Results for: melanie florence

Below is a list of 17 the books by this author.

Book cover of BENJAMIN'S THUNDERSTORM
BENJAMIN'S THUNDERSTORM
By: melanie florence | Published: October 2023

Benjamin loves the rain. He loves splashing through puddles and watching a rainbow’s colors as they ripple around his feet. But most of all,...

Benjamin loves the rain. He loves splashing through puddles and watching a rainbow’s colors as they ripple around his feet. But most of all, Benjamin loves thunder. To him, thunder — piyêsiwak — sounds like his grandfather’s drum. It calls to him, like songs his grandfather plays while his father and other powwow dancers spin and step in time. Benjamin listens to the thunder and imagines himself as a powwow dancer. He spins, taps his feet, lifts his knees. Faster and faster he twirls, filled with the rhythm of piyêsiwak.

Theme: Indigenous

  • ISBN
    9781525303203
  • Binding
    Hardcover Canadian
  • Category
    Picture Book
Retail Price:
$21.99
Quantity:
Book cover of DREAMING IN COLOR
DREAMING IN COLOR
By: melanie florence | Published: August 2020

In this high-interest novel for teen readers, a young teen is thrilled when she gets into art school but shocked to learn that some students feel she...

In this high-interest novel for teen readers, a young teen is thrilled when she gets into art school but shocked to learn that some students feel she doesn't belong there.

Theme: Anti-Racism, Indigenous, Prejudice & Racism, Social Justice

  • ISBN
    9781459825864
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Young Adult Fiction
Retail Price:
$10.95
Quantity:
Book cover of HE WHO DREAMS
HE WHO DREAMS
By: melanie florence | Published: September 2021

Juggling soccer, school, friends and family leaves John with little time for anything else. One day at the local community center, following the...

Juggling soccer, school, friends and family leaves John with little time for anything else. One day at the local community center, following the sound of drums, he stumbles into an Indigenous dance class. Before he knows what's happening, John finds himself stumbling through beginner classes with a bunch of little girls, skipping soccer practice and letting his other responsibilities slide. When he attends a powwow and witnesses a powerful performance, he realizes that he wants to be a dancer more than anything. But the nearest class for boys is at the Native Cultural Center in the city, and he still hasn't told his family or friends about his new passion. If he wants to dance, he will have to stop hiding. Between the mocking of his teammates and the hostility of the boys in his dance class, John must find a way to balance and embrace both the Irish and Cree sides of his heritage.

Theme: Bi-Racial, Indigenous, Bullying issues, High Interest/Low Vocabulary

  • ISBN
    9781459833425
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Intermediate Fiction
Retail Price:
$10.95
Quantity:
Book cover of JARDIN DE KAIAH
JARDIN DE KAIAH
By: melanie florence | Published: January 2024

See below for English description. L'histoire édifiante d'une jeune fille qui se rapproche de sa grand-mère bien-aimée...

See below for English description. L'histoire édifiante d'une jeune fille qui se rapproche de sa grand-mère bien-aimée grâce à l'art du perlage. En se réveillant par un matin maussade, Kaiah se sent aussi froide et grise que le jour. Sa grand-maman lui manque, et elle a envie de la retrouver. Sans sa grand-mère, la vie de Kaiah n'a pas de sens. Heureusement, Kaiah peut ouvrir sa précieuse boîte de perles, et grâce à la beauté qu'elle renferme, la jeune fille retrouve sa grand-mère dans un jardin plein de couleurs et d'amour. Cette magnifique histoire de l'autrice primée Melanie Florence célèbre l'amour universel entre une grand-mère et sa petite-fille. Illustré par Karlene Harvey, une brillante artiste Tsilhqot'in et Syilx, ce livre comporte également un supplément d'information sur la tradition autochtone du perlage. An uplifting story of a girl's connection to her beloved grandmother through the beadwork art they created together. As she wakes up one dull morning, Kaiah feels as cold and grey as the day. She longs to be with her grandmother again. Kaiah's life doesn't feel right without her. But through Kaiah's treasured bead box -- and the beauty it holds -- she is with her grandmother, in a garden that is full of colour and love. This beautiful story from award-winning author Melanie Florence celebrates the universal love between grandmother and child. Featuring bright, breathtaking illustrations from Tsilhqot'in and Syilx artist Karlene Harvey, the book also features back matter about the Indigenous tradition of beading. Original title: Kaiah's Garden

