National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Picture BooksLike this list

11 items

• When I Was Eight

  Jordan-Fenton, Christy

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  When she is eight, young Olemaun asks to be taken away from the Inuit name and life she knows because she is determined to learn to read. It soon becomes clear that residential school is not what she imagined but she triumph's in the end.

• When We Were Alone

  Robertson, David, 1977-

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  As a young girl asks her grandmother about the way she dresses and the language she speaks, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away.

• The Train

  Callaghan, Jodie, 1984-

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  Inspired by the author's conversations with survivors--including her own grandmother's experience at Indian day school, and memories shared with her by a man she interviewed by the train tracks that transported children to residential school in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Phyllis's Orange Shirt

  Webstad, Phyllis

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  The story of Phyllis Webstad (nee Jack) turned six, whose orange shirt - that her Granny bought for her -was taken away from her and never returned, when she went to residential school.

• I Am Not a Number

  Dupuis, Jenny Kay

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  When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. Based on the life of the author's own grandmother,

• Not My Girl

  Jordan-Fenton, Christy

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  Margaret can't wait to see her family, but her homecoming is not as welcoming as what she expected. Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.

• Shi-shi-etko

  Campbell, Nicola I.

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  Shi-shi-etko just has four days until she must leave her family and everything she knows to attend residential school. She spends her last days at home treasuring and appreciating the beauty of her world.

• Stolen Words

  Florence, Melanie

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  This picture book explores the intergenerational impact of Canada's residential school system that separated Indigenous children from their families. Captured by the beautiful, healing relationship between a little girl and her grandfather.

• Swift Fox All Along

  Thomas, Rebecca, 1947-

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  What does it mean to be Mikmaq? And if Swift Fox can't find the answer, will she ever feel like part of her family? A story about identity and belonging.

• Shin-chi's Canoe

  Campbell, Nicola I.

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  The sequel to Shi-shi-etko, Shin-chi's Canoe tells the story of two children's experience at residential school. Shi-shi-etko is about to return for her second year, but this time her six-year-old brother, Shin-chi, is going, too.

• The Secret Pocket

  Janicki, Peggy

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  The true story of how Indigenous girls at a residential school sewed secret pockets into their dresses to hide food and survive.