Board Books

Button Up! Fall in Alaska*

By Angela Y. Gonzales

Bye-Bye Ice! Springtime in Alaska *

By Carla Snow

Kiss By Kiss/Ocètôwina: A Counting Book For Families*

By Richard Van Camp

Let's Play Out! Summer in Alaska *

By Yaari Toolie-Walker

 

Little You

By Richard Van Camp, Julie Flett (Illustrator)

Loving Me

By Debby Slier

Mittens and Mukluks! Winter in Alaska *

By Joni Spiess

My Heart Fills with Happiness*

By Monique Gray Smith

Nibi is Water *

By Joanne Robertson

We All Count: A Book of Cree Numbers

By Julie Flett

We Sang You Home*

By Richard Van Camp, Julie Flett (Illustrator)

Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns

By Richard Van Camp

Wilgyigyet: Learn the Colors in Sm'algyax

Haayk Foundation, Huk Yuunsk (Illustrator)

Middle School

Apple in the Middle*

By Dawn Quigley

As Long as the Rivers Flow

By Larry Loyie with Constance Brissenden, Heather D. Holmlund (Illustrator)

The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book One

By David A. Robertson

The Birchbark House *

By Louise Erdrich

The Case of the Burgled Bundle *

By Michael Hutchinson

The Case of the Windy Lake *

By Michael Hutchinson

Charles Albert Bender: National Hall of Fame Pitcher

By Kade Ferris

Deb Haaland: First Native American Cabinet Secretary *

By Matthew J. Martinez and Jill Doerfler

Do All Indians Live in Tipis?

By Smithsonian Books

Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector

By Diane Wilson and Tashia Hart (Illustrator)

Fatty Legs: A True Story

By Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Liz Amini-Holmes (Illustrator)

The Fire *

By Thomas Peacock

A Girl Called Echo *

By Katherena Vermette

The Great Bear: The Misewa Saga, Book 2 *

By David A. Robertson

Healer of the Water Monster *

By Brian Young and Shonto Begay (Illustrator)

Hidden Roots

By Joseph Bruchac

How I Became a Ghost, Book 1: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story

By Tim Tingle

 

If I Ever Get Out of Here: A Novel with Paintings

By Eric L. Gansworth

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse*

By Joseph Marshall III

Indian No More*

By Charlene Willing McManis, Traci Sorell

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People*

By Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Debbie Reese

Makoons

By Louise Erdrich

Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story  *

By Andrea L. Rogers

My Name Is Not Easy*

By Debby Dahl Edwardson

 

My Name is Seepeetza

By Shirley Sterling

 

A Name Earned (Pathfinders)

By Tim Tingle

Native Writers: Voices of Power

By Kim Sigafus, Lyle Ernst

 

No Name

By Tim Tingle

 

Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor

By Jessica Engelking and Tashia Hart (Illustrator)

 

Rain Is Not My Indian Name

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Lori Earley (Illustrator)

The Reluctant Storyteller

By Art Coulson and Carlin Bear Don't Walk (Illustrator)

The Sea in Winter

By Christine Day

Sees Behind Trees

By Michael Dorris

 

Sisters of the Neversea *

By Cynthia L. Smith

 

Son Who Returns

By Gary Robinson

Spotted Tail *

By David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story

By David A. Robertson, Scott B. Henderson, (Illustrator), Donovan Yaciuk (Colourist)

 

Surviving the City, Volume 1

By Tasha Spillett and Natasha Donovan (Illustrator)

This Place: 150 Years Retold

By Alicia Elliott (Foreword by), Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (Contribution by), Sonny Assu (Contribution by)

Three Feathers

By Richard Van Camp, K. Mateus (Illustrator)

 

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection

By Matt Dembicki (Editor)

Triple Threat

By Jacqueline Guest

Under the Mesquite

By Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky

By Timothy P. McLaughlin (Editor), S. D. Nelson (Illustrator), Joseph Marshall (Foreword by)

We Dream Medicine Dreams

By Lisa Boivin

Who Will Tell My Brother

By Marlene Carvell

The Wolf's Trail: An Ojibwe Story, Told by Wolves

By Thomas D. Peacock

Source: https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/american-indians/

American Indians / Indigenous Peoples / Native Nations

Elementary 

This list is by Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). AICL provides critical perspectives and analysis of indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books, the school curriculum, popular culture, and society. Visit the AICL website and subscribe to the AICL blog for many more recommendations (including a list of best books), critical reviews, and current news.  We also encourage you to read:

• Native Writers Sign Letter Submitted for US House Committee Hearing
• Tips for Teachers: Developing Instructional Materials about American Indians
• Creating a Library Atmosphere that Welcomes American Indians
• Milestones: Indigenous Peoples and Children's Literature
• Critical Indigenous Literacies: Selecting and Using Children’s Books about Indigenous Peoples
• Native American Literature in Your Classroom
• Worksheet for Selecting Native American Children’s Literature
• Heartdrum Educator Guide
• "Debbie, can you recommend some books about Thanksgiving?"

