The BEST Orange Shirt Day Picture Books!

Looking for Orange Shirt Day picture books? This post has you covered!

Orange Shirt Day is coming up soon on September 30th, and it’s so important to teach our students about the experiences and resilience of Indigenous peoples, especially the impact of residential schools.

That’s why I’m excited to share some of the best picture books for Orange Shirt Day!

As a 3rd grade teacher, I know how challenging it can be to introduce such important topics in a way that’s meaningful and age-appropriate for young students.

These books are a wonderful way to help your students learn about the history and significance of Orange Shirt Day while honoring the stories and voices of Indigenous peoples.

All the following links are Amazon Affiliate links, but you can find all the books at your library or local bookstore.

The List of Orange Shirt Day Picture Books!

Shi-shi-Etko

“Shi-Shi-Etko” is about a girl who is about to go to a residential school. Before she leaves, her family teaches her about their culture and traditions. Shi-Shi-Etko carefully remembers everything she can about her home.

This is a good read for Orange Shirt Day because it shows how important it is to remember your culture and family. It’s a quiet, beautiful book that shows how much love and tradition matter.

Check it out HERE.

When We Were Alone

“When We Were Alone” tells the story of a young girl who learns about her grandmother’s time at a residential school. The grandmother shares how she and the other children found ways to hold onto their culture, even though the school tried to take it away.

This book is important for Orange Shirt Day because it shows how people can find ways to stay connected to their culture, even when others try to take it away. It’s a simple and powerful reminder of why our traditions matter.

Check it out HERE.

When I Was Eight

“When I Was Eight” is about a girl named Olemaun who wants to learn how to read. But when she goes to a residential school, the nuns are mean to her. Olemaun never gives up and finally learns to read, proving she’s stronger than they thought.

This book is great to read on Orange Shirt Day because it shows how Olemaun never gave up, even when people were cruel to her. It reminds us that everyone deserves to be treated kindly and have the chance to learn. It’s an inspiring story about courage.

Check it out HERE.

Need more Orange Shirt Day Resources?

If you’re looking for reading comprehension passages for Orange Shirt Day, I’ve got you covered!

I have reading comprehension passages specifically for Orange Shirt Day that come in both paper AND a digital version with auto-grading!

Check it out HERE.

I hope this list of picture books helps make your Orange Shirt Day lessons a little easier and a lot more meaningful. Teaching about Indigenous cultures and the history of residential schools can feel like a big responsibility, but with the right resources, we can honor these stories in a way that resonates with our students.

If you have any favorite books or activities for Orange Shirt Day, I’d love to hear about them in the comments! Let’s keep supporting each other through the ups and downs of teaching – we’ve got this!

Want a Halloween FREEBIE?!

You will LOVE this Halloween digital mystery picture!

It is a digital color-by-number for students to practice multiplication facts!

(You can also learn more about this digital mystery pictures in my blog post here).

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