NEW!  André et sa famille

Story: Matt Maxwell
Illustrations: Adrien Deggan

This story takes place in Québec in the early 18th century. A family of pioneers are settling into rural life. One day the family goes off into the woods to pick berries. Seven-year-old André gets separated from his older sister and his parents. A young Huron boy finds him and returns him to his thankful family. Suitable for all elementary students with a basic fluency.

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NEW!   Jean-Michel – Acrobate

Story: Matt Maxwell
Illustrations: Jana Tublinshlak

Jean-Michel is a 12-year-old boy who lives in the slums of Cap-Haïtien in Haïti. This talented young fellow uses his acrobatic skills to earn money with which he buys his mother a birthday present. This story can used as a point de départ for a whole range of activities, including ones that focus on Caribbean francophone culture, and on poverty and social-justice issues. As well as language-manipulation activities based on the story, the blackline masters contain a cultural unit and language activities about sports and athletics.

Blackline Masters written by AIM teacher/presenter Edite Sammons.

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NEW!   L’aventure de Stéphanie

Story: Matt Maxwell
Illustrations: Jana Tublinshlak

Stéphanie is an 11-year-old girl who is a resident of a small town in northern Quebec.  The town folk decide to put on a Festival du Voyageur. Stéphanie becomes bored with the cultural activities – the singing and dancing, the costumes, the sugaring off – and wanders down to the riverside, where she gets in one of the Voyageurs’ canoes. The canoe gets caught in the rapids; only the heroic actions of a young villager save the day. Stéphanie comes away from her adventure infinitely more appreciative of the community of which she is a part. The blackline masters have many activities based on the story, and contain a cultural unit on the life of the voyageurs in Quebec, and activities based on a simple description of a North American river eco-system.

Blackline masters written by AIM teacher/presenter Edite Sammons.

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NEW!   Manigan le géant

Story: Jacquelin Kelly
Illustrations: Jana Tublinshlak

Manigan is a gentle giant and steward of the Earth who uses his bounty to aid those in need. He helps a couple of people who unfortunately take advantage of his kindness and eat up his stores of food. When the giant becomes weak, the couple realize that they have to give back to the one who has given them so much– they nurture Manigan back to health. This tale, which evokes First Nations wisdom, is a parable that reminds us of the need to treat our world with respect, and not just as something to be viewed as a resource for human consumption. As well as exercises based on the story, the blackline masters have a unit on pre-Columbian Mi’kmaq culture, and activities exploring ecological awareness and sustainability practices.

Blackline Masters written by AIM teacher/presenter Jacqueline Kelley.

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NEW!  Prince Veut-tout

Story: Jacqueline Kelly
Illustrations:  Jana Tubinshlak

Prince Albert has been brought up in the lap of luxury. The more material goods he has, the less satisfied he feels; because of his greedy nature, he becomes known as Prince Veut-Tout. One day, while speeding on his motorbike, he almost runs over an old man; this event triggers a sense of remorse in him and causes him to re-evaluate his life. One night, looking up at the stars, Prince Albert decides to become a space explorer. He heads off into the heavens in his spaceship. Years later, he returns to his home with his new-found alien friends.

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NEW!  Simon le grincheux

Story: Jacqueline Kelly
Illustrations: Adrien Deggan

Simon is a somewhat peculiar boy who loves rain, snow, sleet and wind, and despises sunny, pleasant weather. One day he is swept up into the air by a ferocious hurricane. As he is flying through the sky, he notices a baby that has also been caught up in the wind. Risking his own safety, he rescues the child and returns him to his mother. He is heralded by the villagers as a hero. Simon le grincheux becomes Simon le généreux! This book is written in verse.

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NEW!   En Vacances !

Story: Wendy Maxwell
Illustrations: Ian Fry

Two teenagers, Marie and her friend Suzanne, are on a trip from their home in Montréal to Martinique during their holiday. A series of amusing events take place after Marie bumps into a young man named Pierre at the airport. Marie’s initial reaction to Pierre is not very positive, nor does her second impression of him improve when he accidentally spills water on her during some turbulence on the plane. However, he redeems himself at the end of the story during a scuba-diving excursion. The blackline masters contain language manipulation activities that focus on vocabulary-building as well as grammar, appropriate to the junior high or beginning high school level.  There is also a cultural unit on Martinique and a unit discussing the Caribbean rainforest ecosystem.

Blackline Masters written by AIM teacher/presenter Edite Sammons.

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NEW!  Rozène : La fille qui n'était pas contente

Story: Wendy Maxwell
Illustrations: Ian Fry

This is a traditional Iroquois story about a teenage girl named Rozéne from the Iroquois nation. Rozène daydreams of meeting a tall, young man who will sweep her off her feet. Although her family wants her to marry Orenda, the young man from her village who loves her very much, Rozène wants more. One day, a strong, well-dressed young man arrives at her house and offers to take her away from the village. This is a story about decisions that young people must face as they grow up. It is a story that contains elements of fantasy, adventure and romance, while also giving insight into First Nations culture.

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