Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Indigenous Peoples Titles for Juvenile and Middle Grade

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich history, diverse cultures, and enduring traditions of Indigenous Peoples.

One of the best ways to introduce children to different cultures is through books. Below are some juvenile and middle grade books and audiobooks by and about Indigenous people that you can find at the library. From the historical struggles of Native American ancestors to the vibrant cultures of today, these books explore a wide range of Indigenous voices and stories, including poetry, science fiction, biography, and more.

Updated October 22, 2025
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Lewis and Clark Public Library
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Algonquin
Bird, F. A.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Algonquin people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
I am Osage : how Clarence Tinker became the first Native American major general
Rogers, Kim
Paper Book
This informative and inspiring picture book by acclaimed author Kim Rogers (Wichita), with striking artwork by debut illustrator Bobby Von Martin (Choctaw), celebrates the achievements of Clarence Tinker, a member of the Osage Nation who became the first Native American major...
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...
Apache
Bird, F. a.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Apache people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
The birchbark house
Erdrich, Louise
Paper Book
For use in schools and libraries only. Omakayas, a seven-year-old Native American girl of the Ojibwa tribe, lives through the joys of summer and the perils of winter on an island in Lake Superior in 1847.
Boarding Schools
Bruegl, Heather
Paper Book
Learn how education and government policy impacted generations of Indigenous families. Readers will understand the legacy of boarding schools on Indigenous cultures and the resilience of those cultures today. The Racial Justice in America: Indigenous Peoples series explores the issues specific to...
Borders
King, Thomas
Paper Book
A People Magazine Best Book ★ "The thematic and literary richness of this story is exhilarating."-- Horn Book, starred review ★ "An important and accessible modern tale."-- School Library Journal,<...
Buffalo dreamer
Duncan, Violet
Paper Book
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author's family history Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom's family lives. But this year...
Cherokee
Bird, F. A.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Cherokee people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
Cheyenne
Bird, F. a.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Cheyenne people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
Child of the flower-song people : Luz Jim?ez, daughter of the Nahua
Amescua, Gloria
Paper Book
She was Luz Jiménez, child of the flower-song people, the powerful Aztec, who called themselves Nahua- who lost their land but who did not disappear. As a young Nahua girl in Mexico during the early 1900s, Luz learned how to...
Christopher Columbus and the Taino people
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean and discovered America. Right? WRONG!...
Classified : the secret career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee aerospace engineer
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
An American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award Honor Picture Book Mary Golda Ross designed classified airplanes and spacecraft as Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's first female engineer. Find out how her passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her...
Colonization of Hawai'i
Loh-Hagan, Virginia
Paper Book
The Racial Justice in America: AAPI Histories series explores moments and eras in America's history that have been ignored or misrepresented in education due to racial bias. Developed in conjunction with educator, advocate, and author Virginia Loh-Hagan to reach children of all races and encourage...
Comanche
Bird, F. A.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Comanche people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
Contenders : two Native baseball players, one World Series
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
The true story of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who in 1911 became the first two Native pro baseball players to face off in a World Series. This picture book teaches important lessons about resilience, doing what you love in the face of injustice, and the fight for Native American...
Deb Haaland
Goodluck, Laurel
Paper Book
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Deb Haaland! A 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Honor Book! ...
Eagle drums
Hopson, Nasug raq Rainey
Paper Book
**A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK** A magical middle grade adventure about a boy in the Arctic who faces a series of challenges presented to him by a family of eagle gods. Through this, he learns important lessons about respecting nature, building compassion, and bringing a community...
Fancy pants
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
Filled with lots of glitter, raised pinkies, and humorous misunderstandings, this second book in the Jo Jo Makoons series--written by Dawn Quigley and illustrated by Tara Audibert--is filled with the joy of a young Ojibwe girl discovering her very own special shine from the inside...
Fatty legs : a true story
Jordan-Fenton, Christy
Paper Book
Eight-year-old Margaret Pokiak has set her sights on learning to read, even though it means leaving her village in the high Arctic. Faced with unceasing pressure, her father finally agrees to let her make the five-day journey to attend school, but he warns Margaret of the terrors of residential...
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...
Heroes of the water monster
Young, Brian
Paper Book
An unmissable companion to Healer of the Water Monster, which won the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award, this novel by Navajo author Brian Young tells the story of two contemporary young Navajo heroes--and one water monster--who must learn to work together...
If you lived during the Plimoth Thanksgiving
Newell, Chris
Paper Book
What do you know about the thanksgiving feast at Plimoth? What if you lived in a different time and place? What would you wear? What would you eat? How would your daily life be different? Scholastic's If You Lived... series answers all of kids' most important questions about events...
Indian no more
McManis, Charlene Willing
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner - American Indian Library Association When Regina's Umpqua tribe is legally terminated and her family must relocate from Oregon to Los Angeles, she goes on a quest to understand her identity as an Indian despite being so far from home.<...
