Books published by publisher Groundwood Books

The Brooklyn Bridge, the iconic suspension bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, was completed in 1883. It is thanks to Emily Warren Roebling that the bridge was finished at all.Emily was not an engineer, but she was educated in math and science. She married Washington Roebling, the chief engineer of the famous bridge. When Washington became ill from decompression sickness, Emily stepped in, doing everything from keeping the books, to carrying messages for her husband, to monitoring the construction of the bridge. She was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge when it opened.Emily, who went on to study law among many other accomplishments, is an inspiration to all, as demonstrated through Frieda Wishinsky’s informative and engaging text and Natalie Nelson’s distinctive collage illustrations. Speech bubbles revealing imagined dialogue add a playful note to this historical account, which includes fascinating facts about the Brooklyn Bridge and a further reading list.

Her name was Seepeetza when she was at home with her family. But now that she's living at the Indian residential school her name is Martha Stone, and everything else about her life has changed as well. Told in the honest voice of a sixth grader, this is the story of a young Native girl forced to live in a world governed by strict nuns, arbitrary rules, and a policy against talking in her own dialect, even with her family. Seepeetza finds bright spots, but most of all she looks forward to summers and holidays at home.

When Mao’s Cultural Revolution took hold in China in June 1966, Ange Zhang was thirteen years old. His father was a famous writer. Shortly after the revolution began, many of Ange’s classmates joined the Red Guard, Mao’s youth movement, and they drove their teachers out of the classrooms.But in the weeks that followed, Ange discovered that his father’s fame as a writer now meant that he was a target of the new regime. When his father was arrested, he began to question everything that was happening in his country. Finally, Ange was forced to join many other young urban Chinese students in the countryside for re-education where he found the emotional space to develop his own artistic talent and to find that he, like his father, was an artist ― except that Ange’s talent lay in painting and drawing.This dramatic, painful autobiographical story is complemented by photographs, many drawn from Ange’s personal collection, as well as a non-fiction section that explains the historical period and is also illustrated with archival images.

When Bear wakes up after a long, cold winter, he’s happy to see the signs of spring. To celebrate, he makes a special meal of fresh watercress soup and crusty seed bread. Fox follows his nose to Bear’s den and joins him for lunch. The food is delicious, and Fox, who is tired of eating the same old thing, asks Bear to teach him how to cook. Together, they walk through the forest and gather ingredients. Along the way, they greet Squirrel, Chickadee, Beaver, Deer and Hare, asking their friends how they fared over the winter and what their favorite foods are. Bear and Fox are inspired by what they hear and find, and they return to Bear’s kitchen to cook a feast of forest foods to share with their neighbors. At the end of the day, Bear writes a cookbook for Fox called Best of Bear ― full of recipes that young readers can enjoy cooking, too! These fifteen delicious, kid-friendly recipes celebrate the foods of spring with dishes like watercress soup, nut burgers, wild greens pita pizza, hazelnut–chocolate chip cookies and a wild strawberry smoothie. Readers will be happy to see how the animal friends from Bear’s Winter Party are doing in this joyful story, with recipes from award-winning author Deborah Hodge and exuberant art by illustrator Lisa Cinar.

Martin O’Boy’s life is not easy. His beloved Granny just died, his pregnant mother and father fight all the time, and his twin, Phil, is completely incapacitated. Martin is the one his mother counts on. But life in Ottawa’s Lowertown is not all bad. He has his best friend, Billy Batson, the movies, his cat Cheap and there’s the glamorous Buz from next door, a soldier in the war. As the war comes to an end with the bombing of Hiroshima, Ottawa is in a state of turmoil. Returning soldiers, parties, and fights fill the streets. It would all be very exciting for Martin except for one thing. In their endless pursuit of more funds Martin and Billy have joined the church choir — as summer boys. And the organist, Mr. T.D.S. George, is awfully fond of Martin. As the reader knows, though Martin doesn’t, this fondness is a dangerous thing.But Martin, despite his hardships, has a pure soul, Billy’s friendship, and even his mother’s reliance on him, which help him to deliver a kind of justice to Mr. George, and to heal himself and others. Brave, loving, resourceful Martin O’Boy is another wonderful Brian Doyle creation.

