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About these Books
We are building a collection of English and French language braille books. These print braille books are not a part of our distributed braille collection, but we are also experimenting with sharing some of these titles with our host libraries.
One set containing each title is sent to every province and territory in Canada. The idea is that public library networks in every region will be able to share these books locally and among each other and so share a seed collection of books in print-braille format.
Each book contains:
- the original text of the book, complete with printed words and illustrations;
- a Braille version of the printed words;
- image descriptions in Braille;
- QR codes which contain the text of the book and image descriptions.
The books in the collection were chosen by public librarians who love children’s books.
This project is funded by the Government of Canada's Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component.
About the QR Codes
Readers can scan the QR Codes in the books with a smartphone or tablet. There are many free QR Code reading apps. The QR Codes contain the text of the book, as well as the book's image descriptions.
People who use a screen reader (such as VoiceOver on an iOS device) can hear the scanned text read aloud.
Title Lists
Collection 1
These fifteen English-language print-braille books were produced for NNELS in March 2018 by a team using the Braille production tools of the Vision Impaired Resource Network (VIRN) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Their corresponding MARC records can be found at the bottom of this page, under "Collection 1".
- 1.1: Sweetest Kulu, by Celina Kalluk and Alexandria Neonakis
A lyrical lullaby imbued with traditional Inuit beliefs, this bedtime poem describes the gifts bestowed upon a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. - 1.2: The Man with the Violin, by Kathy Stinson and Dusan Petricic
This book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, a world-renowned classical violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. - 1.3: You Hold Me Up, by Monique Gray Smith and Danielle Daniel
This vibrant picture book encourages children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other's well-being in their everyday actions. - 1.4: Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, by Danielle Daniel
In this introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals, young children explain why they identify with different creatures such as a deer, beaver, or moose. - 1.5: The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedy, Eugene Yelchin
La Paz is a happy, but noisy village. A little peace and quiet would make it just right, so the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. - 1.6: The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson
While all of the other bulls snort, leap, and butt their heads, Ferdinand is content to just sit and smell the flowers under his favorite cork tree... until he sits on a bee. - 1.7: Something from Nothing, by Phoebe Gilman
This adaptation of a favorite Jewish folktale describes how the blanket grandfather had made for young Joseph is transformed over the years into a jacket, a button, and, ultimately, a story. - 1.8: Millicent and the Wind, by Robert Munsch and Suzanne Duranceau
The wind brings Millicent a hoped-for friend... - 1.9: One-Dog Canoe, by Mary Casanova and Ard Hoyt
When a girl and her dog set out on a canoe trip together, they're expecting a quiet afternoon for two. Then a beaver decides to join them, and that's just the beginning of their troubles... - 1.10: The Enormous Potato, by Aubrey Davis and Dusan Petricic
Retold by professional storyteller Aubrey Davis, this classic story shows what can be accomplished when everyone lends a hand to solve a problem. - 1.11: Mortimer, by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko
It's Mortimer's bedtime, but he would much rather sing his rowdy song. Mom, Dad and even the police can't get him to quiet down. - 1.12: When We Were Alone, by David Alexander Robertson and Julie Flett
Winner of a 2017 GG. When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she grows curious. As she asks her grandmother questions, she learns about life in a residential school. - 1.13: Manners Are Not for Monkeys, by Heather Tekavec and David Huyck
The old zookeeper has no idea how much trouble it will cause when she moves the monkeys into a cage near the picnic and play areas: the monkeys start behaving like kids! - 1.14: If Kids Ruled the World, by Linda Bailey and David Huyck
This book delightfully describes, in wonderful detail, a small child's idea of utopia. - 1.15: Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant
Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. But most of all, Morris loves wearing the tangerine dress in his classroom's dress-up center.
Collection 2
The corresponding MARC records for these five French books can be found at the bottom of this page, under "Collection 2".
- 2.1 : Sous mon arbre, texte de Chantal Duguay Mallet; illustrations de Danica Brine
Sous l'arbre, une drôle de faune grouille et pépie. Il y a le bruant familier qui joue au chevalier, le colibri qui prépare une salade de fruits, un geai bleu qui mélange des oeufs, une hirondelle qui lave une montagne de vaisselle, un merle d'Amérique qui bâtit une maison en brique, un carouge à épaulettes qui agite une baguette... mais cette joyeuse faune doit faire bien attention au chaton qui guette, perché sur les branches. - 2.2 : Le pêcheur et le renard, texte et illustrations de Marianne Dumas
Barabas est seul et la pêche n'est pas très fructueuse, jusqu'au jour où, dans la vie du vieux loup de mer, arrive un renard attentif. Il apporte avec lui une surprise de taille. Et peut-être l'abondance. - 2.3 : Lili Macaroni, je suis comme je suis! texte de Nicole Testa; illustrations, Annie Boulanger
Lili Macaroni se considre chanceuse d'avoir des cheveux roux comme sa maman, des taches de rousseur sur le nez comme son papa, des yeux comme deux petits bleuets comme sa mamie et un rire communicatif comme son papi. - 2.4 : Caillou a la cabane a sucre, adaptation du dessin anime : Carine Laforest ; illustrations tirees du dessin anime et adaptees par Mario Allard ; traduction : Patricia Bittard
Caillou et sa famille rendent visite a leur ami Jonas pendant le temps des sucres. A la cabane a sucre, Caillou decouvre d'ou proviennent le sirop d'erable et d'autres delices de l'eau d'erable. Dans la collection Chateau de cartes, Caillou poursuit ses decouvertes et apprend a mieux comprendre le monde qui lentoure. Cette histoire est tiree du plus recent dessin anime. - 2.5 : Mustafa, texte de Marie-Louise Gay ; illustrations de Marie-Louise Gay
Mustafa et sa famille ont voyagé très longtemps avant d'arriver dans leur nouveau pays.