Indian removal
Bruegl, Heather
Paper Book
The Trail of Tears stands as a hallmark of the pain and displacement Indigenous peoples endured, but it was not the whole story. Readers will be introduced to the many removals that occurred throughout the United States and how those acts shaped Indigenous cultures today. The Racial Justice in...
Indian shoes
Smith, Cynthia Leitich.
Paper Book
The beloved chapter book by New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith about the love and adventures shared by a Cherokee-Seminole boy and his Grampa now has brand-new illustrations! A perfect pick for new readers. What do Indian shoes look like, anyway? Like...
Indigenous America
McDonald, Liam
Paper Book
"A comprehensive and accessible history of the Indigenous peoples of North America." - STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal Introducing a new nonfiction series that uncovers hidden histories of the United States. The true story of the United States' Indigenous...
Indigenous ingenuity : a celebration of traditional North American knowledge
Havrelock, Deidre
Paper Book
Celebrate Indigenous thinkers and inventions with this beautifully designed, award-winning interactive nonfiction book--perfect for fans of Braiding Sweetgrass.  Corn. Chocolate. Fishing hooks. Boats that float. Insulated double-walled construction. Recorded...
Indigenous Peoples' Day
Bode, Heather L.
Paper Book
Throughout US history, Indigenous people have lost their lives and land because of colonization. But today, people across the country celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day. They honor the cultures and contributions of Indigenous nations while raising awareness about current issues that American Indians...
Indigenous Peoples' Day
Phillips, Katrina M.
Paper Book
Indigenous Peoples' Day is about celebrating! The second Monday in October is a day to honor Native American people, their histories, and cultures. People mark the day with food, dancing, and songs. Readers will discover how a shared holiday can have multiple traditions and be celebrated in all...
Iroquois
Bird, F. a.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Iroquois people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
Fancy pants
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
Filled with lots of glitter, raised pinkies, and humorous misunderstandings, this second book in the Jo Jo Makoons series--written by Dawn Quigley and illustrated by Tara Audibert--is filled with the joy of a young Ojibwe girl discovering her very own special shine from the inside...
Lei and the fire goddess
Maunakea, Malia
Paper Book
"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." -Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana Curses aren't real. At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part...
Lei and the fire goddess
Maunakea, Malia
Paper Book
"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." -Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana Curses aren't real. At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part...
Longhouse Form of Government
Bruegl, Heather
Paper Book
Indigenous nations have always been political bodies. In this book, readers will learn how the longhouse form of government worked, the peoples that used it, and the influence it had on U.S history and politics. Through these influences, readers are invited to celebrate Indigenous achievements and...
A man called Horse : John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad
Turner, Glennette Tilley
Paper Book
John Horse (c. 1812-1882, also known as Juan Caballo) was a famed chief, warrior, tactician, and diplomat who played a dominant role in Black Seminole affairs for half a century. His story is central to that of the Black Seminoles-descendants of Seminole Indians, free Blacks, and escaped slaves...
Maria Tallchief
Day, Christine
Paper Book
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Maria Tallchief! A 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Honor Book!...
Native American stories for kids : 12 traditional stories from Indigenous tribes across North America
Weso, T. F. Pecore
Paper Book
Explore Native American narratives--for kids ages 6 to 9. Native Americans have a long tradition of storytelling. Now, you can easily introduce your children to these rich cultures with a compilation of powerful tales from multiple tribes like the Cheyenne and the Lenape. What sets...
Native Americans in history : a history book for kids
Beason, Jimmy
Paper Book
Celebrate the powerful stories of influential Native Americans--for kids ages 8 to 12 From every background and tribal nation, native people are a vital part of history. This collection of Native American stories for kids explores 15 Native Americans and some of the incredible things they...
Navajo
Bird, F. A.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Navajo people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
Nez Perce
Bird, F. A.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Nez Perce people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
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...
Race to the sun
Roanhorse, Rebecca
Paper Book
Lately Nizhoni has been able to detect monsters, like Mr. Charles, her dad's new boss at the oil and gas company. He's also alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he's a threat, but her father won't believe her....
Race to the sun
Roanhorse, Rebecca
Paper Book
Lately Nizhoni has been able to detect monsters, like Mr. Charles, her dad's new boss at the oil and gas company. He's also alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he's a threat, but her father won't believe her....
Red Bird danced
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before and in the hope that lets them take flight. Ariel and Tomah have lived in the city's intertribal housing complex all...
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...
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...
Seminole
Bird, F. A.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Seminole people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
The Seminoles
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk
Paper Book
Discusses the history, lifestyle, customs, and current situation of the Seminoles.
The seventh direction : a legend of creation
Locke, Kevin
Paper Book
In this enlightening legend shared by Lakota Elder Kevin Locke, Wakhan Thanka (The Great Spirit) created the entire world in seven days; leaving the most precious creation for last. In order to protect this precious creation, Wakhan Thanka needed to hide it where it would always be safe and turned...
Sioux
Bird, F. a.
Paper Book
This title introduces readers to the Sioux people. Text covers traditional ways of life, including social structure, homes, food, art, clothing, and more. Also discussed is contact with Europeans, as well as how the people keep their culture alive today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and...
