2026 AIYLA Awards and Honors

Updated January 27, 2026
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Chooch helped
Rogers, Andrea L.
Paper Book
Every big sister knows the feeling: little brothers get away with EVERYTHING! Meet Sissy, who's had it up to here with her two-year-old brother Chooch. No matter what chaos he creates in their loving Cherokee family--and trust us, there's a lot--their parents just smile and say...
Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father's Love
Westbrook, Pasha
Paper Book
A stunning, poetic debut picture book from Pasha Westbrook about honoring one's roots and the unbreakable bond of familial love, brought to life with enchanting illustrations by acclaimed illustrator Madelyn Goodnight. Father braids my hair, just like his, scented...
Fierce aunties!
Goodluck, Laurel
Paper Book
Recipient of the American Indian Youth Literature Award Picture Book Honor A joyful and vibrant celebration of what makes aunties so special, from Indigenous author and illustrator team Laurel Goodluck and Steph Littlebird inviting all kids to connect with...
Raven's Ribbons
Spillett, Tasha
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett and debut Native American illustrator Daniel Ramirez comes a joyous intergenerational celebration of gender self-expression and acceptance through an Indigenous lens. Raven loves Round Dances. The drums sing to the people....
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 ribbon skirt
Mukwa, Cameron
Paper Book
A joyful coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel by debut Indigenous creator Cameron Mukwa about the journey of a two-spirit kid who wants to create a ribbon skirt for the upcoming powwow.Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by girls in the...
The summer of the bone horses
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk
A Lakota child spends a summer with grandparents at their home on the Rosebud Reservation in this young chapter book, illustrated in full-color. Multiple starred reviews! "A captivating tale about the healing power of community and familial bonds. Infused with...
Legendary frybread drive-in : intertribal stories
Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Paper Book
Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world's best frybread. The road to Sandy June's Legendary...
Sisters in the wind
Boulley, Angeline
Paper Book
A Printz Honor Book! An AIYLA Honor Book! A Good Morning America Book Club Pick! From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own...
The unfinished
Isaacs, Cheryl
Paper Book
In her stunning debut, Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk) pulls the reader into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged. When small-town athlete Avery's morning run leads her to a strange pond in the middle of the forest, she awakens a horror the townspeople...

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