in a non-Inuit context, the stories still work extremely well because they are interesting and well told. The book echoes the strongest of good story-telling traditions." - Canadian Review of Materials

"The most magical things can come in tiny packages! In the Arctic, tales of tiny people who live on the land abound. This children's story follows the adventures of an orphan named Ava who is left to fend for himself by the adults in his village. One day, cold and alone, Ava stumbles upon a group of magical dwarves who finally show him how it feels to have a home of his own. (Ages 6-9)" - Publisher

"The story is long for the picture-book format, but children who enjoy fairy and folk tales will find the story of Ava an unusual and compelling one." - Kirkus Reviews

"This book introduces kids to the spine-tingling, hair-raising creatures found in Inuit myths. From the mahahaa, a fearsome creature that tickles people to death to the palraijuk, a reptilian creature said to have six legs and the body of a snake, this book introduces kids to all the creepy, spooky, and downright scary creatures told about in Inuit traditional myths. (Ages 5-7)" - Publisher

"Those that Cause Fear is an attractively presented, appealing book. It does little other than provide an introduction, but it is a worthwhile introduction to dangerous creatures nonetheless. Although it lacks detail and depth, young children will enjoy the book." - Canadian Review of Materials

"In this introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals, young children explain why they identify with different creatures such as a deer, beaver or moose. Delightful illustrations show the children wearing masks representing their chosen animal, while the few lines of text on each page work as a series of simple poems throughout the book. (Ages 5-8)" - Publisher

"This book will fascinate children expanding their horizons and learning about other cultures (or, in the case of Anishinaabe kids, their own)." - Kirkus Reviews

"Do you believe in ghosts? In Metis Spirits, Deborah Delaronde shows once again how the history of the Metis winds through the experiences of today. Her first collection of short stories for young readers weaves magic through time to show how we all can be guided by the spirits of our past. (Ages 8-10)" - Publisher

"The story of Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters is a very old Mi'kmaw legend. It happens in the North Sky as the stars that show the story of Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters move around Tatapn, the North Star. In the pictures in this book you can see how these stars, shown as they appear two hours before dawn, move through the night sky. They are in a different position in each of the seasons because they are the time-keepers, they are the calendar. All through the year, as the stars and planets travel through the sky, the Mi'kmaq watch the story of Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters as it unfolds before their eyes. (Ages 4-10)" - Publisher

"The story helps the reader remember and visualize the movement of the constellation while reinforcing cultural mores, like sharing and gratitude." - Canadian Review of Materials

"This children's book by award-winning novelist Thomas King tells two fables featuring the trickster Coyote. In Coyote Sings to the Moon, Coyote must get the Moon back into the sky after he insults it and causes Moon to plunge into a pond, sending the world into darkness. In Coyote's New Suit, the mischievous Raven insists that Coyote's brown suit is not the finest in the forest. Coyote then steals the suits of the other animals while Raven convinces the animals to steal clothes from the humans. Raven then suggests Coyote have a yard sale — which becomes chaotic as both the humans and animals show up looking for their lost clothes. (Ages 9-11)" - Publisher

"Though usually cast as the trickster, Coyote is more victim than victimizer, making this a nice complement to other Coyote tales." - Kirkus Reviews

"This book brings the Arctic to life for young readers. Featuring a protagonist named Allashua, the book takes readers on a journey below the sea ice, where they meet a frightening creature known as Qallupilluit. This story has its origins in traditional tales designed to protect children in Inuit communities from harm. (Ages 3-5)" - Publisher

"Overall, this is a strong picture-book offering from Robert Munsch, even if it's not quite what one would expect from this author. I definitely recommend giving it a try." The Ladybug Reads

"Takannaaluk" means "the one down there"—a term used in the High Arctic to refer to the mother of sea mammals, the most important being in Inuit mythology. This unique picture book tells how she came to be both feared and respected. As a young woman, Takannaaluk is tricked into marrying a sea bird posing as a man and then betrayed by her family. Her story is brought to vivid life by respected elder Herve Paniaq and renowned artist Germaine Arnaktauyok. (Ages 5-9)" - Publisher

