Teaching Tough Topics: Interview with Fatty Legs authors Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

Teacher-librarian Lisa Lewis joins Alanna to speak with author Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton (Olemaun) about the impact of their book on tackling the tough topic of Canada’s history of residential schools and the legacy of this cultural trauma. This unique memoir of the Inuvialuit experience is a must-read for middle grade audiences.

Lisa uses Fatty Legs with her intergenerational book club and speaks about the power of unpacking trauma with middle grade students. Christy mentions how Fatty Legs is also resonating with new Canadians and adapting to new cultures. Christy also refers to the cross-cultural connections of global history including war's effect on human migration, the Japanese treatment of Korean people. Lisa emphasizes how the impact of migration on family culture really resonates with her students and their families.

Shoutouts to Jenny Kay Dupuis’ I Am Not a Number, mentor Maggie DeVries, illustrator Liz Amini-Holmes, Annick Press, and editor Antonia Banyard.

For more resources to go with Fatty Legs:

https://www.cjordanfenton.com/teacher-resources

https://www.annickpress.com/Books/F/Fatty-Legs-10th-anniversary-edition

For more information about this book and the authors:
The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fatty-legs