Most of the books on these lists are linked for more information or purchase to Bookshop (an indie bookstore platform) and / or Powells.com (an independent, unionized bookstore). A small percentage from book sales through these links goes to Teaching for Change.

Titles with reviews on this site are noted with an asterisk (*).

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Elementary

Ajijaak - Crane*

By Cecilia Rose LaPointe

Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

At the Mountain's Base *

By Traci Sorell, Weshoyot Alvitre (Illustrator)

Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock*

By Dallas Hunt, Amanda Strong (Illustrator)

Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story

By Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Berry Song

By Michaela Goade

 

Birdsong *

By Julie Flett

 

Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story

By S. D. Nelson

 

Buffalo Song

By Joseph Bruchac, Bill Farnsworth

Chukfi Rabbit's Big, Bad Bellyache: A Trickster Tale

By Greg Rodgers

 

Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer *

By Traci Sorell and Natasha Donovan (Illustrator)

 

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom *

By Tim Tingle, Jeanne Rorex Bridges (Illustrator)

A Day with Yayah *

By Nicola I. Campbell and Julie Flett (Illustrator)

Dragonfly Kites*

By Tomson Highway, Julie Flett (Illustrator)

Fall in Line, Holden!*

Written and Illustrated By Daniel W. Vandever

The First Blade of Sweetgrass

By Suzanne Greenlaw, Gabriel Frey, and Nancy Baker (Illustrator)

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story*

By Kevin Noble Maillard, Juana Martinez Neal

Good Luck Cat

By Joy Harjo

 

The Good Rainbow Road: A Native American Tale in Keres and English

By Simon J. Ortiz, Michael Lacapa (Illustrator)

 

Hungry Johnny

By Cheryl Kay Minnema, Wesley Ballinger (Illustrator)

I Am Not a Number*

By Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer

I Sang You Down from the Stars*

By Tasha Spillett-Sumner and  Michaela Goade (Illustrator)

In My Anaana's Amautik*

By Nadia Sammurtok and  Lenny Lishchenko (Illustrator)

Indian Shoes

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Jim Madsen (Illustrator)

Jingle Dancer

By Cynthia L Smith

 

Johnny's Pheasant*

By Cheryl Minnema

Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend

By Dawn Quigley and Tara Audibert (Illustrator)

Kapaemahu

By Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Daniel Sousa (Illustrator)

Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!

By Art Coulson and Madelyn Goodnight (Illustrator)

Mothers of Xsan series

By Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)

Muskrat Will Be Swimming

By Cheryl Savageau, Robert Hynes (Illustrator)

Nimoshom and His Bus

By Penny M. Thomas, Karen Hibbard (Illustrator)

nipehon / I Wait*

By Caitlin Nicholson, Leona Morin-Nelson (Translator)

On the Trapline*

By David A. Robertson and Julie Flett (Illustrator)

The People Shall Continue

By Simon Ortiz

 

The Range Eternal *

By Louise Erdrich,  Lou Fancher, (Illustrator), and Steve Johnson (Illustrator)

 

Rock & Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story

By Sebastian Robertson, Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)

 

Saltypie a Choctaw Journey from Darkness Into Light

By Tim Tingle, Karen Clarkson

 

Sharice's Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman *

By Sharice Davids, Nancy K. Mays, and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Illustrator)

Shin-Chi's Canoe

By Nicola I. Campbell, Kim Lafave (Illustrator)

Shi-Shi-Etko

By Nicola I. Campbell, Kim Lafave (Illustrator)

 

Skysisters

By Jan Bourdeau Waboose, Brian Deines (Illustrator)

Stand Like A Cedar

By Nicola I. Campbell and Carrielynn Victor (Illustrator)

Still This Love Goes On *

By Buffy Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett (Illustrator)

Sweetest Kulu

By Celina Kalluk, Alexandria Neonakis (Illustrator)

Tanna's Owl

By Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley,  Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, and Yong Ling Kang (Illustrator)

