This page was first published in 2017. There have been a lot of exciting new releases since then that still need to be added here. It’s a work in progress. I will continue to add books, details, and comments as time permits.
And if *you* have good books to recommend or comments to add, please send me a note! I would especially appreciate photos or scans of book covers, so I can add them to this list.
Important: The Cree Literacy Network *does not have these books for sale.* If I can find ordering information, I’ve included it with the individual book description. Many are out of print (and can only be found – if you’re lucky – in libraries).
A lot of great resources can also be found in the online catalogs of some education resource centres and resellers. Click here for a separate list of these catalogs: You can order from them directly!
Cree Books
Story by Darrell Pelletier, translated into Cree by Freda Ahenakew. Gabriel Dumont Institute.
Available at University of Manitoba Elizabeth Dafoe Library
“The Alfred Reading Series is an illustrated five book series for children in Michif, Plains Cree and French, with English subtitles. Through this set of storybooks, which focuses on Alfred and his sister Lisa, the reader will gain an appreciation of contemporary Aboriginal culture. The series includes:
Alfred’s First Day at School, Alfred’s Summer, The Big Storm, The Pow Wow and Lisa and Sam.”
Story by Darrell Pelletier, translated by Freda Ahenakew
Available at University of Manitoba, Elizabeth Dafoe Library
“The Alfred Reading Series is an illustrated five book series for children in Michif, Plains Cree and French, with English subtitles. Through this set of storybooks, which focuses on Alfred and his sister Lisa, the reader will gain an appreciation of contemporary Aboriginal culture. The series includes:
Alfred’s First Day at School, Alfred’s Summer, The Big Storm, The Pow Wow and Lisa and Sam.”
Featuring the work of award-willing illustrator Julie Flett, and a detailed explanation of how colour words work in Cree from the Cree Literacy Network.
Native Northwest/Garfinkel Publications, 2017
Order from Amazon
Concept by Veronica Atwin
Translation by Solomon Ratt
Written and illustrated by Mark Parkhill
SayITFirst Books
Concept by Veronica Atwin
Translation by Leona Tootoosis, Guy Albert and Jean Okimâsis
Written and illustrated by Mark Parkhill
SayITFirst Books
Published initially in separate Cree and English editions (1988), the English version is now out of print.
Cree-only version is available from SICC. Download their catalog here:
SICC Learning Outlet Catalog
Pisim Finds Her Miskanow is based on an important 1993 archaeological find that located the remains of a young woman at Nagami Bay, Southern Indian Lake, Manitoba. The fully illustrated book recounts a week in the life of Pisim, a young Cree woman, who lived in the mid 1600s. In the story, created by renowned storyteller William Dumas, Pisim begins to recognize her miskanow – her life’s journey – and to develop her gifts for fulfilling that path. The story is brought to life by the rich imagery of Mikmaw artist Leonard Paul, and is accompanied by sidebars on Cree language and culture, archaeology and history, maps, songs, and more. This 48-page historical fiction and information text features 21 colour illustrations and 20 black and white illustrations and 5 maps making the rich cultural history of the Manitoba Cree come to life. Oversize hardcover. Winner of the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA) 2014 Public Communications Award, Author Category. Highly recommended.
We All Count: A Book of Cree Numbers is the 2014 board book from Native Northwest featuring the artwork of Cree/Métis artist Julie Flett.
Includes Cree number words, with pronunciation guide by Cree Literacy Network.
Concept by Veronica Atwin
Translation by Solomon Ratt
Written and illustrated by Mark Parkhill
SayITFirst Books
Written in Cree and English by Freda Ahenakew; illustrated by Sherry Farrell Racette.
Freda Ahenakew, 1988.
[Cree only edition]. Illustrated by George Littlechild.Saskatoon: Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre. English edition is out of print.
Bernice Johnson-Laxdal & Miriam Körner. Illustrated by Miriam Körner.
Regina, SK: Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing, 2016.
32 pp., hardcover, $19.95.
ISBN 978-1-927756-84-3.
Kindergarten-grade 5 / Ages 5-10.
