Our collection of picture books featuring Black and Indigenous Peoples and People of Color (BIPOC) is available to the public.
*Inclusion of a title in the collection DOES NOT EQUAL a recommendation.*
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39 matching books
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As I Enfold You in Petals (The Spirit of Denendeh, 2)
“Curtis has returned to Fort Smith, six weeks sober and determined to stay that way. Can he find healing in his grandfather’s ancient cultural practices? Notorious bootlegger, Benny the Bank stands in his way. With poison slowly killing him, Benny is uneasy about how he’ll be remembered. Can he find a way to make amends? Curtis has returned to Fort Smith, six weeks sober. He doesn’t have any sober friends, his mom’s still drinking, and his best friend (and secret crush) Lacey probably is too. Still, he’s determined to stay sober and help his people. Along the way, he might just be able to help himself. Louis, Curtis’s late grandfather, was a healer. Legend has it, Louis made a deal with the Little People that gave him the power to heal. No one has heard from the Little People since Louis’s death, but his cabin may hold the key for them to return. There’s only one problem: Benny the Bank stands in the way. An infamous bootlegger, Benny has profited off Fort Smith’s pain for decades. After being critically wounded in an attempt on his life, Benny knows he doesn’t have much time before the poison in his blood takes him. He also happens to own Louis’s cabin. Can Curtis convince Benny to return his grandfather’s land? Will the Little People answer his call? And can Benny find a way to make amends and leave a legacy he can be proud of?” — publisher
Maakusie Loves Music
“Maakusie loves music! But what makes music in the Arctic so special? Join Maakusie as he practises katajjaniq (throat singing) and learns ajaja songs, drumming, and more! Explore everything from traditional instruments to dances to the origin of the brass bands in the Arctic today. Grab your instruments or sing along. This journey through the history of music in the Arctic is sure to get your toes tapping!” — publisher
Niitu and Chips
“A cute and simple book showcasing a loveable Arctic friendship. Niitu’s best friend is Chips. It doesn’t matter that Niitu is a kid and Chips is a seal, they spend every moment they can together. When Niitu and Chips head out for a day at the lake, being a seal ends up coming in very handy at the fishing hole!” — publisher
To My Panik: To My Daughter
““Panik, do you know how much I love you? When I look at the horizon, past the vast tundra, I see no end. That is how much I love you.” In this lovingly told book, a mother recounts for her daughter all the things she loves about her, connecting each attribute to an element of the Arctic landscape or Inuit traditional life. As her daughter’s eyes glisten like the fire of an oil lamp, and her courage shines bright like buds of purple saxifrage fighting through a thick blanket of snow, the mother weaves a beautiful narrative of connection and love that will warm the hearts of all readers.” — publisher
Una Huna?: Ukpik Learns to Sew
“Ukpik’s mother is eager to teach Ukpik how to prepare caribou skin, dry it, and use it to sew a pair of simple, useful mitts. But Ukpik can’t stop thinking about the beautiful new beads her mother traded the Captain for on his last visit. They are so bright and beautiful! Anaana knows it is more important for Ukpik to learn the skills she will need to make her own clothing in the cold Arctic climate, so she insists that Ukpik sit with her and learn the basics, while having a bit of fun, too. Though Anaana won’t let Ukpik sew with the new beads just yet, she does have a surprise for Ukpik that will let her enjoy the new-found treasures while also learning the skills she will need to provide for herself and her family.” — publisher
Clam Digging with Grandma
“Silu can’t wait to go clam digging! Follow along as Silu and her grandma spend a fun day digging for clams.” — publisher
Inukpak and His Son
“Discover this gigantic Northern tale. This book introduces children to a traditional Inuit legend. Learn how the great giant Inukpak adopted a human hunter as his son.” — publisher
Kamik Takes the Lead
“Dog musher Darryl Baker shares with young readers the basic information needed to prepare a dog team for a race. Jake and Kamik are finally ready to run their first dog sled race with a full team! But there is a lot to do to prepare, and Jake must follow his uncle’s lead if he and his dogs are going to be ready for the early spring race. Kamik Takes the Lead is the fourth installment in the Kamik series of books following Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story, Kamik’s First Sled, and Kamik Joins the Pack. Books in this series share traditional dog-rearing practices and dog-training techniques from the remote community of Arviat, Nunavut, through the life memories of community members. These books preserve the rich history of working dogs in Nunavut and celebrate the traditional bond between Inuit and their sled dogs. Building on the dog-training practices outlined in Kamik Joins the Pack, Arviat, Nunavut, author and dog musher Darryl Baker shares with young readers the basic information needed to prepare a dog team for a race.” — publisher
Kits, cubs, and calves: an Arctic summer
“On a visit to Nunavut, Akuluk learns about Arctic animals and the importance of the environment we all share. Akuluk is visiting her family in Nunavut and can’t wait to get out on her uncle’s boat for a ride into the powerful Arctic Ocean. Surrounded by her family, and with her trusty toy polar bear beside her, Akuluk experiences the beautiful sights, sounds, and animals that abound in the ocean and along the shore during the short Arctic summer—from a mother polar bear and her cubs to a family of belugas and tiny Arctic fox kits. As they encounter each animal, Akuluk’s aunt and uncles share with her how each species cares for its young, and how they protect their babies from the other animals who share their ecosystem. This beautiful story of family connection and respect for the natural world teaches young readers how close humans are to our animal counterparts and that caring for the environment in which we live is one of our most important responsibilities.” — publisher
Making a Whole Person: Traditional Inuit Education
““Before schools were introduced to the Inuit, we were taught by our relatives.” In this picture book, Monica Ittusardjuat shares how she learned knowledge and skills in a time before being taken to residential school. She describes how children learned through playing games, imitating grown-ups, and observing adults around them.” — publisher
