September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also known as Orange Shirt Day since 2013 when residential school survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad recounted having her gifted orange shirt taken away when she was placed in residential school, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a day of remembrance for the Indigenous victims of the Canadian residential school system.
For those who want to learn more, through fiction or non-fiction, or who want to introduce the significance of the day to their students or children, this short list of picture books, fiction, graphic novels, young adult novels and non-fiction offers a wide perspective and content for all young readers.
Written by Wendy Proverbs
Heritage House
144 pp.
Ages 9-12
2021
Written by Larry Loyie with Constance Brissenden
Illustrated by Heather D. Holmlund
Groundwood Books
48 pp.
Ages 7-11
2002
Written by Ruby Slipperjack
Scholastic Canada
192 pp.
Ages 8-13
2016
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Annick Press
104 pp.
Ages 7-11
2010
Annick Press
104 pp.
Ages 7-11
2010
Written by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
Illustrated by Gillian Newland
Second Story Press
32 pp.
Ages 7+
Illustrated by Gillian Newland
Second Story Press
32 pp.
Ages 7+
2016
Written by Rebecca Thomas
Illustrated by Pauline Young
Nimbus Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-9
2021 
Written by Rita Joe
Illustrated by Pauline Young
Nimbus Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-9
2021 
Written by Deborah Ellis
Groundwood Books
256 pp.
Ages 12+
2013
Written by Sylvia Olsen with Rita Morris and Ann Sam
Soni Nis Press
189 pp.
Ages10-14
2001
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Annick Press
36 pp.
Ages 6-9
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Annick Press
36 pp.
Ages 6-9
2014
Written by Phyllis Webstad
Illustrated by Brock Nicol
Medicine Wheel Education
44 pp.
Ages 6-9
2018
Written by Patti LaBoucane-Benson
Illustrated by Kelly Mellings
House of Anansi Press
128 pp.
Ages 16+
2019
2019
Written by Phyllis Webstad
Illustrated by Brock Nicol
Medicine Wheel Education
28 pp.
Ages 3-5
2019
Red Wolf
Written by Jennifer Dance
Dundurn
256 pp.
Ages 12-15
2014
Written by Heather Hudak
Beechstreet Books
32 pp.
Ages 10-132020
Written by Larry Loyie with Wayne K. Spear and Constance Brissenden
Indigenous Education Press
112 pp.
Ages 13+
2014
Written by Melanie Florence
Lorimer
128 pp.
Ages 9-13
2015
Written by Gord Downie
Illustrated by Jeff Lemire
Simon & Schuster
96 pp.
Ages 13+
2016
Written by Nicola I. Campbell
Illustrated by Kim LaFave
Groundwood Books
40 pp.
Ages 4-8
2008
Illustrated by Kim LaFave
Groundwood Books
40 pp.
Ages 4-8
2008
Shi-shi-etko
Written by Nicola I. Campbell
Illustrated by Kim LaFave
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2005
Illustrated by Kim LaFave
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2005
Written by Monique Gray Smith
Orca Book Publishers
160 pp.
Ages 9+
2017
Written by Cindy Blackstock
Illustrated by Amanda Strong
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada
52 pp.
Ages 6-12
2018
Written by Cindy Blackstock
Illustrated by Amanda Strong
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada
66 pp.
Ages 6-12
2019
Written by Melanie Florence
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Second Story Press
24 pp.
Ages 6-9
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Second Story Press
24 pp.
Ages 6-9
2017
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Annick Press
Annick Press
120 pp.
Ages 8-13
2011
Written by David A. Robertson
Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
Colours by Donovan Yaciuk
HighWater Press
48 pp.
Ages 14-18
Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
Colours by Donovan Yaciuk
HighWater Press
48 pp.
Ages 14-18
2021
Written by Jodie Callaghan
Illustrated by Georgia Lesley
Second Story Press
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
2020
Truth and Reconciliation (Indigenous Life in Canada: Past, Present, Future)
Written by Simon Rose
Beechstreet Books32 pp.
Ages 10-1320217
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Annick Press
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Annick Press
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
2013
(The Journey Forward, Novellas on Reconciliation)
Written by Richard Van Camp / Written by Monique Gray Smith, Illustrated by Julie Flett
McKellar & Martin
160 pp.
Ages 19-13
2018
(n.b. this is a "flipbook" with two stories)
Written by David A. Alexander
Illustrated by Julie Flett
HighWater Press
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2016
Written by Teoni Spathelfer
Illustrated by Natassia Davies
Heritage House
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2021
Written by Monique Gray Smith
Illustrated by Danielle Daniel
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2017
Many of these books are available in other languages, including French, Plains Cree and Anishinaabemowin. I would recommend GoodMinds as an excellent source for most, if not all, of these books.
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Thank you for the great reccommendations for Truth & Reconciliation Week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phyllis. I hope teachers and parents will avail themselves of this list to help communicate the significance of this day and all it entails.
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