A List of Children's Books About Residential Schools and Their Survivors

June is National Indigenous History Month, and, in light of what the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc people finally got Canada to pay attention to and how many other unmarked graveyards there are likely to be at the sites of residential schools, I thought I would offer a (noncurated) list of children’s books about residential schools and their survivors. These are in alphabetic order by title.

Amik Loves School by Katherena Vermette, illustrated by Irene Kuziw, picture book (2015), available in English

Arctic Stories by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak, illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka, picture book (1998), available in English

As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden, illustrated by Heather Holmlund, picture book (2005), available in English; sequel is Goodbye Buffalo Boy (2008)

Ends/Begins and The Pact by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson, books 3 and 4 in graphic novel series 7 Generations (2010 & 2011), available in English

Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, artwork by Liz Amini-Holmes, chapter book (2010), available in English; sequel is A Stranger at Home (2011)

Gaawin Gindaaswin Ndaawsii / I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gillian Newland, picture book (2016), available in English or dual language English/Nishnaabemwin (Ojibwe)

Kookum's Red Shoes, by Peter Eyvindson, illustrated by Sheldon Dawson, picture book (2015), available in English

My Name is Seepeetza, by Shirley Sterling, novel (1992), available in English

No Time to Say Goodbye by Sylvia Olsen, Rita Morris, and Ann Sam, novel (2002), available in English

Phyllis's Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Brock Nicol, picture book (2019), available in English

Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim LaFave, picture book (2005), available in English or French; sequel is Shin-Chi's Canoe (2008)

Stolen Words by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, picture book (2017), available in English

Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson, graphic story (2012), available in English

These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens by Ruby Slipperjack, novel in the Dear Canada series (2016), available in English

When We Were Alone by David Roberston, illustrated by Julie Flett, picture book (2016), available in English, French, or Cree

If you’re making a list of Indigenous writers and illustrators for young readers on topics beyond residential school trauma, a few important names to note are Katherena Vermette, David A. Robertson, and Julie Flett.

Dr. Nicky Didicher teaches children’s literature in the Department of English at Simon Fraser University.