Ancient Thunder

Leo Yerxa (Groundwood, 2006)
Shelf Number: Easy

A visionary and beautiful book, "Ancient Thunder" celebrates wild horses and the natural world in which they lived in harmony.

Crossing Bok Chitto: a Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom

Tim Tingle (Cinco Puntos Press, c2006)
Shelf Number: TWEEN/TIN

Martha Tom, a young Choctaw girl, knows better than to cross Bok Chitto, but one day-in search of blackberries-she disobeys her mother and finds herself on the other side. A tall slave discovers Martha Tom. A friendship begins between Martha Tom and the slave's family, most particularly his young son, Little Mo. Soon afterwards, Little Mo's mother finds out that she is going to be sold. The situation seems hopeless, except that Martha Tom teaches Little Mo's family how to walk on water to their freedom.

First Salmon

Roxane B. Salonen (Boyds Mills Press, c2005)
Shelf Number: EASY/SAL

Each spring the Native America people of the Pacific Northwest celebrate First Salmon, which marks the arrival of the salmon that have provided them with food for centuries. But this spring, Charlie's heart is not in the celebration. First Salmon will never be the same without Uncle Joe. During the ceremony, Charlie remembers his late uncle and the good times they had together, skipping stones or taking out the cedar canoe. He remembers the things his uncle had taught him and the stories that he told. When one by one Charlie's people tell their own stories that honor the salmon, Charlie comes to an understanding that helps him see beyond his grief.

Lion Singer

Sylvia Ross (Heyday Books, c2005)
Shelf Number: TWEEN/ROS

A young boy finds an unexpected courage when confronted with mountain lion threatening his sister. The timeless theme of discovery of the strength to overcome fear and act.

Shi-shi-etko

Nicola I. Campbell (House of Anansi Press, c2005)
Shelf Number: EASY/ CAM

Shi-shi-etko just has four days until she will have to leave her family and everything she knows to attend residential school. She spends her last precious days at home treasuring and appreciating the beauty of her world -- the dancing sunlight, the tall grass, each shiny rock, the tadpoles in the creek, her grandfather's paddle song. Her mother, father, and grandmother, each in turn, share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping.

Thanks to the Animals

Allen Sockabasin (Tilbury House, c2005)
Shelf Number: EASY/SOC

In 1900 during the Passamaquoddy winter migration in Maine , Baby Zoo Sap falls off the family bobsled and the forest animals hearing his cries, gather to protect him until his father returns to find him.