Canadian Aboriginal

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Canadian Aboriginal  

2015 • 2016

sel e c t e d  &  e v alu a t e d  by  t e a c he r-l ib r a r i a ns

association

 

of

 

book

 

publishers

 

of

 

bc

Books for Schools 

Mayoreak Ashoona   | Tuulirjuaq (Great Big Loon), 2009

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CANADIAN ABORIGINAL BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS 2014–2015 CATALOGUE

    

INTR

ODUC

TION

Dear teacher-librarians, public librarians, wholesalers 

and retailers:

For over 20 years, the Association of Book Publishers 

of BC (ABPBC) has produced a catalogue of books to 

assist teacher-librarians and others in their selection 

of Canadian books. We began with BC Books for BC 

Schools. Eight years ago we added this catalogue and in 

2015 we are proud to offer Canadian History Books for 

Schools. All of our catalogues have been met with enthu-

siastic approval, which is very gratifying and points 

to both the excellence of BC and Canadian-published 

books and to their suitability for school libraries. 

All the books in this catalogue were written or pub-

lished by Aboriginal people or are about or for 

Aboriginals. Teacher-librarians select and annotate the 

titles providing grade range and curricula links, as well 

as comments and cautions. Our annotators inspire us 

with their knowledge, professionalism and their love of 

books. We hope that the information they provide to us 

will help you with your selection process. 

If you are new to the catalogue, you will find that it is 

helpfully organized by grade level: Elementary (K-7), 

Secondary (8-12) and Cross-Grades for those books 

that are appropriate at both levels. Entries are then 

organized alphabetically by title within each section. 

Mayoreak Ashoona has been exhibiting her drawings and sculptures 

since 1978. Originally a means of supporting herself financially, 

Mayoreak is now celebrated for her mastery of traditional techniques 

in creating work that is dynamic in nature and offers a uniquely 

feminine perspective.

Mayoreak Ashoona 

Tuulirjuaq (Great Big Loon), 2009

COVER ARTIST

“Tuulirjuaq (Great Big Loon)” reproduced with 

permission from Dorset Fine Arts, © 2009

THE ASSOCIATION OF BOOK PUBLISHERS OF BC CANNOT FILL ORDERS. PLEASE SEND 

ORDERS TO YOUR LIBRARY WHOLESALER OR RETAILER OF CHOICE OR TO ONE OF THE 

WHOLESALER ADVERTISERS WHO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF THIS CATALOGUE. 

CANADIAN ABORIGINAL BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS 

WELCOME TO OUR 2015 / 16 CATALOGUE

Because this catalogue is distributed nationally we have 

chosen to provide generic subject areas, which we hope 

is sufficient for your resourcing needs. 

Our catalogue is available on our website in PDF format 

(books.bc.ca/resources/for-teacher-librarians). You may 

also want to check out 49th Shelf (49thshelf.com) where 

you will find listings of our catalogue titles and more 

Canadian books. 

The ABPBC would not be able to undertake to produce 

and distribute these catalogues without the help of our 

partners: Government of Canada through the Canada 

Book Fund of Canadian Heritage, The Canada Council 

for the Arts, the City of Vancouver, and Creative BC. 

Thank you for your generosity.

We always welcome feedback on your use of the 

catalogue and improvements we may make. 

Best regards, 

Margaret Reynolds

Executive Director

Association of Book Publishers of BC 

September 2015

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ASSOCIATION OF BOOK PUBLISHERS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA     www.books.bc.ca

ELEMENT

AR

Y

BIG BEAR

Terry Barber

Written in a narrative style, this 

biography of Big Bear, a Cree 

chief who lived from around 

1825-1888, is part of the First 

Nations Series. Big Bear played 

a big role in trying to unite First 

Nations groups and attempt-

ing to create peace between 

First Nations people and the 

Government of Canada. The 

text is easy to read, making 

this book useful for students 

looking for basic information 

and learning to pick facts out 

of paragraphs. It is also written 

in a style meant to be easy for 

English Language Learners to 

use. 

A free workbook to go with 

this title is available on the pub-

lisher’s web site. 

GRADES: 3-5, SOCIAL STUDIES

Index/Bibliography: No/No 

©2014  48pp.  7”x8.5”

b/w photographs, drawings, maps 

ISBN 9781771530422 $12.95 PA

Grass Roots Press

www.grassrootsbooks.net

BROTHERS OF THE 

WOLF

Caroll Simpson 

Caroll Simpson, illus. 

Pre-contact Pacific Northwest 

Aboriginal cultures and their 

coastal environment inspired 

this story about two wolf cubs 

who were raised as human 

brothers to fish and hunt 

for their village. Although 

inseparable, one is drawn to 

the sea and one to the woods. 

With the influence of Raven, a 

transformative climax results 

in the brothers being forever 

separated. However, each month 

they join their voices and howl 

to waken the sleeping full 

Moon. The text is enhanced by 

vibrant, detailed double-page 

spreads plus a glossary of both 

the natural and supernatural 

creatures.

GRADES: 1-6, ENGLISH 

LANGUAGE ARTS, SCIENCE, 

SOCIAL STUDIES

Index/Bibliography: No/Yes 

©2014  32pp.  10.25”x8.25”

colour illustrations

ISBN 9781927527962 $19.95 HC 

ISBN 9781772030389 $12.95 PA

epub 9781927527979 $11.99

Heritage House Publishing

www.heritagehouse.ca

THE CANOE HE 

CALLED LOO TAAS

Amanda Reid-Stevens

Michael Nicoll 

Yahgulanaas, illus.

Loo Taas, or Wave Eater, is a 

Haida canoe that was carved for 

Expo ’86. This rhyming story is 

about the creation of the canoe. 

The author describes how the 

tree was chosen and carved 

and how the canoe is paddled 

and stored. Haida traditions are 

passionately described in the 

story as well as in the afterword. 

This story is told with authen-

tic voice. The afterword is an 

essential part of this tale, adding 

specific details about the life of 

the canoe and what it brought 

to the community, namely the 

opportunity to relearn culture 

and for community to connect. 

GRADES: K-4, ENGLISH 

LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL 

STUDIES

Index/Bibliography: No/No 

©2012  32pp.  7”x7”

b/w & colour illustrations, colour 

photographs 

ISBN 9780991678204 $12.99 HC

McKellar & Martin Publishing Group

www.mckellarmartin.com

DIPNETTING WITH 

DAD

Willie Sellars

Kevin Easthope, illus.

A young boy turns seven and is 

now old enough to dip-net fish 

with his dad and grandpa. He is 

thrilled to catch his first fish, a 

sockeye salmon. After many fish 

fill their net he learns the fun 

part is over and now the hard 

work begins. His grandma is in 

charge and teaches him how to 

freeze and dry the fish with a 

pinch of her secret ingredient. 

The boy learns that when every-

one eats, everyone pitches in 

and that there is nothing more 

rewarding than eating your 

own catch. A coming-of-age 

story with Native traditions and 

values. Easthope’s vibrant pencil 

crayon drawings bring this story 

to life. Includes a glossary, but 

does not include traditional 

language.

GRADES: K-2, ENGLISH 

LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL 

STUDIES

Index/Bibliography: No/No 

©2014  48pp.  9.5”x8.5”

colour illustrations

ISBN 9781927575536 $16.95 HC

Caitlin Press

www.caitlin-press.com

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