Previous Books

If You Take Away the Otter

Written by Susannah Buhrman-Deever

Illustrated by Matthew Trueman

In If You Take Away the Otter, author Susannah Buhrman-Deever shows us the importance of balance in an ecosystem and protecting all the things that live in it. 

On the pacific coast, sea otters live in forests of kelp that are home to many living creatures! Sea otters help keep this ecosystem balanced by eating sea urchins. When otters are present, the kelp can grow and provide enough food and shelter for all the other animals in the ocean. 

When sea otters were hunted by humans and almost disappeared, the sea urchins took over the kelp forests and ate them up, leaving many other sea creatures without a home.

This story shows how everything in nature is connected, and how one animal can have a big impact on the health of an entire ecosystem.

To learn more about sea otters and kelp forests, visit Susannah Buhrman-Deever's list of educator resources.

We Belong to the Drum

Written by Sandra Lamouche

Illustrated by Azby Whitecalf

When powwow music fills his daycare, something shifts in Nikosis! Surrounded by care and curiosity, he doesn’t have to change who he is: he can be himself.

In We Belong to the Drum, author Sandra Lamouche and illustrator Azby Whitecalf share a story inspired by Lamouche's son’s early experience, where hearing the drum created a powerful sense of connection and acceptance. Grounded in nêhiyawêwin (the Plains Cree language) and the drum as the heartbeat of Mother Earth, the story reminds us of how important it is for children to see who they are reflected, welcomed, and celebrated.

As you read this story, we hope you feel the sense of belonging that carries through every step of Nikosis’s journey.

Poster for Printing: Plains Cree Words for Family

Let's Eat! Foods from Here, There, and Everywhere

Written by Rina Singh

Illustrated by Flo Leung

Food is something we all share with family, friends, and people from many different cultures! Let's Eat! Foods from Here, There, and Everywhere by author Rina Singh and illustrator Flo Leung is an appreciation of cooking, eating, and the joy of sharing meals together.

In one busy neighbourhood, families chop, stir, bake, and sizzle as they prepare their favourite dishes. Soon, everyone brings their food together to share one big feast! From fluffy couscous to steamed dumplings, this rhyming story celebrates food from around the world and shows how sharing a meal can connect people, no matter where they come from. We hope this story inspires you to cherish mealtimes and coming together around the table! 

Ten Ways to Hear Snow

Written by Cathy Camper

Illustrated by Kenard Pak

Lina wakes up to a quiet morning filled with fresh, white snow. She puts on her warm clothes and walks through the snowy streets to visit her grandmother. As she walks, Lina starts to notice the sounds of snow, like the crunch of her boots and the soft swoosh of skis. With help from her Sitti (the Arabic word for grandmother), Lina learns that even when it’s quiet, the world is full of sounds!

In Ten Ways to Hear Snow, Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak show the love between family members and the importance of culture. They remind us to slow down and enjoy the quiet and beautiful things around us.

We hope you enjoy Lina’s gentle winter walk and find your own ways to hear snow.

Métis Like Me

Written by Tasha Hilderman

Illustrated by Risa Hugo

In Métis like Me, a group Métis children welcome you into their world of traditions. Bannock and saskatoon berries are must-haves for many. Others delights in beading. Still more share song, stories, and dance. Together, the children show some of the many ways Métis culture is celebrated and passed along in families.

However, one child has grown up more disconnected from their history, and isn’t sure how to join in with the others at first. In time, they discover that it’s never too late to learn, to join in, and to find belonging in a welcoming community.

With rhythm, joy, and togetherness on every page, author Tasha Hilderman and illustrator Risa Hugo encourage all of us, Métis and non-Métis alike, to celebrate our roots while discovering the beauty of Métis traditions.\

View this educator guide for Métis Like Me. 

Shi-shi-etko

Written by Nicola I. Campbell

Illustrated by Kim LaFave

In Shi-shi-etko, written by Nicola I. Campbell and illustrated by Kim LaFave, a young girl faces this very situation. With just a few days remaining before her forced departure, she moves through her home with mindfulness and gratitude, collecting memories of the land, her family, and their teachings. Campbell’s poetic storytelling and LaFave’s warm illustrations demonstrate the power and resilience found in remembrance.