Collection 3
The corresponding MARC records for these books can be found at the bottom of this page, under "Collection 3".
- 3.1 : Carson Crosses Canada, by Linda Bailey ; illustrated by Kass Reich
When her sister becomes ill, Annie and her dog Carson set out on a trip across Canada to see her, visiting Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island on the way. - 3.2 : Lucy joue au hockey, conte de Lisa Bowes ; illustrations de James Hearne ; traduit de l’anglais Rachel Martinez
Lucy et ses amis s'initient à un nouveau sport d'hiver. - 3.3 : Missing nimâmâ, by Melanie Florence ; illustrated by François Thisdale
A young mother, one of the many missing indigenous women, watches over her small daughter as she grows up without her nimama, experiencing important milestones - her first day of school, first dance, first date, wedding, first child - from afar. A free verse story of love, loss, and acceptance told in alternating voices. Missing Nimama shows the human side of a tragic set of circumstances. An afterword by the author provides a simple, age-appropriate context for young readers. Includes a glossary of Cree terms. - 3.4 : My Wounded Island, by Jacques Pasquet ; illustrated by Marion Arbona ; translated by Sophie B. Watson
In this heartbreakingly tender picture book, a young girl and her family become climate refugees as the small island they call home is slowly engulfed by rising sea levels. - 3.5 : From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, by Kai Cheng Thom ; illustrated by Wai-Yant Li and Kai Yun Ching.
Miu Lan is not just any child, but one who can change into any shape they can imagine. The only problem is they can't decide what to be: a boy or a girl? A bird or a fish? A flower or a shooting star? At school, though, they must endure inquisitive looks and difficult questions from the other children, and have trouble finding friends who will accept them for who they are. Miu Lan faces many questions about who they are and who they may be. But one thing's for sure, no matter who this child becomes, their mother will love them just the same. - 3.6 : Treasure, by Mireille Messier ; illustrated by Irene Luxbacher.
When two siblings go on a treasure hunt, they aren't sure exactly what kind of treasure they are looking for. What they do know is that treasures are shiny, mysterious and precious. And that all the really good treasures are hidden! As they explore the forest, their curiosity pays off when they find the biggest, shiniest, most mysterious and precious treasure hidden just over a hill.
Collection 4
The corresponding MARC records for these books can be found at the bottom of this page, under “Collection 4”.
- 1 : Bonne nuit, toi! by Geneviève Côté
L'un a peur des monstres et l'autre a peur du noir. Ensemble, les inséparables amis apprendront à apprivoiser leurs peurs. Un texte simple et des illustrations douces et réconfortantes se combinent pour offrir aux enfants d'âge préscolaire uneexploration rassurante des petites peurs communes à tous les enfants.
- 2 : How to Catch a Star, by Oliver Jeffers
Eager to have a star of his own, a boy devises imaginative ways of catching one.
- 3 : I Love My Motter, My Motter Loves Me, by Erica Pellerin and Jennifer Plesa
A story about the unconditional love between mother and child.
- 4 : I Want to Be an Astronaut, by Byron Barton
A young child thinks about what it would be like to be an astronaut and go out on a mission into space.
- 5 : Paint the Town Pink, by Lori Doody
The town where she's so unexpectedly landed looks very nice, and might be a good place to settle down, but she isn't quite sure she'll fit in. She tries to find a flock of her own; unfortunately, all her looking comes to nothing. But the people in the town are keen to keep their flamingo friend. What better way to make her feel at home than to paint the town pink.
- 6 : The Raven and the Loon, by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley ; illustrated by Kim Smith
In the time before animals were as they are today, Raven and Loon were both white. Their feathers had no colour at all. Raven spent his days swooping through the sky trying to fight off his incessant boredom, while loon spent her days in her iglu working away on her sewing. One day, too bored to even fly, Raven visited Loon and suggested a sewing game that would give their feathers some much-needed colour. The results--not at all what the two birds expected--led to Raven and Loon acquiring their now-familiar coats.
MARC Records
Please use the MARC records to add these books to your catalogues so they are findable and shareable. If you notice any errors in these records, or have questions about them, please write to support@nnels.ca. Thank you!
Collection 1
Collection 2
Collection 3
Collection 4
Missing a Book?
Can't find a copy of these books? Please write to support@nnels.ca in case we can locate or send you an extra copy.
Feedback
We would love to hear what you think of these books and what we can do to improve production in the future. We welcome all questions and comments: support@nnels.ca.