Review: CM Magazine
Order from:
Your Nickel’s Worth Press
Written by Melanie Florence and Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Order from: Second Story Press
Teacher resource material includes an explanation of the six Cree words introduced by Cree Literacy Network Director Arden Ogg
Written by Melanie Florence and Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Order from: Second Story Press
Teacher resource material includes an explanation of the six Cree words introduced by Cree Literacy Network Director Arden Ogg
Pisim Finds Her Miskanow is based on an important 1993 archaeological find that located the remains of a young woman at Nagami Bay, Southern Indian Lake, Manitoba. The fully illustrated book recounts a week in the life of Pisim, a young Cree woman, who lived in the mid 1600s. In the story, created by renowned storyteller William Dumas, Pisim begins to recognize her miskanow – her life’s journey – and to develop her gifts for fulfilling that path. The story is brought to life by the rich imagery of Mikmaw artist Leonard Paul, and is accompanied by sidebars on Cree language and culture, archaeology and history, maps, songs, and more. This 48-page historical fiction and information text features 21 colour illustrations and 20 black and white illustrations and 5 maps making the rich cultural history of the Manitoba Cree come to life. Oversize hardcover. Winner of the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA) 2014 Public Communications Award, Author Category. Highly recommended.
We All Count: A Book of Cree Numbers is the 2014 board book from Native Northwest featuring the artwork of Cree/Métis artist Julie Flett.
Includes Cree number words, with pronunciation guide by Cree Literacy Network.
Featuring the work of award-willing illustrator Julie Flett, and a detailed explanation of how colour words work in Cree from the Cree Literacy Network.
Native Northwest/Garfinkel Publications, 2017
Order from Amazon
kâ-nitai-kiskinohamakosiyân / The Time I Went to School. Story by Beatrice Henry. Chamakese Education Centre: Pelican Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan. Illustrations by Randi Sunshine. Edited, Design and Layout by Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Order from SICC.
Freda Ahenakew, 1988.
[Cree only edition]. Illustrated by George Littlechild.Saskatoon: Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre. English edition is out of print.
Written in Cree and English by Freda Ahenakew; illustrated by Sherry Farrell Racette.
Published initially in separate Cree and English editions (1988), the English version is now out of print.
Cree-only version is available from SICC. Download their catalog here:
SICC Learning Outlet Catalog
Concept by Veronica Atwin
Translation by Leona Tootoosis, Guy Albert and Jean Okimâsis
Written and illustrated by Mark Parkhill
SayITFirst Books
Story by Darrell Pelletier, translated by Freda Ahenakew
Available at University of Manitoba, Elizabeth Dafoe Library
“The Alfred Reading Series is an illustrated five book series for children in Michif, Plains Cree and French, with English subtitles. Through this set of storybooks, which focuses on Alfred and his sister Lisa, the reader will gain an appreciation of contemporary Aboriginal culture. The series includes:
Alfred’s First Day at School, Alfred’s Summer, The Big Storm, The Pow Wow and Lisa and Sam.”
Story by Darrell Pelletier, translated into Cree by Freda Ahenakew. Gabriel Dumont Institute.
Available at University of Manitoba Elizabeth Dafoe Library
“The Alfred Reading Series is an illustrated five book series for children in Michif, Plains Cree and French, with English subtitles. Through this set of storybooks, which focuses on Alfred and his sister Lisa, the reader will gain an appreciation of contemporary Aboriginal culture. The series includes:
Alfred’s First Day at School, Alfred’s Summer, The Big Storm, The Pow Wow and Lisa and Sam.”
Order from Orca or your favourite bookstore.
Concept by Veronica Atwin
Translation by Solomon Ratt
Written and illustrated by Mark Parkhill
SayITFirst Books
Concept by Veronica Atwin
Translation by Solomon Ratt
Written and illustrated by Mark Parkhill
SayITFirst Books
kâ-nitai-kiskinohamakosiyân / The Time I Went to School. Story by Beatrice Henry. Chamakese Education Centre: Pelican Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan. Illustrations by Randi Sunshine. Edited, Design and Layout by Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Order from SICC.
