KPU Library: KPU Reads: Children's Literature

Description: A video playlist that collects stories from Indigenous peoples, as read by various narrators, including some authors.

Includes titles:
The Drum Calls Softly by David Bouchard
The Sharing Circle by Mia Herault
My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith
Totem Tale by Denise Jackson

--Recommended by Anne A., KPU LIbrary

"The story covers ever present life issues many people have been facing in our rather fragile and challenging world throughout its history, not only presently. These issues concern people of all ages, particularly the youth while building their future. The issues in this book include poverty, the lack of opportunities to achieve aspirations, problems imposed by the environment of where people live, crime, women’s rights, economic inequality, bullying, and drugs. The story involves family and social interactions, parent-child affinity, friendship, and love relationship. The events depict how one’s personality evolves through motivating experiences and despair on other times. Interwoven through the plots and twists are valuable, uplifting lessons that the reader could draw to solve issues similar to or beyond those treated in this book. These are values of love, values learned from despair, and values of liberation. These values help transcend limits."

--Recommended by the Author

Description: Everyone loves The Little Engine That Could, that classic tale of the determined little engine that, despite its size, triumphantly pulls a train full of toys to the waiting children on the other side of a mountain. Now the great Loren Long (Mr. Peabody's Apples) has brilliantly re-illustrated this classic story, bringing it exuberantly to life for today's child.

Recommended by Lori S., Facilities

"Reading the Bones by Gina McMurchy-Barber is well researched and thoughtfully written. Alternating between the present and the past, the story weaves together two very different life experiences. One of present day twelve year old Peggy, the other of an ancient Shuksi’em storyteller. In the story, Peggy finds Shuksi’em’s remains when helping her uncle dig out a pond in his backyard. By working alongside an archaeologist, Peggy learns about how Crescent Beach was once the summer fishing village of the “Coast Salish” people, five-thousand-years ago. Long-time Surrey residents will find the setting familiar. It is easy to picture Peggy exploring the streets, shops and sand bars at Crescent Beach. Peggy’s curious and independent nature is inspiring. The messages around love, loss, grief and forgiveness are genuine and authentic; powerful. After reading this story I felt a deeper connection with the people who came before us, and to the ones who have departed while we still remain."

--Recommended by Shannon R., KPU Library

Description: Sparks is a hero and man's best friend, but nobody suspects he's two cats! This Super Dog is the Cat's Meow! August is a brilliant inventor who is afraid of the outside. Charlie is a crack pilot who isn't afraid of anything. Together these pals save lives every day. They also happen to be cats who pilot a powerful, mechanical dog suit! Always eager to leap into danger, this feline duo have their work cut out for them as they try to thwart Princess, an evil alien bent on enslaving mankind. Don't let the fact that Princess looks like a cute, diaper-wearing baby fool you. She's clever, determined, and totally ruthless. So when Princess and the browbeaten fools she calls servants enact a brilliant and dastardly plan to conquer Earth, August and Charlie pull out all the stops to save the day.

"“Sparks” a wonderful graphic novel which I’ve read to my son over 15 times. We love it. The 2nd in the series is launching in just a few days “Sparks Double Dog Dare”. I highly recommend these books and I’m looking forward to Double Dog Dare showing up on my doorstep next week!"

--Recommended by Lori S., Facilities

Description: "Dream a little, Kulu, this world now sings a most beautiful song of you." This beautiful bedtime poem, written by acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Lyrically and tenderly told by a mother speaking to her own little Kulu; an Inuktitut term of endearment often bestowed upon babies and young children, this visually stunning book is infused with the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants.

--Recommended by Kelsey C., KPU Library