Theme: Indigenous, Family Relationships

  • ISBN
    9781443189453
  • Binding
    Paperback French
  • Category
    French Picture Book
Retail Price:
$10.99
Quantity:
Book cover of JORDIN TOOTOO
JORDIN TOOTOO
By: melanie florence | Published: February 2020

Hockey is a relatively new sport in Canada's North. It wasn't until 2003 that Jordin Kudluk "Thunder" Tootoo became the first Inuk to play in an NHL...

Hockey is a relatively new sport in Canada's North. It wasn't until 2003 that Jordin Kudluk "Thunder" Tootoo became the first Inuk to play in an NHL game. Although hockey is a rough sport to begin with, Jordin Tootoo is known for having to "fight his way through." Jordin has had more than his fair share of fights both on and off the ice. He's had to overcome the social problems that are associated with the North, fight his way through the discrimination and culture shock he encountered after leaving Rankin Inlet and moving to Alberta to play in the Juniors, and see his way through the grief of losing his NHL bound older brother and hero, Terence Tootoo, to suicide in 2002. This new, updated biography explores the struggles and accomplishments of the most recognized role model for young Aboriginal and Inuit people today.

Theme: Indigenous, Sports - Hockey, Prejudice & Racism, Inuit

  • ISBN
    9781459415188
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Sports And Active Games
Retail Price:
$12.95
Quantity:
Book cover of JUST LUCKY
JUST LUCKY
By: melanie florence | Published: September 2019

Lucky loves her grandparents, and they are all the family she really has. True, her grandma forgets things…like turning off the stove, or...

Lucky loves her grandparents, and they are all the family she really has. True, her grandma forgets things…like turning off the stove, or Lucky’s name. But her grandpa takes such good care of them that Lucky doesn’t realize how bad things are. That is until he’s gone. When her grandma accidentally sets the kitchen on fire, Lucky can’t hide what’s happening any longer, and she is sent into foster care. She quickly learns that some foster families are okay. Some aren’t. And some really, really aren’t. Is it possible to find a home again when the only one you’ve ever known has been taken from you?

Theme: Indigenous, Inter-Generational, Bullying issues

  • ISBN
    9781772601046
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Young Adult Fiction
Retail Price:
$13.95
Quantity:
Book cover of KAIAH'S GARDEN
KAIAH'S GARDEN
By: melanie florence | Published: January 2024

As she wakes up one dull morning, Kaiah feels as cold and grey as the day. She longs to be with her grandmother again. Kaiah's life doesn't feel...

As she wakes up one dull morning, Kaiah feels as cold and grey as the day. She longs to be with her grandmother again. Kaiah's life doesn't feel right without her. But through Kaiah's treasured bead box -- and the beauty it holds -- she is with her grandmother, in a garden that is full of colour and love.

Theme: Indigenous, Family Relationships

  • ISBN
    9781443190251
  • Binding
    Hardcover Canadian
  • Category
    Picture Book
Retail Price:
$19.99
Quantity:
Book cover of LEGENDS OF FUNLAND
LEGENDS OF FUNLAND
By: melanie florence | Published: August 2022

Buddy wants to prove to his big brother that he is not a scared little kid anymore. For as long as Buddy can remember, there has been a rumour...