The Sioux
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Paper Book
Identifies the different tribes of the Sioux Indians and discusses their beliefs and traditional way of life.
Sisters of the Neversea
Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Paper Book
Five starred reviews! In this beautifully reimagined story by NSK Neustadt Laureate and New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek), Native American Lily and English Wendy embark on a high-flying journey of magic, adventure, and courage to a fairy-tale...
Sisters of the Neversea
Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Paper Book
Five starred reviews! In this beautifully reimagined story by NSK Neustadt Laureate and New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek), Native American Lily and English Wendy embark on a high-flying journey of magic, adventure, and courage to a fairy-tale...
The sleeping giant
Robertson, David
Paper Book
Eli, Morgan and Emily embark on their most dangerous mission yet, to save the kidnapped animal beings of Ministik and to ensure that these terrible deeds will never happen again. Accompanied by Arik and Mahihkan, as well as the remaining Bird Warriors, they journey across the Flatlands toward the...
Snow day
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
Oh, snow day, snow day, what a very fun no-school day! Jo Jo Makoons is back in the third book in this favorite chapter book series, and she's planning the very best version of the winter Olympics that her Ojibwe community has ever seen... Jo Jo Makoons has noticed that the...
Snow Day
Quigley, Dawn/ Audibert, Tara (ILT)
Paper Book
Oh, snow day, snow day, what a very fun no-school day! Jo Jo Makoons is back in the third book in this favorite chapter book series, and she's planning the very best version of the winter Olympics that her Ojibwe community has ever seen... Jo Jo Makoons has noticed that the...
Stealing Little Moon : the legacy of the American Indian boarding schools
Jones, Dan C.
Paper Book
"Stealing Little Moon is both a moving family saga and an expertly told true story that all Americans should know." --Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author of Bomb and Undefeated Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched,...
The storyteller
Hobson, Brandon
Paper Book
From National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson, a kaleidoscopic middle-grade adventure that mixes the anxieties, friendships, and wonders of a Cherokee boy's life with Cherokee history and lore. Ziggy has ANXIETY. Partly this is because of the way his mind works, and how overwhelmed he...
Thunderous
Smoker, M. L.
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2023 HIGH PLAINS BOOK AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S MIDDLE GRADE!
Together we march : 25 protest movements that marched into history
Henderson, Leah
Paper Book
March through history and discover twenty-five groundbreaking protest movements that have shaped the way we fight for equality and justice today in this stunningly illustrated and sweeping book! For generations, marches have been an invaluable tool for bringing about social...
Two tribes
Bowen Cohen, Emily
Paper Book
In her poignant debut graphic novel inspired by her own life, Emily Bowen Cohen embraces the complexity, meaning, and deep love that comes from being part of two vibrant tribes. Mia is still getting used to living with her mom and stepfather, and to the new role their Jewish...
The used-to-be best friend
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! Hello/Boozhoo--meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is. Jo Jo...
The used-to-be best friend
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! Hello/Boozhoo--meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is. Jo Jo...
Voices of the people
Bruchac, Joseph
Paper Book
2024 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (NCSS & CBC)"Best Middle Grade Book of the Year" by Kirkus Reviews"Best Poetry Books of 2022" by School Library JournalJunior Library Guild Gold Standard AwardThrough poems that capture the essence of each person's life, acclaimed Native...
We still belong
Day, Christine
Paper Book
A thoughtful and heartfelt middle grade novel by American Indian Youth Literature Honor-winning author Christine Day (Upper Skagit), about a girl whose hopeful plans for Indigenous Peoples' Day (and plans to ask her crush to the school dance) go all wrong--until she finds herself...
What Is Land Back?
Bruegl, Heather
Paper Book
The Land Back movement is an ongoing political and social Indigenous movement. Readers will learn about what this movement is all about and the work that is being done to empower Indigenous peoples across the United States. The Racial Justice in America: Indigenous Peoples series explores the issues...
What Makes Us Human
Santos, Victor D. O.
Paper Book
A National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)-Children's Book Council (CBC) Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List  A USBBY Outstanding International Book Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature ...
Who is Maria Tallchief?
Gourley, Catherine
Paper Book
Born in 1925, Maria Tallchief spent part of her childhood on an Osage reservation in Oklahoma. With the support of her family and world-renowned choreographer George Balanchine, she rose to the top of her art form to become America's first prima ballerina. Black-and-white illustrations provide...
Who was Jim Thorpe?
Buckley, James, Jr.
Paper Book
Learn about the incredible legacy of the first Native American athlete and Olympian to earn a gold medal for the United States in this exciting addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling series. While most athletes excel in just one sport, Jim Thorpe was different....
Who were the Navajo code talkers?
Buckley, James, Jr.
Paper Book
Learn how this heroic group of American Indian men created a secret, unbreakable code and helped the US win major battles during World War II in this new addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling series. By the time the United States joined the Second World War in 1941...
Wilma Mankiller
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Wilma Mankiller! A 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Honor Book!

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