These Native American picture books by indigenous creators celebrate the beauty and culture within this important community. Each story is one of family, tradition, special moments, or movements, and they will all add something special to your bookshelf. Check them out!
Picture Books by Native American and Indigenous Authors
Historically, Native Americans have been sorely underrepresented in children’s literature. When Indigenous people were included in books, they were often misrepresented or stereotyped in a manner that perpetuated harmful bias.
While the children’s literature industry has a ways to go to ensure that kids of all cultures (and backgrounds, races, and religions, too!) are represented in stories, there are some new Native American picture books – books featuring Native characters and created by Indigenous authors and illustrators – that are must-adds to your children’s bookshelves or classrooms. These books celebrate Indigenous peoples, showing the beauty, love, and special traditions within their families and communities.
November is National Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month. It’s also Thanksgiving. There has been significant trepidation in recent years about teaching the accurate story of this holiday, and many educators and families feel stuck, not wanting to make a “wrong” move as they educate America’s young people.
One beautiful way to celebrate this month is to share the exceptional stories listed here with your children, and then to continue to read them all year round. These Native American picture books show our children that Indigenous people are so much more than bias-perpetuating paper bag vests and feathered headbands. Instead, these stories of joy, family, hope, and pride show the under-represented stories of the Native Americans.
For more information on Native Americans in children’s books, I encourage you to check out American Indians in Children’s Literature, a blog by Dr. Debbie Reese.
RELATED: We’ve got more than 100 children’s book lists on Happily Ever Elephants. Be sure to check out this link!
Frequently asked questions
Indigenous literature refers to books created by Native Americans. These stories – both picture books and middle-grade novels – showcase the culture and history of the Indigenous people.
As we always say here at Happily Ever Elephants, books should be mirrors and windows – mirrors in that we see ourselves in some stories, and windows in that we learn about others through other books. Reading Native American picture books helps children learn about the beautiful culture and history of Indigenous people, while at the same time combating bias and debunking harmful stereotypes.
I will forever love We are Grateful, by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac, for the way it celebrates gratitude and appreciation for people, nature, and the land. It elegantly showcases diversity within the Cherokee community as well as the blessings and challenges that come with each season. Berry Song, by Michaela Goade, is also a new favorite for the way it celebrates and respects the earth and because it is just so astonishingly beautiful.
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Our Favorite Native American Picture Books
What a fabulous new book on gratitude, set in a vibrant Cherokee community. This exquisite Native American picture book travels through the seasons, giving readers a glimpse of the Native American community at rest and play. The word “ostaliheliga” is used by the members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude and is sprinkled throughout the pages. We simply LOVE this one!
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This stunner is the story of a girl and her grandmother who gather gifts from the earth on the edge of the wild sea. They get salmon and herring eggs from the sea, then they journey to the forest where they get buckets and buckets of wildberries. Throughout the year, the land gives to them and they give to the land. The cycle is continuous and unwavering: they love and nourish the land, and the land loves and nourishes them in return. This is a gorgeous celebration of the earth and our deep and unwavering connection to nature, and the lush illustrations are as beautiful as the prose. This is an absolute masterpiece!
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This beautiful book is inspired by indigenous-led movements across America — ones that invite young readers to stand up and speak out for the protection of our environment and the safeguarding of our waters from harm and pollution. Told through vivid imagery, including a black snake threatening to poison our waters, a young water protector takes a stand to protect our most important and vital resource. Stunning!
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This book gives me all the feels. It so beautifully conveys to children the power of showing love to those around you, supporting friends and neighbors, and considering the well-being of others. This is a fabulous book to use as a starting point to discuss the power of empathy and the importance of respect, both of which are foundational values we must teach to children right from the get-go. An absolute beauty, and a treasure to boot.
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Native American history is rarely viewed as ongoing, but this informative book teaches children about history as well as current and future challenges for indigenous peoples. From issues such as land allotment and Native tribal recognition to self-determination and Native civil rights, this lyrical work of non-fiction, a companion to We Are Grateful, is a vital portrayal of the Native American continued fight for recognition and rights. A timeline, author’s note, source list, and glossary offer further context for children seeking to learn more.
Katherena feels out of place in her new, small town. But when she meets Agnes, the old woman next door, her life begins to change. The two, old and young, share similar passions for art, birds, and nature, and their connection is palpable. But can Katherena navigate her friend’s diminishing health as the seasons come and go? This is the most stunning intergenerational friendship story that conveys the power of both love and loss.
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If you are looking for a wonderful read-aloud about caring for the earth, this is your book! This story reads like a call to action, calling on children to be good stewards of the world around them. Each and every one of us will have an impact on future generations, and this book encourages each reader to consider their behaviors and connection to the world at large.
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As a little girl, Sharice Davids never thought she would be a congresswoman, much less the first Native-American woman in Congress! But she never gave up on her dream, and this autobiography teaches kids to use their big voices because everyone deserves to be seen and heard. We love this book’s bold lines and bold message, too!
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This moving story tells of a family of Indigenous women living in a cabin under an old hickory tree, where they weave and cook and sing. Their song gives them strength as they await the return of their loved one, a pilot, who is away at war. The story celebrates and honors a Cherokee family as well as the courage of many female pilots and service members who fought for the United States during World War II.
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Windy Girl has quite the imagination and she loves to tell stories. When Wendy and her Uncle and Itchy Boy attend a powwow, Windy Girl revels in the celebrations and food, and fun. And when she sleeps, she dreams of the jingle dancers and the magical, mystical power of the powwow. A beautiful, fun, and fanciful award-winning story for all ages!
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What a treasure of a book! This beauty uses fry bread, a staple food among many native tribes around the country, to describe family, community, and even history. Fry Bread is a celebratory ode to tradition, while simultaneously depicting the important role this food continues to have as a means to promote unity among Native Americans. Beautiful prose, beautiful illustrations, and beautiful sentiment abound in this story that has a vital place on children’s bookshelves around the country! For more awesome children’s books about food, click here!
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Without explicitly stating it, this gorgeous book celebrates and supports the wellness of Indigenous children. It honors those special moments that fill our hearts with joy and encourages children to always remember those things that make them happy, whether it’s the feeling of the sun on your face, a warm hug, or the smell of something special baking in the oven.
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This book is an example of understated, elegant literature that is as gentle as a whisper as you read it to your toddler. Simple, lyrical, and oh-so-perfect, this is the story of the love parents have for a new baby and the importance that child has in her new home. I dare you to read this diverse board book without choking up!
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What is your favorite Native American Picture Book? Who are your favorite Indigenous authors and illustrators? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy reading!
RELATED: We’ve got a fabulous list of kindergarten read-alouds for you on Happily Ever Elephants, so be sure to check them out!
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