Books & Learning Guides

Spirit Bear's ABCs invites pre-schoolers to learn the alphabet alongside Spirit Bear - a Bear who stands up for the rights of First Nations kids. From A to Z, each letter introduces words and concepts from Spirit Bear's celebrated picture-book series for older children in engaging and age-appropriate ways, while supporting the development of foundational literacy skills and strengthening letter recognition. 

Spirit Bear is loved worldwide as a symbol of reconciliation and the power of children to make a difference. This delightful book welcomes young children into Spirit Bear’s world, where they can learn, grow, and join kids everywhere in discovering that just because they're small doesn't mean they can't stand tall!

Pre-order through major retailers and independent bookstores ($12.95 each)

For bulk pre-orders (10+ copies), contact University of Toronto Press: utpbooks@utpress.utoronto.ca

Special thanks to BMO for their generous support of this project.

When Spirit Bear’s mom tells him about an important human rights case happening in Ottawa, Ontario, he makes the LONG trip (by train, his favourite way to travel) to go and watch, and to stand up for First Nations kids. And he isn’t the only one! Lots of children come too—to listen, and to show they care. Spirit Bear knows that children can change the world because he’s there to see it happen. This is the story of how kids—kids just like you—made a difference… with a bit of help from some bears and other animals along the way!

Translations

Spirit Bear's first book is available for free in Cree and Carrier, as well as French and Hungarian! 

Special thanks to:

• Madelaine Gamblin for the Cree translation

• Dorothy Patrick and Alex Michel for the Carrier translation and audio/video read along

• Mélanie Vincent for the French translation

• Annamaria Szeles and David Major for the Hungarian translation

Learning Guide

Spirit Bear is pawsitively thrilled about his Learning Guide to accompany Spirit Bear and Children Make History. The guide supports families, educators, and communities in using Spirit Bear's book to teach about equity, reconciliation, and how kids can make a difference. Download it for free below!

Did You Know? Spirit Bear and Children Make History and learning guide was an Indspire Successful Practice in K-12 Indigenous education! 

With special thanks to Unifor and the Canadian National Railway Company for their generous support of this project.

Spirit Bear is off on another adventure! Follow him as he learns about traditional knowledge and Residential Schools from Uncle Huckleberry and his friend, Lak'insxw, before heading to Algonquin territory, where children teach him about Shannen's Dream. Spirit Bear and his new friends won't stop until Shannen's Dream of "safe and comfy schools" comes true for every First Nations student.

Learning Guide

Spirit Bear is pawsitively thrilled about his Learning Guide to accompany Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams. The guide supports families, educators, and communities in using Spirit Bear's book to teach about equity, reconciliation, and how kids can make a difference. Download it for free below!

Did you know? Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams was the selected title in the children's category for the First Nations Communities Read 2019-2020 and Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Award! 

With special thanks to Sisters of Service, Unifor, and the Canadian National (CN) Railway company for their generous support of this project. 

Spirit Bear is on his way home from a sacred ceremony when he meets Jake, a friendly dog, with a bag full of paper hearts attached to wood stakes. Jake tells Spirit Bear that school children and residential school survivors will plant the hearts when a big report on residential schools called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC for short) is shared. The TRC will have Calls to Action so we can all help end the unfairness and make sure this generation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit children grow up healthy and proud!

Learning Guide

Spirit Bear is pawsitively thrilled about his Learning Guide to accompany Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams. The guide supports families, educators, and communities in using Spirit Bear's book to teach about equity, reconciliation, and how kids can make a difference.

For the past 13 years, Spirit Bear has been working hard to make sure First Nations children get the help they need when they need it so they can grow up safely with their families, get a good education, and be healthy and proud of who they are. 

It's been a long journey, and Spirit Bear needs a vacation! He and his family set out for Songhees and Esquimalt territories (Victoria, British Columbia) for their holiday adventure. Along the way, they see a statue of John A. Macdonald - Canada's first Prime Minister - being removed from the steps of Victoria City Hall. Some people have signs that say, "Save the statue," and others have signs that say, "The statue must go!" Spirit Bear and his family learn why people disagree and how we can learn from the good and bad parts of history to make better decisions now and for future generations of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit kids. 

Translations

Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past is available in Algonquin and Cree! 

Special thank you to Bertha Chief and Kevin Chief for providing the Algonquin translation.

Special thank you to nēhiyawak Language Experience Inc for the Cree translation. 

Learning Guide

We are in the process of creating Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past Learning Guide. Thank you so much for your patience. 

Thank you to the Sisters of Service and the NIB for their generous support!