This hilarious collection of illustrated stories gives us a glimpse into the things children wonder about every day.What do cats really see? What do trees talk about? Should you make funny faces on a windy day? Do worms rule the world? Do mothers always tell the truth? Do snails have nightmares?These short stories are illustrated in vibrant watercolor and collage in cartoon style. They are rich in detail and tiny humorous subplots that will delight all little sharp-eyed monsters.

In this gentle meditation on the cycle of life, author and illustrator Paloma Valdivia gives us an opportunity to reflect on those who have gone, those who will come, and those of us who are here in this world — for the time being. The neighbor’s cat, a favorite aunt or the fish in yesterday’s soup have gone — and we may well miss them. At the same time, we celebrate the arrival of a new baby or a litter of playful kittens. It’s a mystery where we come from and where we are going, so why not enjoy ourselves while we can? Paloma Valdivia’s charming illustrations bring a light touch to this candid contemplation of life and death.

Winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award Jeanne Chatel has always dreamed of adventure. So when the eighteen-year-old orphan is summoned to sail from France to the wilds of North America to become a king's daughter and marry a French settler, she doesn't hesitate. Her new husband is not the dashing military man she has dreamed of, but a trapper with two small children who lives in a small cabin in the woods. With her husband away trapping much of the time, Jeanne faces danger daily, but the bravery and spirit that brought her to this wild place never fail her, and she soon learns to be truly at home in her new land.

Viola Desmond was one brave woman! Now come on here, listen in close and I’ll tell you why … In Nova Scotia, in 1946, an usher in a movie theater told Viola Desmond to move from her main floor seat up to the balcony. She refused to budge. Viola knew she was being asked to move because she was black. In no time at all, the police arrived and took Viola to jail. The next day she was charged and fined, but she vowed to continue her struggle against such unfair rules. Viola’s determination gave strength and inspiration to her community at the time. She is an unsung hero of one of Canada’s oldest and most established black communities. Like Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks, who many years later, in 1955, refused to give up their bus seats in Alabama, Desmond’s act of refusal awakened people to the unacceptable nature of racism and began the process of bringing an end to racial segregation in Canada.

In their third adventure, Stella and her little brother cross a field and a creek before spending the day in the forest. Butterflies, snakes, rocks, and sheep provide fuel for Sam’s curious-little-brother questions and Stella’s big-sister answers as they explore the outdoor world. Gay’s watercolors bring the forest alive as the two journey toward their very own fort where Sam resolves to stay forever. Marie-Louise Gay is a multiple-time winner of Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award, Canada's Mr. Christie's Book Award, and others. “Gay’s illustrations, done primarily in watercolors with a touch of paper collage, are bright and have a whimsical touch.” — School Library Journal

In these three imaginative stories, Jan Andrews introduces us to Quebec’s traditional folktale hero, Ti-Jean. He’s an endearing character who is both wise and foolish, and though he does find himself in hard situations (often of his own making), in the end, he somehow manages to do what needs to be done. In “Ti-Jean and the Princess of Tomboso” he eventually outwits a greedy princess; in “Ti-Jean the Marble Player” he gets the best of a pint-sized scoundrel; and in “How Ti-Jean Became a Fiddler” he turns the tables on a too-clever-for-her-own-good seigneur’s daughter, and finds true love in the process.Jan Andrews’ simple, no-nonsense text and Dušan Petricic’s sly and witty illustrations bring contemporary energy to the traditional folktale genre. There’s nothing old fashioned about these New World tales, which are funny, witty and wise at the same time.

It’s spring on the Pacific west coast and new life is stirring! Wild babies are being born – in the ocean, on the shore and deep inside the ancient rainforest. Wolf pups, cougar kittens, bear cubs and whale calves all begin their life in the pristine wilderness of this magnificent place.Young readers will meet a fascinating group of fourteen wild baby animals ― including land and marine mammals, fish, birds and amphibians ― and learn about the special bonds between offspring and parents, and how the newborns move toward independence. Readers will see an extraordinary community of animals thriving in an interconnected web of life.In this second book in the West Coast Wild series, Deborah Hodge takes readers through the spectacular land and seascapes of the Pacific Rim region, introducing familiar animals such as sea otters and eagles, and lesser known species such as pelagic cormorants and rufous hummingbirds. Karen Reczuch’s beautiful illustrations are detailed and lifelike, and convey a lovely sense of warmth between the wild parents and their young. The text and art have been carefully checked for scientific accuracy.Includes a note about the Pacific west coast and the need to preserve its rare and awe-inspiring wilderness regions, as well as a list for further reading and exploration.