Indigenous Authors - Recommended reading for children

Updated April 8, 2024
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Winnipeg Public Library
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Discovering numbers : English, French, Cree
Auger, Neepin
Paper Book
Now available in multiple formats, including this quality board book for babies 0-3, Neepin Auger's books have become some of the best-selling resources for children to learn basic English, Cree, and French words and concepts. Neepin Auger's colorful books for young children have...

Also available in eBook format.

I can see you
Meyok, Rosemarie
Paper Book
In this adorable book to be shared with babies and toddlers, mothers explore their love for their babies as experienced through the five senses. From the sound of a baby's giggles to the smell of a kunik, this book celebrates the unique bonds shared between mothers and babies.
Little you
Van Camp, Richard.
Paper Book
"You are life and breath adored. You are us and so much more..." Richard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author of the hugely successful Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, has partnered with award-winning illustrator Julie Flett to create a tender...
Little you = Gidagaashiinh
Van Camp, Richard
Paper Book
★ "Van Camp composes a lyrical ode to a newborn child, which is matched in its loveliness by Flett's exquisite, collage-like images of a young one with his or her parents."--Publishers Weekly, starred review Richard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling...
Little you = Kîya-k'apisîsisîyân
Van Camp, Richard
Paper Book
★ "Van Camp composes a lyrical ode to a newborn child, which is matched in its loveliness by Flett's exquisite, collage-like images of a young one with his or her parents."--Publishers Weekly, starred review Richard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling...
Ancestor approved : intertribal stories for kids
Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Paper Book
Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride. Native families from Nations across the...
Also available in eBook format.
Tout Petit Toi
Van Camp, Richard
Paper Book
Richard Van Camp, reconnu à travers le monde à titre de conteur et d'auteur des ouvrages à succès Welcome Song for Babyet We Sang You Home, s'est associé à la grande illustratrice Julie Flett. Cet album cartonné destiné aux bébés et aux bambins rend hommage, avec tendresse, à l'enfant...
Little Moar and the moon
Akulukjuk, Roselynn
Paper Book
Moar has always loved autumn--playing outside with his friends, feeling the weather get colder--but there is one thing about autumn that really worries Moar. The moon.The days become shorter and the moon, with its creepy face and eerie smile, seems to be looking down on him before he can even...
Stand like a cedar
Campbell, Nicola I.
Paper Book
When you go for a walk in nature, who do you see? What do you hear? Award-winning storyteller Nicola I. Campbell shows what it means to "stand like a cedar" on this beautiful journey of discovery through the wilderness. Learn the names of animals in the Nłeʔkepmxcín or Halq...

Also available in eBook format.

Debout comme un grand cèdre
Campbell, Nicola I.
Paper Book

Par un jour de printemps pluvieux, six personnes pagaient dans leur canot de cedre aux cotes du huard et de tous les animaux qui viennent tout juste de naitre. Puis, dans les champs avec sa grand-mere, une fillette remercie les racines et les pousses, qui offriront des festins a tout ce qui vit, avant de s'aventurer en montagne et d'apprendre l'histoire du serpent, d'ecouter les caravanes de familles qui se rendent au sommet pour se nourrir avec des aliments traditionnels, et de descendre a ̉la riviere pour pecher le saumon.

Aussi disponible en format numerique.

Heart berry bling
Dupuis, Jenny Kay
Paper Book
On a visit to her granny, Maggie is excited to begin her first-ever beading project: a pair of strawberry earrings. However, beading is much harder than she expected! As they work side by side, Granny shares how beading helped her persevere and stay connected to her Anishinaabe culture when she...
We all play = Kimêtawânaw
Flett, Julie
Paper Book
A BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR: New York Times, Washington Post, New York Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, Globe and Mail, Horn Book, and Boston Globe STARRED Reviews in Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, The Horn...

Also available in eBook format.

Tout le monde joue = Kimt̊awńaw
Flett, Julie.
Paper Book

Les animaux se cachent et sautent et rôdent et guettent et chantent. Nous jouons, nous aussi! Kimêtawânaw mîna.

