À la recherche des livres autochtones!

To recognize the mix of students in my school I have been looking for books about Aboriginal people, that are written by Aboriginal authors or have a real representation of people of the First Nations of Canada.  One of my challenges is not to over-represent Inuit people but to find stories that are in a variety of environments.   Here is what I have found at this moment:

Book Publishers (Maisons d'Éditions)
Les Éditions soleil de minuit (http://www.editions-soleildeminuit.com/index.html)
Pemmican Publishers  (http://pemmican.websites.ca/Home.page) (~7 French children's titles)
Éditions Hurbubise (books by Michel Noel)
Les Éditions Cornac (http://editionscornac.com/index.php)
Scholastic Canada (several titles e.g. Lune d'érable, Les bas du pennsonait)
Pearson (leveled reader series "L'échos de l'île de la tortue")(http://www.lesechosdeliledelatortue.com/index.html)

Booksellers (Librairies):
Good Minds (www.goodminds.com) (many choices)
Strong nations (few French choices)
Scholastic Canada (quelques titres )
Librarie Pantoute (editions Hannenorak et Cronac)
Librairie Hannenorak (http://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/Caf%C3%A9-librairie-Hannenorak/124973337528981)

Language Webpage:

First Voices (French and English) http://www.firstvoices.com/fr/home

Some suggested titles for French immersion students

read aloud's primary

• Entre dans la Grande Ronde par David Bouchard
• La Quete Spirituelle de Petit Ours par Diane Silvey (coastal BC) (has an English teachers guide)
• La ceinture fléchée par Sylvain Rivard (trilingual) Les editions Hannenorak

read aloud's intermediate:

• La piroque de Shin-chi par Nicola Campbell (residential school) and the sequel Shi-shi-etko
• all David Bouchard's picture books  e.g. Nokum, ma voix et mon Coeur
• Tant que couleront les rivières by Larry Loyie (Northern Prairies)

individual reading: grades (1)- 2

• Le corbeau est noir by Brenda Watson (B.C.), from Les Éditions soleil de minuit (14 other titles)
• tri-lingual books Wabanaki Series by Bouton d'Or Acadie; e.g. Le Roi de Glace by Allison Mitcham
• leveled reader series L'échos de l'île de la tortue (Pearson)

 

grades 3-4 

• - Michel Noel - les Papinachois (Abernaq - Ontario) (series de 8 titres)  (Dominique et compagnie) 
• - 6 titles in series "les loups rouges" (Wendat - Quebec) e.g. Le petit aigle et l'enfant par Johanne Laframboise; Natanis par Christine Sioui Wawanoloath. (now Les Éditions Cornac)
• - leveled reader series L'échos de l'île de la tortue (Pearson)

 intermediate:

• Louis, fils des Prairies (Metis) par Noelie Palud-Pelletier
• Tant que couleront les rivières par Larry Loyie (Northern Prairies)
• Les bas du pennsonait (Fatty legs) and its sequel ...par  Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

 

My library year in an infographic!

After talking with librarians in my School District, I realized that I wanted to advertise our amazing library activities to my teachers, parents and students.  I have changed from my standard report that doesn't get circulated farther than our school and library principals to an infographic. I think busy teachers and parents may actually read this short snapshot of our year but definitely would not crack the covers of a formal report.  Here it is:

My library clerk and I chose the activities and events we were most proud.  After completion, I realized I missed other events- like our January reading challenge, Red Cedar Competition, and our Library Club, that also contributed to a reading climate in our school. So next year I will create a running list, that I can update bimonthly, so I can make a final selection for an infographic.

 

I used the colours from our school banner to provide a cohesive feeling.  However in future I would also select images of a similar style, or draw them to make the infographic feel like a professional publication.   This may be solved by using a program designed to make infographics.

 

However, in the short time I had to complete this project I am pleased with this result.