"Germaine Arnaktauyok's images... are gorgeous, rich in colour and shape, culturally relevant and wholly appropriate for a story from the Arctic, making Takannaaluk bewitching as well as edifying." - CanLit for Little Canadians

"The Shadows that Rush Past introduces young readers to some of the creepiest, scariest stories from Inuit mythology. These tales, told by critically acclaimed writer Rachel Qitsualik, bring to life four creatures from Inuit mythology: the amautalik, akhla, nanurluk, and mahaha. These tales are filled with child-stealing ogresses; monsters that are half-man, half-grizzly bear; ice-covered polar bears ten times the size of normal bears; and a smiling creature that surprises unsuspecting campers and tickles them to death! (Ages 9-11)" - Publisher

"The myths and legends of the past can be a touchstone and a guide for the future. The tenuousness of surviving the elements and harsh geography of the North inform these myths - they are rough, brutal, full of violence, blood and death." - Canadian Review of Materials

"Winter can be cruel in the Arctic, and food quickly grows scarce for those who cannot hunt. In these difficult times, the grandmother of an orphaned boy wishes aloud for the qallupaluit - strange, monstrous creatures that live under the sea ice - to take her grandson away forever. The old woman soon regrets her hasty words when the little boy is snatched and carried away to the creatures'' underwater lair. After enlisting the help of her fellow villagers, the old woman learns that her grandson may be happier with the qallupaluit than he ever was with her. (Ages 7-10)" - Publisher

"In the time before animals were as they are today, Raven and Loon were both white. Their feathers had no colour at all. Raven spent his days swooping through the sky trying to fight off his incessant boredom, while Loon spent her days in her iglu working away on her sewing. One day, too bored to even fly, Raven visited Loon and suggested a sewing game that would give their feathers some much-needed colour. The results - not at all what the two birds expected - led to Raven and Loon acquiring their now-familiar coats. (Ages 3-7)" - Publisher

"Beautiful, eye-catching illustrations are done in soft contrasting colors, and the text is uniquely centered on spare white pages. Children will relate to the actions and feelings of the cleverly depicted characters." - School Library Journal

"In this Inuit tale, the actions of a hare and a fox change the Arctic forever by creating day and night. In very early times, there was no night or day and words spoken by chance could become real. When a hare and a fox meet and express their longing for light and darkness, their words are too powerful to be denied. Passed orally from storyteller to storyteller for hundreds of years, this beautifully illustrated story weaves together elements of an origin story and a traditional animal tale, giving young readers a window into Inuit mythology. (Ages 3-7)" - Publisher

"Rumbolt grew up listening to traditional Inuit stories and customs shared by her family and other elders. Her cadenced retelling of this traditional origin story will help young readers learn how to compromise and problem solve." - Kirkus Reviews

"In The Legend of Lightning and Thunder, a traditional legend that has been told in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut for centuries, two siblings resort to stealing from their fellow villagers.
In this tale of guilt and consequence, the actions of the two children lead them to flee punishment by escaping to the sky as thunder and lightning. This beautifully illustrated traditional legend weaves together elements of an origin story and a traditional cautionary tale, giving young readers an accessible window into centuries-old Inuit mythology that is specific to the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. (Ages 7-9)" - Publisher

"This title is ideal for reading aloud with a class or story-time group, and it lends itself well to discussions of moral ideas such as stealing and exclusion." - School Library Journal

"From the bestselling creator of The Thundermaker comes another adventure featuring Little Thunder and Wolverine—a trickster, who is strong and fierce and loyal. The two are best of friends, even though Wolverine can sometimes get them into trouble. Their favourite pastime is eel fishing, whether it's cutting through winter ice with a stone axe or catching eels in traditional stone weirs in the summer. But that all changes one night, when they encounter the giant river eel—the eel that is too big to catch. The eel that hunts people! At once a universal story of friendship and problem-solving, Wolverine and Little Thunder is a contemporary invocation of traditional Mi'kmaw knowledge, reinforcing the importance of the relationship between the Mi'kmaq and eel, a dependable year-round food source traditionally offered to Glooscap, the Creator, for a successful hunt. (Ages 5-9)" - Publisher

