Encounter

by Brittany Luby

illustrated by Michaela Goade

Based on an actual journal entry by French explorer Jacques Cartier from his first expedition to North America in July 1534, this story imagines the first encounter between a European sailor and a Stadaconan fisher.

As the two navigate their differences (language, dress, food) with curiosity, the natural world around them notes their similarities. The seagull observes their like shadows, the mosquito notes their equally appealing blood, the mouse enjoys the crumbs both people leave behind.

This story explores how encounters can create community and celebrates varying perspectives and the natural world. It is at once specific and universal. It’s a story based on a primary document and historical research, but it is in equal measure beautifully imagined. It makes room for us to recognize our differences while celebrating our shared humanity.

Ideal for:
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30, National Indigenous History Month June, National Indigeous Peoples Day June 21.

Order now for September delivery.

Encounter. Text © 2019 Brittany Luby Illustrations © 2019 Michaela Goade Flett. Reproduced by permission of Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, a Penguin Random House Company, Toronto.

Suitable for: JK to grade 8.
Themes: Historical context, shared humanity, community, varying perspectives.
Available: September 1, 2022
Languages: English

In addition to teaching about history, the beauty of Encounter is its ability to spark imagination, curiosity and wonder about our world to readers of all ages.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Video Resources

All videos associated with QR Coded signs from the Book Set are located here and can be viewed at any time.

Book Creators

Brittany Luby

Brittany Luby (Anishinaabe-kwe, atik totem) is the many-greats granddaughter of Chief Kawitaskung, an Anishinaabe leader who signed the North-West Angle Treaty of 1873. With a pen stroke, Kawitaskung agreed to share parts of what is now northwestern Ontario with settlers and their descendants. Because of her many-greats grandfather, Brittany believes that ink is a powerful tool. The words we write lay the foundation for our future. Brittany writes for social justice. She is also a history professor at the University of Guelph, specializing in Indigenous history in North America.

Michaela Goade

Michaela Goade is a designer and illustrator living and working in Juneau, Alaska. Her childhood was spent in the forests and on the beaches of Southeast Alaska and her artistic style is rooted in the depth and beauty of its landscapes. At the heart of her work is a love for nature, the beautiful region she calls home and a passion for evocative storytelling. Forever inspired by the coastal wilds of Southeast Alaska, she works to capture its magic and honor its vibrant cultures. Michaela, a Tlingit woman, has illustrated a few picture books for an Alaskan nonprofit organization, the Sealaska Heritage Institute.