Showing posts with label book list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book list. Show all posts

November 04, 2021

30+ Must Reads for Babies and New Parents

Recently, I heard about the good news of friends expecting their first grandchild and realized that, with this pandemic, there are many new little ones entering the world to the delight of their family and friends. While there are many concept books out there that will be useful for teaching letters and colours and such, those are best for slightly older children, and are not included here.  Here I include picture or board books that celebrate new babies and those first years of parenting that new bundle of joy.
 
Baby Cakes
Written by Theo Heras
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Pajama Press
24 pp.
Ages 1-4
2017

Baby's First Treasury
(4 stories: Welcome, Baby; Read Me a Book; Sing a Song of Mother Goose; and Zoe’s Year)
Written and illustrated by Barbara Reid
Scholastic Canada
136 pp.
2016
 
Beach Baby
Written by Laurie Elmquist
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 2-4
2016
 
 
Before You Were Born
Written by Deborah Kerbel
Illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo
Pajama Press
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2019
Reviewed here
A Bedtime Yarn
Written by Nicola Winstanley
Illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller
Tundra Books
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2017
 
The Best Gifts
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2013 

Buddy and Earl and the Great Big Baby
Written by Maureen Fergus
Illustrated by Carey Sookocheff
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2016

Checkers and Dot
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Lum
Tundra Books
16 pp.
Ages 0-3
2012
 
Checkers and Dot at the Beach
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Lum
Tundra Books
16 pp.
Ages 0-3
2013
 
Checkers and Dot at the Zoo
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Lum
Tundra Books
16 pp.
Ages 0-3
2012
 
Checkers and Dot on the Farm
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Lum
Tundra Books
16 pp.
Ages 0-3
2013

Cinnamon Baby
Written by Nicola Winstanley
Illustrated by Janice Nadeau
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2011

Forest Baby
Written by Laurie Elmquist
Illustrated by Shantala Robinson
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-4
2018
Goodnight, Sleepy Animals (A Nightlight Book)
Illustrated by Christine Battuz
CrackBoom
14 pp.
Ages 0-3
2016
 
Hat On, Hat Off
Written by Theo Heras
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Pajama Press
24 pp.
Ages 1-3
2016 

Here Babies, There Babies
Written  by Nancy Cohen
Illustrated by Carmen Mok
Nimbus Publishing
14 pp.
Ages 0-2
2015 
 
I Sang You Down from the Stars 
Written by Tasha Spillett-Sumner
Illustrated by Michaela Goade
Owlkids Books
32 pp.
Ages 2-5
2021

King Baby
Written and illustrated by Kate Beaton
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
40 pp.
Ages 4-8
2016

Kiss Tickle Cuddle Hug
Written by Susan Musgrave
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-2
2012
 
Little You 
Written by Richard Camp
Illustrated by Julie Flett
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-4
2013
 
Lots of Kisses
Written by Lorna Crozier
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-2
2014
 
Love You Forever
Written by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Sheila McGraw
Firefly Books
32 pp.
Ages 0-4
1995

Love You Head to Toe
Written and illustrated by Ashley Barron
Owlkids Books
28 pp.
Ages 0-5
2020

Please Don't Change My Diaper!
Written by Sarabeth Holden
Illustrated by Emma Pedersen
Inhabit Media
28 pp.
Ages 0-4
2020 

So Many Babies!
Written by Lorna Crozier
Illustrated by Laura Watson
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-2
2015

Sweetest Kulu
Written  by Celina Kalluk
Illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis
Inhabit Media
32 pp.
Ages 0-6
2014 

Time for Bed: Baby’s Bedtime Routine (Baby Steps)
Written by Carol McDougall & Shanda LaRamee-Jones
Nimbus
18 pp.
Ages 0-2
2018
 
Toesy Toes
Written by Sarah Tsiang
Orca Book Publishers
26 pp.
Ages 0-2
2018

 
Up! How Families Around the World Carry Their Little Ones
Written by Susan Hughes
Illustrated by Ashley Barron
Owlkids Books
24 pp.
Ages 2-5
2017 
 
The Ways I Will Love You
Written by Rachel Boehm
Illustrated by Mary Jane Gerber
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-6
2010

Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns
Written by Richard Van Camp
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-4
2007 

We Sang You Home
Written by Richard Van Camp
Illustrated by Julie Flett
Orca Book Publishers
24 pp.
Ages 0-4
2016

Where's Bunny?
Written by Theo Heras
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Pajama Press
24 pp.
Ages 1-3
2018 






Posted by Helen K 2 comments
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September 24, 2021

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day): September 30

 
 
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.