Buddy wants to prove to his big brother that he is not a scared little kid anymore. For as long as Buddy can remember, there has been a rumour that the local theme park is haunted. After a fight with his brother, he convinces his friends that they should sneak into the park and spend the night. That way, everyone will know how brave they are. But can Buddy and his friends avoid the guards and the cameras and whatever is haunting the theme park? Or is the whole thing just an urban legend after all

Theme: Orca Currents series

  • ISBN
    9781459833944
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Intermediate Fiction
Retail Price:
$10.95
Quantity:
Book cover of LO SIMPSON STARTS A REVOLUTION
LO SIMPSON STARTS A REVOLUTION
By: melanie florence | Published: April 2024

In this middle-grade novel, Lo's best friend, Jazz, is ditching her for the popular crowd, makeup and boys. But when Lo finds new friends who share...

In this middle-grade novel, Lo's best friend, Jazz, is ditching her for the popular crowd, makeup and boys. But when Lo finds new friends who share her love of comics and Doctor Who, she discovers her voice--and the confidence to speak up for what's right.

  • ISBN
    9781459838505
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Junior Fiction
Retail Price:
$14.95
Quantity:
Book cover of MISSING
MISSING
By: melanie florence | Published: February 2016

After a girl she knows from school goes missing and is found dead in the Red River, Feather is shocked when the police write it off as a suicide....

After a girl she knows from school goes missing and is found dead in the Red River, Feather is shocked when the police write it off as a suicide. Then, it's Feather's best friend, Mia, who vanishes — but Mia's mom and abusive stepfather paint Mia as a frequent runaway, so the authorities won't investigate her disappearance either. Everyone knows that Native girls are disappearing and being killed, but no one is connecting the dots. When Feather's brother Kiowa is arrested under suspicion of Mia's abduction, Feather knows she has to clear his name. What Feather doesn't know is that the young serial killer who has taken Mia has become obsessed with Feather, and her investigation is leading her into terrible danger. Using as its background the ongoing circumstance of unsolved cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, this fictional thriller set in Winnipeg explores one teenager's response to a system that has long denied and misrepresented the problem.

Theme: Indigenous, Prejudice & Racism, Crime

  • ISBN
    9781459410855
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Young Adult Fiction
Retail Price:
$14.95
Quantity:
Book cover of MISSING NIMAMA
MISSING NIMAMA
By: melanie florence | Published: September 2021

Theme: Indigenous

  • ISBN
    9781443190046
  • Binding
    Hardcover Canadian
  • Category
    Picture Book - Advanced
Retail Price:
$19.99
Quantity:
Book cover of OTHER SIDE OF PERFECT
OTHER SIDE OF PERFECT
By: melanie florence | Published: April 2024

Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in alternating narratives, The...

Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in alternating narratives, The Other Side of Perfect is infused with themes of identity, belonging, and compassion, reminding us that we are all more than our circumstances, and we are all more connected than we think. Cody's home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a great sense of humor that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family, who has found herself in with the popular crowd even though it's hard for her to want to keep up. But one night, while returning home from a movie, Autumn comes across Cody, face down in the laneway behind her house. All Cody knows is that he can't take another encounter with his father like the one he just narrowly escaped. He can't go home. But he doesn't have anywhere else to go. When Autumn agrees to let him hide out in her dad's art studio, Cody's story begins to come out, and so does hers.

  • ISBN
    9781339002859
  • Binding
    Hardcover Canadian
  • Category
    Intermediate Fiction
Retail Price:
$25.99
Quantity:
Book cover of REZ REBEL
REZ REBEL
By: melanie florence | Published: May 2017

Floyd Twofeathers has always trusted his mom, a traditional healer, and his dad, hereditary chief of their band, to take care of the people on their...

Floyd Twofeathers has always trusted his mom, a traditional healer, and his dad, hereditary chief of their band, to take care of the people on their reserve. But a lack of educational and career opportunities, medical support and counselling has left young people feeling that they have no future. As suicides pile up, Floyd finds that his friends and kids he knows are taking their own lives because they feel that they have no future — but his father refuses to listen to Floyd's attempts to find a realistic solution. When Floyd's father is overwhelmed by the situation and succumbs to alcohol and depression, it is up to Floyd to turn around his community's descent into crisis before it's too late. Set in a situation of suicide contagion among young people in Aboriginal communities, this novel follows one teenager's determined efforts to help his friends and his community find solutions.