Tasunka: A Lakota Horse Legend

By Donald F. Montileaux, Agnes Gay (Translator)

 

Thanks to the Animals

By Allen Sockabasin, Rebekah Raye (Illustrator)

This Land Is My Land*

By George Littlechild

The Train

By Jodie Callaghan and Georgia Lesley (Illustrator)

Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky

By Timothy P. McLaughlin (Editor), S. D. Nelson (Illustrator), Joseph Marshall (Foreword by)

The Water Walker*

By Joanne Robertson

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga*

By Traci Sorell, Frane Lessac (Illustrator)

We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know

By Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac (Illustrator)

We Are Water

Protectors *

By Carole Lindstrom, Michaela Goade (Illustrator)

What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know about Horses? *

By Richard Van Camp and George Littlechild (Illustrator)

When The Rain Sings Poems By Young Native Americans

By Lee Francis

When I Was Eight*

By Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

When The Shadbush Blooms

By Carla Messinger

When We Were Alone

By David Alexander Robertson, Julie Flett (Illustrator)

Young Native Activist: Growing Up in Native American Rights Movements

By Aslan Tudor

Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock *

By Aslan Tudor and Kelly Tudor

Zonia's Rain Forest 

By Juana Martinez-Neal

Source: https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/american-indians/

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High School / Adult

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People*

By Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Debbie Reese

Apple (Skin to the Core) *

By Eric Gansworth

Blue Horses Rush in

By Luci Tapahonso

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

By Monique Gray Smith, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Nicole Neidhardt (Illustrator)

Code Talker Stories

By Laura Tohe

Crazy Horse's Girlfriend

By Erika T. Wurth

Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices

By Lisa Charleyboy, Mary Beth Leatherdale (Editor)

 

Elatsoe

By Darcie Little Badger and Rovina Cai (Illustrator)

 

Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition *

By Anton Treuer

 

Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich

By Annie Boochever and Roy Peratrovich Jr

Firekeeper’s Daughter *

By Angeline Boulley

Give Me Some Truth

By Eric Gansworth

Hearts Unbroken*

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

House of Purple Cedar *

By Tim Tingle

How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America

Edited by Sara Sinclair

I Will See You Again

By Lisa Boivin
Free PDF: Reader's Guide to I Will See You Again

 

Indigenizing Education: Transformative Research, Theories, and Praxis

Edited by Jeremy Garcia, Valerie Shirley, and Hollie Anderson Kulago

I've Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land

By Alaina E. Roberts

Killer of Enemies

By Joseph Bruchac

The Lesser Blessed

By Richard Van Camp

The Marrow Thieves*

By Richard Van Camp

Mean Spirit

By Linda Hogan

Men On The Moon

By Simon J Ortiz

 

Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today

By Lori Marie Carlson

The Moon of Letting Go: And Other Stories

By Richard Van Camp

 

The Night Wanderer: A Graphic Novel

By Drew Hayden Taylor

Night Flying Woman: An Ojibway Narrative

By Ignatia Broker

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present

By Adrienne Keene and Ciara Sana (Illustrator)

 

#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women*

 Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale

The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth

By The Red Nation

Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation

By Nick Estes, Melanie Yazzie,  Jennifer Nez Denetdale, and David Correia

Reproductive Justice: The Politics of Health Care for Native American Women

By Barbara Gurr

Rethinking Columbus

By Bill Bigelow (Editor), Bob Peterson (Editor)

Robopocalypse

By Daniel H. Wilson

The Round House *

By Louise Erdrich

 

Spíləx̣m: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience, and Resurgence *

By Nicola I. Campbell

The Story of ACT 31: How Native History Came to Wisconsin Classrooms

By J. P. Leary

Team Spirits: The Native American Mascots Controversy

By C. Richard King (Editor), Charles Fruehling Springwood (Editor), Vine Deloria Jr (Foreword by)

Waterlily

By Ella Cara Deloria, Susan Gardner (Introduction by), Raymond J. Demallie (Afterword by)

 

We Do Not Want the Gates Closed Between Us: Native Networks and the Spread of the Ghost Dance

By Justin Gage

 

When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry *

By Jennifer Elise Foerster, Leanne Howe, and  Joy Harjo (Editor)

Source: https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/american-indians/

Click the image above to access the SORA collection. See the link below to access a booklist from the SORA Collection for users not granted access to the online resources.

Native American and Alaskan Heritage Book List