Aggie and Mudgy: The Journey of Two Kaska Dena Children 
Written by Wendy Proverbs
Heritage House
144 pp.
Ages 9-12
2021
As Long As the Rivers Flow
Written by Larry Loyie with Constance Brissenden
Illustrated by Heather D. Holmlund
Groundwood Books
48 pp.
Ages 7-11
2002
 
 
These are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens, Northern Ontario, 1966 (Dear Canada)
Written by Ruby Slipperjack 
Scholastic Canada
192 pp.
Ages 8-13
2016

Fatty Legs
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Annick Press
104 pp.
Ages 7-11
2010
 
I Am Not a Number 
Written by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
Illustrated by Gillian Newland
Second Story Press
32 pp.
Ages 7+
2016 
 
I'm Finding My Talk
Written by Rebecca Thomas
Illustrated by Pauline Young
Nimbus Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-9
2021
 
I Lost My Talk
Written by Rita Joe
Illustrated by Pauline Young
Nimbus Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-9
2021 
 
Looks Like Daylight: Voices of Indigenous Kids
Written by Deborah Ellis
Groundwood Books
256 pp.
Ages 12+
2013 

No Time to Say Goodbye: Children's Stories of Kuper Island Residential School
Written by Sylvia Olsen with Rita Morris and Ann Sam
Soni Nis Press
189 pp.
Ages10-14
2001

Not My Girl
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Annick Press
36 pp.
Ages 6-9
2014 
 
The Orange Shirt Story
Written by Phyllis Webstad
Illustrated by Brock Nicol
Medicine Wheel Education
44 pp.
Ages 6-9
2018
 
The Outside Circle
Written by Patti LaBoucane-Benson
Illustrated by Kelly Mellings
House of Anansi Press
128 pp.
Ages 16+
2019
 
Phyllis's Orange Shirt
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

Residential Schools (Indigenous Life in Canada: Past, Present, Future)
Written by Heather Hudak
Beechstreet Books
32 pp.
Ages 10-13
2020
 
Residential Schools: With the Words and Images of Survivors, A National History 
Written by Larry Loyie with Wayne K. Spear and Constance Brissenden
Indigenous Education Press
112 pp.
Ages 13+
2014
 
Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools
Written by Melanie Florence
Lorimer
128 pp.
Ages 9-13
2015
 
Secret Path
Written by Gord Downie
Illustrated by Jeff Lemire
Simon & Schuster
96 pp.
Ages 13+
2016 


 
Shin-Chi's Canoe
Written by Nicola I. Campbell
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
 
Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation
Written by Monique Gray Smith
Orca Book Publishers
160 pp.
Ages 9+
2017

Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams
Written by Cindy Blackstock 
Illustrated by Amanda Strong 
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada
52 pp.
Ages 6-12
2018
 
Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams
Written by Cindy Blackstock 
Illustrated by Amanda Strong  
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada
66 pp.
Ages 6-12
2019

Stolen Words 
Written by Melanie Florence
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Second Story Press
24 pp.
Ages 6-9
2017 

A Stranger at Home
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Annick Press
120 pp.
Ages 8-13
2011
 
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story (10th anniversary edition)
Written by David A. Robertson
Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
Colours by Donovan Yaciuk
HighWater Press
48 pp.
Ages 14-18
2021
 
The Train
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 Books
32 pp.
Ages 10-13
20217

When I Was Eight 
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Annick Press
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
2013
 
When We Play Our Drums, They Sing! / Lucy & Lo
(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)
 
When We Were Alone 
Written by David A. Alexander
Illustrated by Julie Flett
HighWater Press
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2016

White Raven
Written by Teoni Spathelfer
Illustrated by Natassia Davies
Heritage House
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2021 

You Hold Me Up
Written by Monique Gray Smith
Illustrated by Danielle Daniel
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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Posted by Helen K 2 comments
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