Africville by
Finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award, Young People's Literature - Illustrated Books When a young girl visits the site of Africville, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the stories she's heard from her family come to mind. She imagines what the community was once like -- the brightly painted houses nestled into the hillside, the field where boys played football, the pond where all the kids went rafting, the bountiful fishing, the huge bonfires. Coming out of her reverie, she visits the present-day park and the sundial where her great- grandmother's name is carved in stone, and celebrates a summer day at the annual Africville Reunion/Festival. Africville was a vibrant Black community for more than 150 years. But even though its residents paid municipal taxes, they lived without running water, sewers, paved roads and police, fire-truck and ambulance services. Over time, the city located a slaughterhouse, a hospital for infectious disease, and even the city garbage dump nearby. In the 1960s, city officials decided to demolish the community, moving people out in city dump trucks and relocating them in public housing. Today, Africville has been replaced by a park, where former residents and their families gather each summer to remember their community.
At Grandpa's Sugar Bush by
You will find the book in the Children's Book collection plus the Education Library has a small kit in the Kit collection that includes 1 laminated activity card +1 small picture of maple leaf & seed + example of tree tapping equipment (miniature size) in plastic envelope..
Alongside his grandpa, a young boy shares the tasks involved in making maple syrup the old-fashioned way. From tapping the trees to boiling the sap, the two spend many hours working side by side in the woods. Their reward is a delicious breakfast of pancakes and "the best syrup in the whole world." This is more than a story about syrup-making. It is the story of the grandfather's bond with nature and how he transfers this feeling to his grandson. Janet Wilson's rich oil paintings capture all the signs of spring's arrival in the sugar bush and the loving relationship between the boy and his grandpa.
The belonging place by
It seems young Elspet Mary has known nothing but loss. First her mother died, then her father, leaving her in the care of her aunt and uncle. With them, she has moved from one lonely Scottish village to another, and now, just as she is beginning to feel at home, she is being torn away again, to move to rugged Upper Canada. What awaits her in the strange new land? What will become of her grandmother, left behind in Scotland, and her beloved cat? Will she finally find a place to call home, a place where she belongs?
The Last Safe House by
This is the dramatic story of the Underground Railroad as seen through the eyes of two young girls -- Eliza, a runaway slave from a plantation in Virginia, and Johanna, whose family gives her refuge in St. Catharines, Canada West (now Ontario). In a unique mix of fact and fiction, each chapter is followed by background information and hands-on activities. Kids will learn about life on a cotton plantation, about abolitionists who fought to have slavery made illegal, and about the heroic actions of Canadians who sheltered runaway slaves. Beautifully detailed drawings accompany the text making The Last Safe House a comprehensive, all-in-one resource.
The Patchwork Path by
The images stitched into Hannah's patchwork quilt lead to secret signposts on the Underground Railroad as she and her father take flight from slavery on a perilous path to freedom. The wagon wheel. The bear's paw. The flying geese. These are some of the squares in the quilt Hannah's mama helped her to sew -- before Hannah's sister was sold to another plantation and before Mama died of a broken heart. Now that Hannah's papa has decided to make the run for freedom, this patchwork quilt is not just a precious memento of Mama -- it's a series of hidden clues that will guide them along the Underground Railroad to Canada, where they'll finally be free. A fictionalized account of a fascinating oral history, THE PATCHWORK PATH tells the story of a brave father and his young daughter, two of thousands who escaped a life of slavery and made the dangerous journey to freedom -- a story of courage, determination, and hope.
A Pioneer Christmas by
Combining fiction and non-fiction, this dramatic story set in the snowy backwoods follows the Robertson family as they prepare for Christmas in 1841. They are excitedly expecting visitors from afar but as a winter storm begins to rage, the family fears for the safety of the travellers. How will Andrew and Sophie -- with a baby on the way -- fare on such a dangerous journey? Each chapter of the story is enhanced by information about the pioneer period and how Christmas was celebrated in the past. Children will learn about holiday traditions in more detail through crafts, games, songs and other activities. Even 150 years ago, Christmas was a special time. A companion book to A Pioneer Thanksgiving, A Pioneer Christmas weaves together stories, information and activities to create a tapestry of pioneer life.
A Pioneer Story by
Meet the Robertsons, a pioneer family living on a backwoods farm. Their story begins in spring, when the hardships of winter are over and new chores are beginning. Readers follow the Robertson family through the year, until winter closes around them. Factual information and highly detailed drawings of daily life accompany each story and expand on what children have just read. This book is a comprehensive classroom resource. Grades: 3 to 6 / Ages: 8 to 12
A Pioneer Thanksgiving by
Combining fiction and nonfiction, this dramatic story follows the Robertson family as they prepare for Thanksgiving in the year 1841. As with all Canadian pioneer families, Thanksgiving is a special day for the Robertsons, but this year they have more reasons than usual to give thanks. Each chapter of the story is enhanced by information about the pioneer period and how Thanksgiving was celebrated in the past. Children will learn about the wild harvest, harvest superstitions and how the First Peoples celebrated the harvest. The past comes alive through hands-on activities such as making a corn dolly or learning to play conkers. Historically accurate and beautifully rendered pencil illustrations make this a comprehensive resource for home or school.