Berry song
Goade, Michaela
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book! An Indie Bestseller! Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade's first self-authored picture book is a gorgeous celebration of the land she knows well and the powerful wisdom of elders. On...
When we are kind
Gray Smith, Monique
Paper Book
"Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities--and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others."--Publishers Weekly When We Are Kindcelebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they...
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.
Nous sommes gentils
Gray Smith, Monique
Paper Book
Nous sommes gentilstraite des gestes de bonté tout simples du quotidien et encourage les enfants à explorer comment ils se sentent quand ils sont bienveillants ou quand une personne est gentille à leur égard. L'autrice renommée Monique Gray Smith a écrit de nombreux ouvrages sur la résilience et...
When I was young in Nunavut
Webster, Deborah Kigjugalik
Paper Book
Memoir by Deborah Kigjugalik Webster, who wrote Akilak's Adventure (Inhabit Media); Deborah grew up in Baker Lake. Illustrator is from Vancouver and is Metis. She currently lives in Washington. She illustrated the award-winning children's book "The Sockeye Mother" (written by Brett Huson) and the...
When I Was Young in Nunavut: Inuktitut Edition
Kigjugalik, Deborah
Paper Book
In Nunavut, there are lots of fun things to do, no matter the season. This book introduces children to the memoir genre and describes different activities the author did when she was growing up in Nunavut.
Storyteller Skye : teachings from my Ojibway grandfather
King, Lindsay Christina
Paper Book
Have you ever wondered why Rabbit has such long ears? Or why Raccoon is wearing a mask?  In this collection of funny and unique short stories, young Skye enlightens us in a number of Indigenous teachings, passed down to her from her Ojibway Grandfather. Through her...
The most amazing bird
Kusugak, Michael
Paper Book
A young girl discovers nature's surprising beauty in this tale from a renowned Inuit storyteller.   When Aggataa goes for a cold winter walk with her grandmother, she's surprised by a sudden CRAH! All the birds have flown south for the winter except one kind--the...
My powerful hair
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book
Our ancestors say our hair is our memories, our source of strength and power, a celebration of our lives.
Also available in eBook, eAudiobook and streaming video formats.
Healer of the water monster
Young, Brian
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner: Best Middle Grade Book! Brian Young's powerful debut novel tells of a seemingly ordinary Navajo boy who must save the life of a Water Monster--and comes to realize he's a hero at heart. When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali...
Also available in eBook format.
Âmî osâwâpikones = Dear dandelion
Okemow, SJ
Paper Book
A debut picture book that celebrates self-love, care, and resilience with one of the most widespread plants--the dandelion. Both a love letter to the dandelion and a call to love ourselves in a difficult world, Âmî Osâwâpikones reminds us that we are not defined as others see us. Following...
La mitasse = Leggings = Qateyal
Rivard, Sylvain
Paper Book

La mitasse servait a couvrir la jambe pour la proteger du froid. Elle pouvait etre brodee de poils d'orignal ou de piquants de porc-epic, arborer des pompons ou des boutons, etre faite d'ecorce ou de coton.

On the trapline
Robertson, David
Paper Book
A picture book celebrating Indigenous culture and traditions. The Governor General Award--winning team behind When We Were Aloneshares a story that honors our connections to our past and our grandfathers and fathers. WINNER OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARD A...
Ligne de Trappe
Robertson, David A.
Paper Book
See below for English description. Un jeune garcon voyage vers le nord a la decouverte de la ligne de trappe de son Moshom, son grand-pere. Celui-ci explique a son petit-fils que les lignes de trappe sont des territoires ou les gens chassent les animaux et vivent de la terre. Puis...
Powwow day
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
In this uplifting, contemporary Native American story, River is recovering from illness and can't dance at the powwow this year. Will she ever dance again? River wants so badly to dance at powwow day as she does every year. In this uplifting and contemporary picture book perfect...
Also available in streaming video format.
Beautiful you, beautiful me
Spillett-Sumner, Tasha
Paper Book
A child who looks different from her mother finds beauty and belonging in this new book from the creator of the New York Timesbestseller I Sang You Down from the Stars Izzy's favorite place to be is in Mama's arms--skin to skin, safe and warm. One night, cuddled up on Mama's lap, Izzy...

Also available in eBook format.

