At the recent IBBY World Congress held in Ottawa from August 6-9, the IBBY-UNESCO Collection of Remarkable Books for Young Readers in Indigenous and Endangered Languages was unveiled during the Celebrating Indigenous Voice evening at the Canadian Museum of History. Presented by international selection committee members Colette Poitras (IBBY Canada), Johan Sandberg McGuinne, and Ben Bowen (Indigenous Literacy Foundation, Australia), this joint initiative reflects the shared commitment of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to place children and young readers at the heart of global efforts to safeguard and promote linguistic diversity.
The collection includes books for children and young people (picture books, novels, biographies, graphic novels and non-fiction) presenting high-quality standards in terms of text and/or illustration. Twenty-six Canadian titles, published in Indigenous languages, were selected by the committee.
THE ARCTIC
Piqpagijaptigit Aadjikkutaatut Tiriganniap Pamiuni Piqpagijaatut / We Love You as Much as the Fox Loves Its Tail, written by Masiana Kelly, illustrated by Tamara Campeau (Inhabit Media, 2025)
Language: Inuinnaqtun
ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ / The First Peoples, written by Maika Harper, illustrated by Kaja Kajfež (Inhabit Media, 2025)
Language: Inuktitut
ᑭᒻᒥᕈᒻᒧᒼ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᓂᕋ / Kimmirummut niurrunira / My Visit to Kimmirut, written by Monica Ittusardjuat, illustrated by Emma Pederson (Arvaaq Press, 2024)
Language: Inuktitut, English
ᓄᓂᕙᖕᓇᖅᓯᔪᖅ/ It’s Time for Berries!, written by Ceporah Mearns and Jeremy Debicki, illustrated by Tindur Peturs (Inhabit Media, 2022)
Language: Inuktitut
NORTH AMERICA
Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh: Niibing, dgwaagig, bboong, mnookmig dbaadjigaade maanpii mzin’igning / This Is How I Know: A Book About the Seasons, written by Brittany Luby, illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Alvin Ted Corbiere and Alan Corbiere (Groundwood Books, 2021)
Language: Anishinaabemowin, English
Mnoomin maan’gowing / The Gift of Mnoomin, written by Brittany Luby, illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Mary Ann Corbiere (Groundwood Books, 2023)
Language: Anishinaabemowin, English
Boozhoo! / Hello!, written and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Mary Ann Corbiere (Groundwood Books, 2023)
Language: Anishinaabemowin, English
Nibi nigomon / Nibi’s Water Song, written by Sunshine Quem Tenasco, illustrated by Chief Lady Bird, translated by Tina Nottaway (Scholastic Canada, 2025)
Language: Anishinaabemowin, English
ɬagət̓ hiyt t̓oxʷʊm / Herring to Huckleberries, written by ošil (Betty Wilson), illustrated by Prashant Miranda (HighWater Press, 2025)
Language: Ayajuthem – ʔayʔajuθəm, English
Naaahsa Aisinaki! / Naaahsa is an Artist!, written and illustrated by Hali Heavy Shield, translated by Norma Jean Russell and Faye Heavy Shield (Second Story Press, 2023)
Language: Blackfoot, English
Wâspison / The Moss Bag, written by Darlene Pearl Auger, illustrated by Chloe 'Bluebird' Mustooch (Eschia Books, 2019)
Language: Cree, English
kā-āciwīkicik / The Move, written by Doris George and Don K. Philpot, illustrated by Alyssa Koski (Heritage House Publishing, 2022)
Language: Cree, English
ninitohtênân / We Listen, written and illustrated by Caitlin Dale Nicholson, translated by Leona Morin-Neilson (Groundwood Books, 2024)
Language: Cree, English
nimosôm anima—nimihšōmihš ta-minciwēnciman / Grandfather’s Reminder, written by Alberta-Rose Bear and Kathleen O’Reilly, illustrated by Lindsey Bear, translated by Lorena Cote & Margaret Cote (Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, 2022)
Language: Plains Cree (y-dialect), anihšināpēmowin (Saulteaux – Plains Ojibway), English
This Land Is a Lullaby / cistomâwasowin ôma askiy, written by Tonya Simpson, illustrated by Delrée Delmont, translated by Dorothy Thunder (Orca Book Publishers, 2024)
Language: Plains Cree, English
My Heart Fills with Happiness / sâkaskinêw nitêh miywêyihtamowin ohci, written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Julie Flett, translated by Mary Cardinal Collins (Orca Book Publishers, 2021)
Language: Plains Cree, English
kekwan etakwak mîkisîhk? / What’s in a Bead?, written by Kelsey Borgford, illustrated by Tessa Pizzale, translated by Angela Shisheesh and Duane Linklater (Second Story Press, 2024)
Language: Swampy Cree (Ininîmowin, N-dialect), English
Ispík kákí péyakoyak / When We Were Alone, written by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett, translated by Alderick Leask
Language: Swampy Cree, English
kisēwātsi / Be Kind, written by Elizabeth Merasty, illustrated by Brie Phillips, translated by Edie Venne (Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, 2025)
Language: Woodland Cree (th-dialect), English
Dechı̨tah Náı ́dı ́ / Medicine from the Land, written by Cathy Modeste-Short, illustrated by Tom Short (Northern Quill Publishing, 2024)
Language: Dene Kede, English
The Giving Tree: A Retelling of a Traditional Métis Story / Laarbr Kawmaekit: Aen Kiitwam Achimook Aen Histwayr Chi Maykik Pi Aen Ootistikook, written and illustrated by Leah Marie Dorion, translated by Norman Fleury (Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2009)
Language: Michif, English
Kohkum’s Royal Bannock, written by Wilfred Burton, illustrated by Hawlii Pichette (Thistledown Press, 2025)
Language: Southern/Heritage Michif, English
Walking Together / Menaqaj Pemwije’tulti’k, written by Elder Dr Albert D. Marshall and Louise Zimanyi, illustrated by Emily Kewageshig (Annick Press, 2025)
Language: Mi’kmaw, English
Nipugtug / In the Forest, written by Emma Metallic, illustrated by Natalie Laurin, translated by Jow Wilmot (Kegedonce Press, 2024)
Language: Mi’kmaw, English
Apje’ji’jk Mekwe’k Mtoqan / La petite robe rouge / The Little Red Dress, written by Julie Gagnon and Julie Pellissler-Lush, illustrated by Hassencahl-Perley, translated by Kenneth Prosper (Bouton d'or Acadie, 2024)
Language: Mi’kmaw, English, French
When We Are Kind / Nihá’ádaahwiinít’íigo, written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt, translated by Mildred Walters (Orca Book Publishers, 2020)
Language: Navajo, English
INTERNATIONAL SELECTION COMMITTEE: Aïcha Belkadi, linguist, SOAS University of London (UK); Ben Bowen, CEO, Indigenous Literacy Foundation (Australia); Simon de Jocas, educator and publisher (Canada); Juan Manuel Espinosa, Academic Director, Instituto Caro y Cuervo (Colombia); Colette Poitras, Métis librarian, and Vice President, IBBY Canada (Canada); Swati Raje, President, Bhaashaa Foundation (India); Lola Shoneyin, writer, publisher, bookseller, festival organizer and cultural activist (Nigeria); Jeannet Stephen, Deputy Director, Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Malaysia); Johan Sandberg McGuinne, poet, educator, translator, and President, Saami Writers’ Centre (Sweden); Eugenia Urrere, Founder, Indigenius (Argentina); Carolina Ballester, Executive Director, IBBY (Switzerland); Cristina Puerta, Head, UNESCO Publications (France).
For the complete list of selections, download the catalogue here.