Railroad of Courage by
Born on a cotton plantation in South Carolina, twelve-year-old Rebecca knows only slavery. But when Grower Brown decides to sell her father to a plantation downriver, Rebecca convinces her parents to run away with her on the Underground Railroad to Canada. Led by the famous Harriet "Moses" Tubman, the family hides in coffins, rides a handmade raft through alligator-infested waters, and pumps hand cars across Illinois amidst a blizzard. Escaping federal marshals and bounty hunters isn't easy, but with the help of freed slaves and abolitionists, Rebecca learns there is more to the world than slavery. Even in challenging moments, she finds courage by reminding herself: "I want to live in freedom. I am travelling from midnight to dawn and I won't stop until I see the sunrise.""Rooting for Rebecca and her family, young readers will discover how much creativity, trust, and courage are needed to overcome the obstacles in the family's search for freedom." - KAREN AUTIO, AUTHOR OF KAH-LAN"Accurate research and a well-told tale make this ride on the Underground Railroad a gripping page-turner as well as a valuable lesson in Black history." - JEAN RAE BAXTER, AUTHOR OF THE FORGING A NATION SERIES
Sarah, Plain and Tall by
This beloved Newbery Medal-winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter book series about the Witting family. Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother. Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she sing? Will she stay? This children's literature classic is perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie books, historical fiction, and timeless stories using rich and beautiful language, and it's a strong choice for independent reading. Sarah, Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss, and love. Read the rest of the Sarah books by Patricia MacLachlan: Skylark, Caleb's Story, More Perfect than the Moon, and Grandfather's Dance.
Strawberry Moon by
The year is 1838 and Ellie's grandmother has arrived all the way from England. Ellie is horrified to discover that the forbidding old woman intends to take her back to Britain to be raised properly. Ellie is determined that she will not go, but what can a nine-year-old girl do in the face of an adult with her mind made up?
Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws: Bear Walker by
"Based on the Seven Grandfathers" - Back cover.
"Humility (Dbaadendizin)" - Back cover
A winter's day full of fun and excitement takes an unexpected turn when our young heroes, Rabbit and Bear Paws, cross paths with a mysterious and powerful healer known as the Bear Walker. What does this man want from our boys, and what secret is he hiding? Discover the Bear Walker's surprising true identity in this hilarious and heartwarming all-new adventure!
Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws: The Sugar Bush by 
Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws: The Voyageurs by
The Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws is a graphic novel series for the young and the young at heart. The stories are set in colonized North America during the 1750s and feature the comical adventures of two brothers, Rabbit and Bear Paws, with traditional native teachings sprinkled throughout. In Volume 2: The Voyageurs, Rabbit and Bear Paws join the voyageurs to take furs from Lake of the Woods to Montreal, and along the way they experience all the trials and tribulations of the voyageur life.
Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws: True Hearts by
Series of comic strips based upon the teachings of The Seven Grandfathers.
This graphic novel is based on the Grandfather Love (Zaagidwin), One of the Seven Grandfathers (respect, bravery, love, honesty, humility, wisdom and truth) of the Anishinabek Teachings. Rabbit and Bear Paws is set in 18th Century colonized North America and follows the stories of two mischievous Ojibwa brothers as they play pranks and have amazing adventures using a traditional Ojibwa medicine (spirit powder) that transforms them into animals for a short time.
Forest of Reading 2011 nominee.
Silver Birch Express award nominee 2011.
Alego by
It's almost time for supper, and Alego goes with her grandmother to the shore to collect clams. Along the way, the girl discovers tide pools brimming with life -- a bright orange starfish, a creepy crawly ugjurnaq, sea snails, and a sculpin. A rising star of the famed Cape Breton Inuit art scene, author and illustrator Ningeokuluk Teevee draws on her own childhood experiences in the Arctic for this enchanting introduction to the life of an Inuit girl and her world. Printed in both Inuktitut and English, the book includes an illustrated glossary of the sea creatures in the story as well as a map of Baffin Island.
A Name for a Metis by
What's in a name? A little boy might be known as Great Big Nose because he's so nosy, or Big Ears because he listens so carefully. Yet there's one name that might suit him even better!
Northern Lights by
This story explores the Inuit belief that the Northern Lights are the souls of the dead, playing soccer in the sky.
Stolen Words by
The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language - Cree - he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.
When We Were Alone by
When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history, and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength. When We Were Alone won the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award in the Young People's Literature (Illustrated Books) category, and was nominated for the TD Canadian's Children's Literature Award.