"Although animals are killed in the story, the artwork isn't gory or scary. The contrast between Wolverine's reckless, fearless side and Little Thunder's quiet demeanour are shown when they are hunting and fishing, with the story providing several examples of the benefits of their teamwork and friendship." - Resource Links

"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. (Ages 5-9)" - Publisher

"Readers young and old with an interest in traditional Aboriginal stories will be entertained and informed by Syliboy's work." Canadian Review of Materials

"Two-Feather had been wandering all winter, lonely and hungry. One spring night he goes to sleep to forget the despair, only to be awakened by a voice calling his name. It is a woman, so beautiful that Two-Feather immediately falls in love with her, and begs for her to stay with him forever. The woman leads him over mountains and through forests. Two-Feather obeys her every command, even the last, most difficult, only to find she has left him, but not without ensuring that he will never be lonely or hungry again. (Ages 7-10)" - Publisher

"When Chris and Toby Greyeyes find a raven in the garage, they try to trap it and hurt it with hockey sticks. To them, ravens are just a nuisance because they spread garbage all over the street. Or so they think—until a mysterious man who smells like pine needles enters their lives and teaches them his story of the raven. (Ages 7-10)" - Publisher

"On British Columbia's northwest coast lies the Sacred Headwaters--the source of three of British Columbia's largest salmon-bearing rivers. These rivers are the source of life for all creatures in the area. But what gave life to the rivers themselves? Astace, a young Gitxsan hunter, is intent on catching a group of swans with his bare hands. He is carried away by the birds'' powerful wings and dropped in the clouds. With only a cedar box of water Astace wanders the clouds, growing weaker, stumbling and spilling the contents. When he finally returns to earth he discovers lakes, creeks, and rivers where there were none before. The Gitxsan rejoice at having him home, and name the new river they live alongside Ksien--"juice from the clouds." (Ages 7-11)" - Publisher

"Not only is Cloudwalker a memorable retelling of an ancient story, but it also emphasizes the vital importance of protecting our rivers." - Canadian Children's Book News

"In a time when darkness covered the land, a boy named Weget is born who is destined to bring the light. With the gift of a raven''s skin that allows him to fly as well as transform, Weget turns into a bird and journeys from Haida Gwaii into the sky. There he finds the Chief of the Heavens who keeps the light in a box. By transforming himself into a pine needle, clever Weget tricks the Chief and escapes with the daylight back down to Earth. (Ages 7-10)" - Publisher

"The illustrations in this book are as beautiful as the story. Each full page work of art adds to the story in a way that is pure magic." - Resource Links

"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. (Ages 6-8)" - Publisher

"A rare variant of a nearly universal myth, with powerfully evocative illustrations." - Kirkus Reviews

"Thousands of years ago in the village of Kitkatla, four hunters leave home in the spring to harvest seaweed and sockeye. When they arrive at their fishing grounds, exhaustion makes them lazy and they throw their anchor overboard without care for the damage it might do to marine life or the sea floor. When Orca Chief discovers what the hunters have done, he sends his most powerful orca warriors to bring the men and their boat to his house. The men beg forgiveness for their ignorance and lack of respect, and Orca Chief compassionately sends them out with his pod to show them how to sustainably harvest the ocean's resources. (Ages 7-13)" - Publisher

"A younger audience may simply enjoy the book for its bold images and exciting storyline while older readers can delve deeper into both the artwork and the story's implications of sustainability and environmental stewardship." - Canadian Review of Materials

"A young girl is mysteriously summoned by her grandmother to spend an evening on an island forest. Grandmother invokes the spirits of their ancestors and they join in a mystical, ancient Firedance (Ages 6-9)" - Publisher

"The paintings, in deep, rich colors, show island scenes familiar by day but strangely new at night and convey the range of emotions the young girl feels during her first experience as a Firedancer." - Booklist