Shi-shi-etko honours the children and families who struggled to preserve their cultures, lands, memories, and relationships. Between 1831 and 1996, more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in the Indian Residential School System in Canada.

Across the year and on September 30 in particular—Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation—we remember the children who never returned, honour Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors, and reflect on the enduring impacts of this system. Although Indian Residential and Day Schools have closed, their legacy of cultural loss, generational trauma, and systemic injustice continues to shape families and communities across Canada.

This StoryWalk is one of many opportunities at MacEwan and beyond to learn about the truths of colonialism. We invite learners to reflect, bear witness, and participate in reconciliation.

View this teaching guide for Shi-shi-etko.

This Plant is NOT Boring

Written by Marie Hoy-Kenny

Illustrated by Mike Deas

Get ready for a fun summer adventure with This Plant is NOT Boring, written by Marie Hoy-Kenny and illustrated by Mike Deas.

Meet Mia—a girl who dreams of getting a dog. But instead of a furry friend, Mia’s mom surprises her with…a plant. Yep, a plant! No tail-wagging, no barking, and definitely no tricks! 

At first, Mia isn’t thrilled. Taking care of a plant feels way less exciting than having a dog. But then, life gets a bit stranger: a spooky message shows up and Mia starts to wonder if this plant might not be so boring after all… Will Mia discover that friendship can come in the most surprising forms?

This story is full of laughs, heart, and an important message about caring, responsibility, and finding fun in the unexpected.

This Plant is NOT Boring drawing activity for print

This Land is a Lullaby

Written by Tonya Simpson

Illustrated by Delreé Dumont

Translated into Cree by Dorothy Thunder

In This Land is a Lullaby / cistomâwasowin ôma askiy, author Tonya Simpson gifts us a beautiful lullaby—one celebrating the plains and prairie sounds of a summer day and evening storm. Delreé Dumont’s pointillist illustrations further bring the story to life. Vibrant dots blend into heart-full depth and perspective.

From the hum of dragonflies to the rolls of thunder, Simpson evokes a landscape alive with movement and memory. Written for her daughter, the story honours the unbroken kinship care and responsibility flowing between Indigenous children, their traditional homelands, and their ancestors from time immemorial. Dorothy Thunder’s Plains Cree (y-dialect) translations deepen the teachings. First languages have grown alongside these lands and embody reciprocal relationships.

Be a Tree!

Written by Maria Gianferrari

Illustrated by Felicita Sala

Be a Tree! is a playful and inspiring story by Maria Gianferrari and beautifully illustrated by Felicita Sala . This book invites readers to see themselves in the wonder of trees.

Just like trees, we have strong trunks (our spines), protective bark (our skin), and deep roots that connect us to the world. We breathe, soak up the sun, and grow stronger every day. And just like people, trees are social! They "talk" to share information, help each other thrive, and offer shelter and support. Together, they make the whole forest stronger—just like a community.

We hope you enjoy this poetic celebration of trees and the lessons they teach us about growing, connecting, and caring for one another!

Download this Be a Tree! Classroom & Outdoor Activities Kit to extend your learning.

I Hope

Written by Monique Gray Smith

Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

We hold so many hopes for the children in our lives. We dream of their joy, growth, discovery of life’s beauty, and a deep commitment to nurture and protect them. Using simple, powerful statements, I Hope is a touching message about loving, nurturing, and wishing the best for our littlest ones and community. 

I Hope, by Monique Gray Smith, captures these universal emotions perfectly, sharing a heartfelt message of love and care that extends beyond family to include friends, community, and the lands that shape our young. Hope is a powerful gift, flowing through our relationships and guiding how we nurture, connect, and dream for one another. Paired with Gabrielle Grimard’s warm illustrations, this book becomes more than a story. It serves as a gentle reminder of what ties us together—our shared humanity, kindness, and responsibility to each other and the world.

