When people are provided a chance to learn knowledge, values, and skills diversely, we also equip them with a foundation for building peaceful and just societies. Accessible education is a transformative process that transforms lives, and it is in honour of this that January 24 marks the International Day of Education.
Here are five books that celebrate the importance of imparting knowledge and wisdom to the next generation.
BIOGRAPHY
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey by George Chiang, Chad Soon, illustrated by Amy Qi (Orca Books)
When he played one shift with the New York Rangers in 1948, Larry Kwong became the first ever player of Asian descent in the National Hockey League.
Seventy years later, his contribution to hockey remains a less accessible part of the sport’s history — which The Longest Shot aims to address in this “informative and engaging biography that pays tribute to an extraordinary life.” From his humble beginnings on the outdoor rinks in Vernon, British Columbia’s Chinatown all the way to playing at Madison Square Garden and in the NHL, Larry Kwong fought barriers and discrimination at every step of his career, becoming a trailblazer whose legacy in the hockey world opened up doors for many firsts in the sport and beyond.
This is a timeless story that will remind young readers of their power to change the world, and the importance in showing them the range of paths at their fingertips.
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Elizabeth Quocksister: Keeper of History by Haley Healey, illustrated by Kimiko Fraser (Heritage House Publishing)
Born on the Da’naxda’xw Nation on Knight Inlet, British Columbia, Elizabeth Quocksister was a mother of ten, a cultural teacher, a community leader, a dancer, a nurse, a photographer, and a residential school survivor. More than the sum of all the roles she played in her communities, however, Elizabeth also spoke fluent Kwak’wala and proudly celebrated her Kwakwaka’wakw culture at a time when the Canadian government actively discouraged Indigenous traditions and the speaking of Indigenous languages. She dedicated her life to protecting her language and cultural traditions, and in doing so worked towards the preservation of her people’s history and culture for generations to come.
Her life is a testament to the many ways one can care for community members in need, from the many children she saved from the horrors of residential schools to her photography, which chronicled the daily lives and important events experienced by those around her. She played a crucial role in the archives and records that survive to us in the present, ensuring that the narratives of her people remain told in all their ups and downs and equipping today’s youth with full knowledge and pride in their heritage and all the work that remains to be done in their futures.
Elizabeth Quocksister: Keeper of History is an inspiring picture book and beautiful tribute to a proud Indigenous woman whose name deserves to be well-known throughout her community and beyond.
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MEMOIR
The Secret Marathon: Empowering Women and Girls in Afghanistan through Sport by Martin Parnell (Rocky Mountain Books)
In 2010, Martin Parnell ran 250 marathons in one year. In 2013, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 21 hours. Both endeavours were part of his “Quest for Kids” initiative, which raised $1.3-million for the humanitarian organization Right To Play, and gave the gift of hope to over 27,000 children around the world.
In 2016, however, still recovering from a life-threatening blood clot in his brain, Martin Parnell became a part of a new quest altogether — one that took him to Afghanistan to fight for women’s rights and gender equality. Inspired by Zainab, the first woman to run a marathon in Afghanistan, Parnell’s first years in recovery unfolded in a series of events documented in The Secret Marathon, his third book highlighting the power of sports to not only change individual lives but inspire movements that can change the world.
In The Secret Marathon, readers will be transported to a country of beauty, hardship, and complexity, sharing in the despair, resilience, and friendliness of the Afghan people as they strive for freedom and equality for themselves — and their fellow citizens. As Martin Parnell knows well, it is often our children, when given the tools to overcome barriers and pursue innovation, whose sense of hope and vision of a better world will take us to the future we all need.
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NONFICTION
Orange Shirt Day: September 30th: Revised Edition by Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt Society (Medicine Wheel Publishing)
Originally envisioned as a way of inviting education and discussion around all aspects of the residential school history in Williams Lake and the Cariboo region of British Columbia, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation movement has expanded across Turtle Island and beyond. Today, the annual event is celebrated every September 30th to honour residential school survivors and their families — as well as an opportunity to remember all the children who did not come home.
In this revised edition of the award-winning Orange Shirt Day: September 30th, the driving forces behind the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation aim to inspire the next generation to pursue and walk a path of reconciliation. Promoting the message that Every Child Matters begins with providing our children and students with the breadth of knowledge and depth of values necessary to right injustices and build a world for all. True to form, this book is accessible for readers of all ages and backgrounds, exploring the continued impact of residential schools on Indigenous peoples, the history of the Orange Shirt Day movement, and the many ways we can effectively learn during and participate in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. With end of chapter reflection questions and a series of student art submissions, readers are guided to explore how they, and others, view and participate in reconciliation in every meaning of the word.
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CHILDREN’S FICTION
Sangeet and the Missing Beat by Kiranjot Kaur (Rebel Mountain Press)
“Sangeet and the Missing Beat,” writes teacher-librarian Punam Gill, “is a wonderful picture book and a resource that can be used to initiate class discussions and lesson introductions about music, diversity and perseverance. Children will enjoy hearing about how Sangeet faces her dilemma and ultimately solves her problem with support from her loving family. By the end of the story, readers will likely be thumping and tapping away, trying to create their own beat.”
This children’s picture book shows us the power music employs in building a richer world through the eyes of young Sangeet. A lover and composer of music, she finds herself confused one day when she discovers an incredible beat yet cannot recreate it on the tabla, her favourite instrument. Something crucial is missing no matter how perfectly she reenacts the music that stuck with her.
Sangeet and the Missing Beat has been praised for its attention to artistic detail as well as its ability to inspire young female musicians. Nuanced, vivid, and packed full with love from both its authors and the characters within the story, this is a book that shows young readers the importance of creative exploration and pride in one’s heritage.
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