Hamburger Soup
by Samantha Beynon
illustrated by Kelsey
Fitzgerald Harbour Publishing, 2026
ISBN 9781998526505 $24.95 pp.36 pages, ages 4 – 10
harbourpublishing.com
This is a story about a young Nisga’a boy, Simgan, who spends a day with his grandmother learning how to make hamburger soup and fry bread. There are several Sim’algax Nisga’a words sprinkled throughout Grandmother’s explanations. As Simgam and Grandmother talk about the soup after Simgam finishes his pretend moose hunt, Grandmother shares experiences of making this soup on fishing boats with relatives from other Indigenous communities, emphasizing its commonality in Indigenous cuisine throughout Alaska and BC. As Grandmother goes through the necessary steps of making this soup, from washing hands to slicing onions, Simgan learns cooking skills. When he borrows an onion from a neighbour and then repays her with soup, he learns about community and sharing. The illustrations are colourful and simple, with many traditional elements of Indigenous art. This intergenerational story not only brings many of the traditions of the Nisga’a nation into focus but also reflects a common practice across cultures—grandparents passing down important knowledge to their families.
Classroom Connections: For students learning the Sim’algax Nisga’a language, which is the language of the four major clans of the Nass and Skeena River peoples, this book provides a way to read some common words and expressions. As a read-aloud for any primary classroom, there are many opportunities for students to make connections to their own lives, from making soups and bread together with their elders to pretend games that mimic adult pursuits. The hunting game reflects both present-day and past practices of the communities in northwestern BC. Having students list activities in the Nisga’a Nation’s communities and compare that list with their own communities would highlight commonalities and differences across BC. Having students participate in making hamburger soup in the classroom would be a fun activity where recipes, fractions, and nutrition could be part of a fruitful learning conversation.
Review by Betty Schultze.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Spring 2026 issue.