Over and Under the Snow

Written by Kate Messner

Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

In Over and Under the Snow, a father and daughter ski through a wintery forest. As they glide through the snow, they encounter animals above it and imagine the creatures hidden below in burrows and dens. From foxes in the woods to bears hibernating beneath, the story introduces winter wildlife and how they adapt to the changing seasons. The book ends with a cozy family moment, gathering around a winter fire to enjoy the sweetness of marshmallows.

Kate Messner's narrative gently introduces readers to the idea of ecosystems and the delicate balance of nature. Neal’s illustrations beautifully capture the surface world and the secret life beneath the snow. The story encourages us to reflect on the interconnectedness of all living things, showing that life continues in remarkable ways even during the stillness of winter. Over and Under the Snow offers a perfect way to connect with Edmonton’s winter season: nature's beauty and resilience can be seen in parks, the river valley, and little creeks blanketed by snow.

Over and Under the Snow is a reminder of the quiet magic that winter brings and how nature prepares for the season ahead. Whether you're experiencing the story for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, this journey through the snow-covered woods is an invitation to discover the hidden beauty of nature.

When We Were Alone

Written by David A. Robertson

Illustrated by Julie Flett

When We Were Alone is one of many opportunities to learn about the residential school system in Canada. Over 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children attended Indian Residential Schools between 1831 and 1996. September 30th - known both as 'Orange Shirt Day' and the 'National Day for Truth and Reconciliation' -- honours the Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors of these schools and remembers the children who did not make it home.

When We Were Alone may be your first time encountering residential school truths or layers with previous knowledge and understanding. David A. Robertson's gentle story, and the Swampy Cree words he shares, are a powerful invitation to sit with and learn from some of his family’s experiences. While this story is about “a difficult time in history,” it is also “ultimately, one of empowerment and strength.”

Over the years, hard truths about residential schools have come to light: many terrible experiences and tragic endings. Yet, beautiful cultures remain, maintained by the elders who have brought back everything that was taken from them in residential schools.

When we learn that someone we love has been badly hurt, we may feel sorry for them. However, this grandmother (Kókom) wants to show her granddaughter (Nósisim) how she creates beauty in her life and continues to have love for herself, her culture, and those around her.

Be a Good Ancestor

Written by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince

Illustrated by Carla Joseph

Be A Good Ancestor invites us to follow the land, holding its forests, rivers, and animals in community and friendship. It is a journey of deep reflection on what it means to be a caretaker for future generations. Written by sisters Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince, and illustrated by Carla Joseph, this story asks us to consider how little actions transform into powerful gestures of growth and interconnectedness with all life. It asks us to lead and be led through mutual understanding and respect.

According to author Leona Prince, each passage can be read as "a call to action, for all of us to pause, to think about how the smallest pieces can become big things." Each page shows how to live in harmony with nature and highlights why our individual and collective values and actions are important for creating a sustainable future. 

We hope you enjoy the gentle teachings of this story! After your walk, consider finding even more ways to be a good ancestor to the world around you.

Walking Together

Written by Elder Albert D. Marshall and Louise Zimanyi

Illustrated by Emily Kewageshig

Walking Together introduces readers to the concept of Etuaptmumk—or Two-Eyed Seeing, the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi’kmaw language—as we follow a group of young children connecting to nature as their teacher. Written by Elder Albert D. Marshall and Louise Zimanyi and illustrated by Emily Kewageshig, this book is a journey for the heart, mind, body and spirit.

This book is  "a poetic, joyful celebration of the Lands and Waters as spring unfolds: we watch for Robin's return, listen for Frog's croaking, and wonder at maple tree's gift of sap." The story is grounded in Etuaptmumk, also known as Two-Eyed Seeing—which braids together the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing—and the Mi’kmaq concept of Netukulimk—meaning to protect Mother Earth for the ancestors, present, and future generations.

Walking Together nurtures respectful, reciprocal, and responsible relationships with Land and Water, plant-life, animals and other-than-human beings for the benefit of all.