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Read the World with Alberta Books

People from all over the world call Alberta home. Their unique voices, experiences, and perspectives help shape the rich tapestry of our province. This World Book Day, we celebrate our immigrant neighbours and their stories.

With help from ABBooksforSchools.ca, we’ve identified reading levels, and even curriculum connections, because finding the right book for young readers should be easy!

Don’t let the name fool you, Alberta Books for Schools can be used by more than just educators. It’s a great resource for parents, librarians, and booksellers too!

Explore the full collection here.

Howdy, I’m Singh Hari

Great for Grades 2-6

Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Alberta History, Canadian History, Rural Experience, Social Studies, Hi-Lo

Howdy, I’m Singh Hari captures the life of Harnam Singh Hari, a Punjabi pioneer who immigrated to Canada and became one of Calgary’s wealthiest citizens. Young readers can learn the importance of perseverance, cultural heritage, and an individual’s empowering impact on society. Moreover, this book’s representation of Singh’s identity as Sikh can be used to discuss diversity and inclusivity among children.

Howdy, I'm Singh Hari

Kelly Kaur

Published: Apr 01, 2025 by Red Barn Books
ISBN: 9781989915158

Beyond the Food Court: An Anthology of Literary Cuisines

Great for grades 5-12

Curriculum connections: Health and Life Skills, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Canadian History, Alberta History

Beyond the Food Court contains 14 short essays by Alberta-based authors, which explore the role of food in our lives. Each essay is unique and can be used individually or in combination with the others to inspire discussions around food and its role in identity, community, and relationship building. While the focus is on food, each essay includes some element of social community, political impact, or societal values. This collection could be used to promote discussion of Canadian or Albertan values and experiences portrayed through food.

Beyond the Food Court: An Anthology of Literary Cuisines

Published: Oct 05, 2020 by Laberinto Press
ISBN: 9781777085902

Finding Refuge in Canada

Great for grades 4-12

Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Canadian History, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, 2SLGBTQI+

Presented through the humanistic lens of narratives, Finding Refuge in Canada is a collection of stories that features nearly every aspect of the refugee experience, ranging from first-hand accounts to settlement workers’ perspectives. Most of the chapters are only a few pages long and could easily be integrated into a lesson plan, given their moderate-level vocabulary. Some contributions include cited works, but generally the tone of most chapters is that of a memoir, which could offer readers more connection than an average textbook treatment of the topic.

Finding Refuge in Canada: Narratives of Dislocation

Published: Feb 28, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
ISBN: 9781771993012

Kalyna

Great for grades 5-12

Curriculum connections: Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Social and Emotional Wellness, Alberta History, Canadian History, Rural Experience

Rooted in true Alberta history, Kalyna is the story of a young Ukrainian couple who come to Alberta to create a homestead, but end up facing the trials of the harsh prairie environment and World War II internment camps. This story reveals the hardships some Ukrainian immigrants experienced in Alberta in vivid and realistic ways, allowing readers to empathize with the characters. Because the book contains many true historical elements, it could be used to engage plot-driven learners interested in Alberta history.

Kalyna

Pam Clark

Published: May 01, 2016 by Stonehouse Publishing
ISBN: 9780986649417

Wild Daisies in the Sand

Great for grades 4-12

Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Ethics, Social Studies, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Canadian History

Wild Daisies in the Sand is a collection of the author’s diary entries, written during his imprisonment in internment camps as a Japanese Canadian during World War II. Tom Sando sheds light on this lesser-known piece of Canadian history, Sando interspersed his diary entries with illustrations highlighting feelings of loneliness and hope, and the importance of human connection and understanding. This book could be used as a study of the diary format of literature, or as an exploration of this darker point in Canadian history.

Wild Daisies in the Sand: Life in a Canadian Internment Camp

Tom Sando

Published: Sep 16, 2002 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781896300511

Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders

Great for grades 2-6

Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Social and Emotional Wellness, Music, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta

Supplemental materials available: The book includes a QR code for a song, so educators could tie in music or art lessons, in addition to using this work in English classes.

This book presents the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a way that is accessible to young readers. Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders is told from the perspective of two ballet students who must flee when the bombings begin. The human way in which this topic is addressed makes it easy for young readers to connect with the protagonists. Many pages feature large colourful images, which also makes it a good fit for storytime.

Olya & Olena Escape the Invaders

Olya Illichov, Maddy Shyba

Published: Aug 01, 2022 by Durvile Publications
ISBN: 9781990735141

Homes: A Refugee Story

Great for grades 5-12

Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Religions of the World

Supplemental materials available: Teacher’s guide, guided study and discussion questions for junior high book clubs, unit outline, lesson presentation in PowerPoint and PDF.

Homes takes us into the experience of Abu Bakr al Rabeeah, a young man who had to flee Syria as violence became an everyday occurrence. Abu Bakr explores the devastation of war, the challenge of emotions that refugees face, as well as adjusting to a new language and culture, and overcoming the fear from his past. Although the subject matter may be difficult for some readers, Homes could be used to discuss international conflicts, refugee experiences, or as an example of a powerful biographical narrative.

Homes: A Refugee Story

Abu Bakr al Rabeeah , Winnie Yeung

Published: May 01, 2018 by Freehand Books
ISBN: 9781988298283

King Warrior

Great for grade 4-12

Curriculum connections: English as a Second Language, English Language Arts, Environmental and Outdoor Education, Hi-Lo, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Social Studies

King Warrior is the story of a young hero trying to find his path forward while struggling with family relationships. Set in parallel universes, this tale incorporates cultural aspects from northern Canada, Somalia, and Finland, and delves into the hurdles that immigrants to Canada may face. Because of its entertaining storyline and graphic novel format, this book could be used to support those who are learning the English language, or in situations where a hi-lo read would be beneficial. It could also be used in English language arts or fine arts classes to discuss the interplay of text and images. The storyline includes environmental-related legends and examples of social experiences that could be explored in social studies contexts. The book’s relatable characters may help readers navigate their own challenges related to family and belonging.

King Warrior

Jay Bulckaert , Erika Nyyssonen

Published: Sep 14, 2022 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
ISBN: 9781989754146

there’s more

Great for grades 7-12

Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Immigrants Experiences in Alberta, Black Experiences in Alberta

there’s more is a collection of meditative poems exploring an immigrant experience in Canada. The poems range from several lines to just over a page, with references to Edmonton and the author’s home, Nigeria. Many can be pulled out for singular study, but using the entire collection conveys a more holistic understanding of Umezurike’s transitional experience. Students reading these poems can be encouraged to relate their thoughts to everyday experiences in their own lives and further connect them to current events.

there's more

Read the World with Alberta Books