The girl and the wolf
Vermette, Katherena
Paper Book
While picking berries with her mother, a little girl wanders too far into the woods. When she realizes she is lost, she begins to panic. A large grey wolf makes a sudden appearance between some distant trees. Using his sense of smell, he determines where she came from and decides to help her....
Phoenix gets greater
Wilson-Trudeau, Marty
Paper Book
Phoenix loves to play with dolls and marvel at pretty fabrics. Most of all, he loves to dance--ballet, Pow Wow dancing, or just swirling and twirling around his house. Sometimes Phoenix gets picked on and he struggles with feeling different, but his mom and brother are proud of him. With their...
Also available in eBook format.
Phoenix le Merveilleux
Wilson-Trudeau, Marty
Paper Book
See below for English description. Phoenix adore jouer a la poupee et admirer toutes sortes de tissus. Mais ce qu'il aime par-dessus tout, c'est danser. Il adore le ballet, il danse lors des pow-wow, et il tournoie et tourbillonne a la maison. Ses camarades s'en prennent parfois a...
Forever Birchwood
Daniel, Danielle
Paper Book
The middle-grade debut of star picture-book author and illustrator Danielle Daniel Adventurous, trail-blazing Wolf lives in a northern mining town and spends her days exploring the mountains and wilderness with her three best friends Penny, Ann and Brandi. The girls' secret refuge is their...
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.
The sea in winter
Day, Christine
Paper Book
In this evocative and heartwarming novel for readers who loved The Thing About Jellyfish, the author of I Can Make This Promise tells the story of a Native American girl struggling to find her joy again. It's been a hard year for Maisie Cannon, ever since she hurt...
Makoons
Erdrich, Louise
Paper Book
In this award-winning sequel to Chickadee, acclaimed author Louise Erdrich continues her celebrated Birchbark House series with the story of an Ojibwe family in nineteenth-century America. Named for the Ojibwe word for little bear, Makoons and his twin, Chickadee, have...
Le nord et le sud
Picard, Isabelle
Paper Book

Leon et Eloise ont une vie qui sort de l'ordinaire. D'abord, ils sont jumeaux. Vivre en double, a l'adolescence, ce n'est pas toujours facile. A Matimekush, une communaute innue du Nord du Quebec, leur quotidien sera bouleverse pour toujours.

Aussi disponible en format numerique

Nish: North and South
Picard, Isabelle
Paper Book
The first book in Isabelle Picard's bestselling coming-of-age series about Innu twins, Leon and Eloise. In this acclaimed book, readers meet thirteen-year-old twins Leon and Eloise who live in Matimekush, an Innu community in Northern Quebec. While Leon spends all his free time...
Elvis, me, and the lemonade stand summer
Gentile, Leslie
Paper Book
Winner of the 2021 City of Victoria Children's Book Prize Winner of the 2022 Jean Little First-Novel Award It's the summer of 1978 and most people think Elvis Presley has been dead for a year. But not eleven-year-old Truly Bateman - because she knows Elvis is...
Also available in eBook format.
Rez dogs
Bruchac, Joseph
Paper Book
Renowned author Joseph Bruchac tells a powerful story of a girl who learns more about her Penacook heritage while sheltering in place with her grandparents during the coronavirus pandemic. Malian loves spending time with her grandparents at their home on a Wabanaki reservation...
Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.
The case of the rigged race
Hutchinson, Michael
Paper Book
Windy Lake First Nation is hosting the annual Trappers Festival, and the four Mighty Muskrats are excited about the sled-dog races and the chance to visit with family and friends from far and wide. But during the Teen Sled Race, the lead dog is the victim of a frightening accident that may be...
In the footsteps of Crazy Horse
Marshall, Joseph
Paper Book
Jimmy McClean is a Lakota boy - though you wouldn't guess it by his name: his father is part white and part Lakota, and his mother is Lakota. When he embarks on a journey with his grandfather, Nyles High Eagle, he learns more and more about his Lakota heritage - in particular, the story of Crazy...
Rabbit chase
LaPense?e, Elizabeth
Paper Book
A BookRiot Don't-Miss 2022 Queer Graphic Novels & Memoirs * "Rabbit Chase is a welcome intersectional work for today's youth."--Traci Sorell, award-winning author of We Are Still Here! and At the Mountain's Base Anishinaabe culture and storytelling meet Alice in...
Remember
Harjo, Joy
Paper Book
THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER .AN AMERICAN INDIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HONOR BOOK.A BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK HONOR AWARD . NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal. Publishers Weekly. The Horn Book .NPR . The Bulletin. Kirkus Reviews ...
Also available in eBook format.
Powwow : a celebration through song and dance
Pheasant-Neganigwane, Karen
Paper Book
★ "Clearly organized and educational--an incredibly useful tool for both school and public libraries." --School Library Journal, starred review Powwowis a celebration of Indigenous song and dance. Journey through the history of powwow culture in North America, from its origins to the...
Also available in eBook format.
Sky Wolf's call : the gift of Indigenous knowledge
Yellowhorn, Eldon
Paper Book
From healing to astronomy to our connection to the natural world, the lessons from Indigenous knowledge inform our learning and practices today. How do knowledge systems get passed down over generations? Through the knowledge inherited from their Elders and ancestors, Indigenous Peoples...
Also available in eAudiobook format.

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