Grade 1 · Class Reads · Book guide
Stolen Words
by Melanie Florence
A young girl asks her grandfather to share a word in Cree. When he explains that his language was taken from him at residential school, she looks for a way to help him begin finding it again.
Book details
Format
Picture-book fiction
Suggested age range
Ages 6–8
Why read it together?
A book worth talking about
Cree and Scottish author Melanie Florence tells an intergenerational story grounded in love, language, and healing. It introduces a difficult part of Canadian history while centring the family's strength and reconnection.
- Cree language
- Family
- Healing
- Cultural connection
Before reading
Get ready to wonder
- Why can words from a family or community be important?
- How can one person help another person reconnect with something important?
During and after reading
Talk about the text
- How do the illustrations help show Grandfather's memories and feelings?
- What does the girl do after listening to her grandfather?
- Why is finding the Cree word meaningful to both characters?
Writing invitation
Respond to the book
Choose a word that matters to your family or community. Write or draw what it means and why you want to remember it.