Native American Children's Books

Books by and about Native Americans to help expand children's knowledge of a perhaps new-to-them group.
Updated September 19, 2022
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The legend of the Indian paintbrush
DePaola, Tomie
Paper Book
In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend. Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in...
Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest
Gerald McDermott
Paper Book
Coyote finds trouble wherever he goes. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows, however, decide to teach Coyote a lesson instead. This is the third volume in Gerald McDermott’s series of Trickster Tales. “Bold shapes and...
We are water protectors
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book
From author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade comes a New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Medal winning picture book that honors Indigenous-led movements across the world. Powerfully written and gorgeously illustrated, We Are Water Protectors,...
You hold me up
Gray Smith, Monique
Paper Book
Key Selling Points Simple but powerful text shows us the different ways we can respect and be kind to one another in this moving picture book. The author is well-known for her board and picture books. Her title My Heart Fills with Happiness was selected for the 2019 TD Grade...
A day with Yayah
Campbell, Nicola I.
Paper Book
The entire family goes out for a romp in the woods picking mushrooms and herbs. Grandmother passes down her knowledge of plant life.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
Kevin Noble Maillard
Paper Book
Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal A 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner "A wonderful and sweet book . . . Lovely stuff." --The New York Times Book Review Told in lively and powerful...
We sang you home
Van Camp, Richard
Paper Book
Key Selling Points A lyrical celebration of newborn babies. Richard Van Camp is the award-winning and bestselling author of Little You, Welcome Song for Baby and May We Have Enough to Share. Illustrator Julie Flett received a BolognaRagazzi Special Mention (2019)...
Rez Dogs
Joseph Bruchac
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...
Bowwow Powwow
Brenda J. Child
Paper Book
Windy Girl is blessed with a vivid imagination. From Uncle she gathers stories of long-ago traditions, about dances and sharing and gratitude. Windy can tell such stories herself-about her dog, Itchy Boy, and the way he dances to request a treat and how he wriggles with joy in response to, well,...
My heart fills with happiness
Gray Smith, Monique
Paper Book
★ "A quiet loveliness, sense of gratitude, and--yes--happiness emanate from this tender celebration of simple pleasures."--Publishers Weekly, starred review The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart...
We All Play
Julie Flett
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...
We are grateful : otsaliheliga
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
The Cherokee community is grateful for the blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by best-selling Cherokee author Traci Sorell. This award-winning seasonal picture book is for 3-7-year-olds interested in contemporary Indigenous...
Wild berries = Pikaci-Minisa
Flett, Julie.
Paper Book
Wild Berries is the beautiful tale of a young boy who spends a summer day picking wild blueberries with his grandmother. The Metis and Cree are indigenous peoples based across Canada and North America with a rich history and culture. Exploring the important tradition of berry-picking for Metis and...
Thunder Boy Jr.
Alexie, Sherman
Paper Book
Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad, but he wants a name that's all his own. Just because people call his dad Big Thunder doesn't mean he wants to be Little Thunder. He wants a name that celebrates something cool he's done, like Touch the Clouds, Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth, or Full of...
The water walker
Robertson, Joanne
Paper Book
The story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine-ba Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men, and youth, have walked around all...
Jingle dancer
Smith, Cynthia Leitich.
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith's lyrical text is paired with the warm, evocative watercolors of Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu in this affirming story of a contemporary Native American girl who turns to her family and community. The cone-shaped jingles sewn...
At the mountain's base
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
A family, separated by duty and distance, waits for a loved one to return home in this lyrical picture book celebrating the bonds of a Cherokee family and the bravery of history-making women pilots. At the mountain's base sits a cabin under an old hickory tree. And in that cabin...
Sweetest Kulu
Kalluk, Celina
Paper Book
"Dream a little, Kulu, this world now sings a most beautiful song of you." This beautiful bedtime poem, written by acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Lyrically and tenderly told by a...
Nimoshom and his bus
Thomas, Penny M.
Paper Book
In this warm and joyful picture book highly recommended by Debbie Reese, children learn Cree from Nimoshom, their school bus driver. Based on the author's memories of her grandfather, Nimoshom is not your average bus driver. He loves to drive the school bus, tell silly stories, and share...

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