Fry Bread is a family story by Kevin Noble Maillard (Seminole, Mekusukey band) and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (Peruvian). Fry Bread describes food, family meals and memories, sharing, celebration and more. This 48 page book is written in verse and is suitable for ages 3 to 6 years.
tawâw, progressive Indigenous cuisine, by Shane Chartrand, Cree/Metis/Mi'kmaw, is the result of his years spent years learning about his history, visiting with other First Nations peoples, gathering and sharing knowledge and stories, and creating dishes that show his diverse interest and unique personality. This book contains 75 recipes and is part cookbook, part exploration of ingredients and techniques. tawâw is filled with ideas, education, recipes and inspiration.
Histoires Kanyen'keha:kas / Strong Stories published by Strong Nations Publishing is a set of eight small readers written by Mohawk educator Michelle Corneau. Each of the 16-page illustrated books covers key teachings and traditional stories about the Mohawk Nation.
‘Cottagers and Indians’ is about manoomin, an Anishnawbe ‘good seed’ planted around a lake and which stands above the waterline, but it is also about Gertie, Justin and Marie. The seed causes consternation with cottagers who argue that it is hampering swimming, fishing, boating and property values.
Meennunyakaa / Blueberry Patch is the story of a trip to a blueberry patch in the late 1940s around Duck Bay near Camperville, Manitoba. An Elder shares his experiences, describing the trip, the team pulling the wagon, the bush and territory, the trail of wagons and setting up tents and the fun of it all. The images are vivid and colourful complementing and immersing the reader in the story so sharing the experience. Activities and a recipe are included for this blueberry picking trip.
Neekna and Chemai first published by Theytus Books in 1984 was reprinted for the third time in 2018. Written by renowned Okanagan author and scholar Jeannette Armstrong with illustrations by Okanagan artist Barbara Marchand this book is designed to appeal to elementary level readers. Part story and picture book this title contains factual information about the Okanagan Nation prior to the contact period. Told from the perspective of two friends, Neekna and Chemai recount the seasonal rounds of their families living on the land in the British Columbia interior.
I Am Eating is a dual language reader from Arvaaq Books, an imprint of Inhabit Education designed to interest young children. The titles from this published are relevant to children in the Canadian Arctic. All books feature colourful and engaging illustrations or photographs and are available in English and Inuktitut syllabics. Illustrated by Lenny Lishchenko, this 12-page book asks readers about the foods they enjoy eating.
Bear for Breakfast, Makwa kidji kijebà wìsiniyàn is the recent Robert Munsch picture book about a young boy who wants to have a unique breakfast. Instead of having a bowl of cereal or some delicious pancakes Donovan tells his mother he wants to eat bear for breakfast. Donovan’s grandfather explained that as a child he often ate bear for his breakfast. Mother explains that she had just shopped for groceries but if Donovan hurried he might find some bear meat for his morning meal. Donovan immediately sets out to locate bear. He meets locates several animals but there are no bears.
Un ours pour dejeuner!, Makwa kidji kijeba wisiniyan is the French and Ojibwe dual language picture book by Robert Munsch.
Awasis and the World-Famous Bannock is a charming picture book by the Swan River First Nation author Dallas Hunt. Added to the mix of this fun text are the colourful illustrations from Metis media artist and filmmaker Amanda Strong. The Cree author mixes key Cree vocabulary within this story about a young girl who is delivering her Kohkum’s (grandmother’s” bannock to a relative. But on her way Awasis allows the bread to fall into a stream. What should the little girl do? With the help of her animal friends the girl collects all the ingredients for making bannock.