  • ISBN
    9781459411999
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Young Adult Fiction
Retail Price:
$12.95
Quantity:
Book cover of REZ RUNAWAY
REZ RUNAWAY
By: melanie florence | Published: August 2016

Raised on a reserve in northern Ontario, seventeen-year-old Joe Littlechief tries to be like the other guys. But Joe knows he's different -- he's...

Raised on a reserve in northern Ontario, seventeen-year-old Joe Littlechief tries to be like the other guys. But Joe knows he's different -- he's more interested in guys than in any of the girls he knows. One night Joe makes a drunken pass at his best friend Benjy and, by the next morning, everyone on the rez is talking about Joe. His mother, a devout Christian, is horrified, and the kids who are supposed to be his friends make it clear there's no place for him in their circle, or even on the rez. Joe thinks about killing himself, but instead runs away to the city. Alone and penniless on the streets of Toronto, Joe comes to identify with the Aboriginal idea of having two spirits, or combining both feminine and masculine identities in one person. He also begins to understand more about how his parents have been affected by their own experiences as children in residential schools -- something never discussed on the rez. And he realizes he has to come to terms with his two-spiritedness and find people who accept him for who he is. This is a novel that reflects the complex realities faced by young LGBTQ and aboriginal youth today.

Theme: Indigenous, High Interest/Low Vocabulary, LGBTQ2S+

  • ISBN
    9781459411623
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Young Adult Fiction
Retail Price:
$12.95
Quantity:
Book cover of RIGHTING CANADA'S WRONGS - RESIDENTIAL S
RIGHTING CANADA'S WRONGS - RESIDENTIAL S
By: melanie florence | Published: February 2022

Canada’s residential school system for Indigenous children is now recognized as a grievous historic wrong committed against First Nations,...

Canada’s residential school system for Indigenous children is now recognized as a grievous historic wrong committed against First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Through historical photographs, documents and first-person narratives from people who survived residential schools, this book offers an account of the injustice of this period in Canadian history. It documents how official racism was confronted and finally acknowledged. In 1857, the Gradual Civilization Act was passed in Canada with the aim of assimilating Indigenous people. In 1879, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald commissioned a report that led to residential schools across Canada. First Nations and Inuit children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools where they were dressed in uniforms, their hair was cut, they were forbidden to speak their native language and they were often subjected to physical and psychological abuse. The schools were run by churches and funded by the federal government. The last federally funded residential school closed in 1996. The horrors that many children endured at residential schools did not go away. It took decades for people to speak out, but with the support of the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit organizations, former residential school students took the federal government and the churches to court. Their cases led to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history. In 2008, Prime Minister Harper formally apologized to former native residential school students for the atrocities they suffered and the role the government played in setting up the school system. The agreement included the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which has worked to document the experience. More than five years after the TRC Report was released, there have been reports of unmarked graves of children being discovered at the site of former residential schools. This updated edition includes some of those findings and examines what has and what still has to be done in regards to the TRC Report’s Calls to Action.

  • ISBN
    9781459416758
  • Binding
    Hardcover Canadian
  • Category
    Social Studies - Canadian History
Retail Price:
$34.95
Quantity:
Book cover of STOLEN WORDS
STOLEN WORDS
By: melanie florence | Published: September 2017

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language...

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language – Cree – he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.

Theme: Indigenous

  • ISBN
    9781772600377
  • Binding
    Hardcover Canadian
  • Category
    Picture Book
Retail Price:
$21.95
Quantity:
Book cover of STOLEN WORDS KIMOTINANIWIW ITWEWINA
STOLEN WORDS KIMOTINANIWIW ITWEWINA
By: melanie florence | Published: September 2019

Theme: Indigenous

  • ISBN
    9781772601015
  • Binding
    Paperback Canadian
  • Category
    Picture Book
Retail Price:
$14.95
Quantity: