Indigenous kids' books

Ages 3–8

Nalvana feels like all of her friends have superpowers except her. But then her mom shows Nalvana that she is unique and special, and that her superpower was in front of her all along.

Ages 3–8

Fry bread is food. It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate. Fry bread is time. It brings families together for meals and new memories. Fry bread is nation. It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond. Fry bread is us.

Ages 3–8

Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal #1 New York Times Bestseller Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and ...

Ages 3–8

What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.

Ages 3–8

In the magical time between night and day, when both the sun and the moon are in the sky, a child is born in a little blue house on a hill. And Miu Lan is not just any child, but one who can change into any shape they can imagine. The only problem is they can't decide what to be: A boy or a girl? A bird or a fish? A flower or a shooting star? At school, though, they must endure inquisitive looks and difficult questions from the other children, and they have trouble finding friends who will accept them for who they are. But they find comfort in the loving arms of their mother, who always offers them the same loving refrain: "whatever you dream of / i believe you can be / from the stars in the sky to the fish in the sea." In this captivating, beautifully imagined picture book about gender, identity, and the acceptance of the differences between us, Miu Lan faces many questions about who they are and who they may be. But one thing's for sure: no matter what this child becomes, their mother will love them just the same.

Ages 3–8

In this Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story, the Rough-Face Girl and her two beautiful but heartless sisters compete for the affections of the Invisible Being.

Ages 3–8

On Mother's lap by Ann Herbert Scott — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

At her death an elderly Plains Indian woman experiences the afterlife believed in by her people, while the surviving family members prepare her body according to their custom.

Ages 3–8

Relates the Blackfoot Indian legend in which Star Boy gains the Sun's forgiveness for his mother's disobedience and is allowed to return to the Sky World

Ages 3–8

Unlike other leveled readers' programs, each book in this innovative, new series has a limited vocabulary of 150 words or less to give readers practice with essential sight words.

Ages 3–8

Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name ... one that's all his own. Dad is known as Big Thunder, but Little Thunder doesn't want to share a name.

Ages 3–8

A cheerful story from a renowned Canadian children's book author and an award-winning illustrator "Radiant picture book" -Quill & Quire Set in the Nicola Valley, British Columbia, in Canada's westernmost province, a First Nations family ...

Ages 3–8

Crow's Tale by Naomi Howarth — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Written in both English and Cree, Fox on the Ice is a wonderful, lyrical story of celebration from award-winning author Tomson Highway, capturing a passing way of life for future generations.

Ages 3–8

"Emilie revet aujourd'hui sa belle robe a rubans pour assister a un mariage. Elle est bien loin de se douter que tous ses beaux rubans seront necessaires pour venir en aide aux maries et aux invites." Ref. La Selection de livres pour enfants et adolescents de Communication-Jeunesse 1999-2000.

Ages 3–8

Shi-shi-etko, a Native American girl, spends the last four days before she goes to residential school learning valuable lessons from her mother, father, and grandmother, and creating precious memories of home.

Ages 3–8

"When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother's garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history, and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength."--

Ages 3–8

Describes the white man's treatment and forcible displacement of five Indian nations of the Southwest--the Comanche, Cheyenne, Apache, Navajo, and Cherokee.

Ages 3–8

As she waits for the arrival of her new baby, a mother-to-be gathers gifts to create a sacred bundle. A white feather, cedar and sage, a stone from the river . . . Each addition to the bundle will offer the new baby strength and connection to tradition, family, and community. As they grow together, mother and baby will each have gifts to offer each other. Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade, two Indigenous creators, bring beautiful words and luminous art together in a resonant celebration of the bond between mother and child.

Ages 3–8

Disney's Brother Bear by Walt Disney — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Based on traditional stories from the Chesterfield Inlet area of the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, this tale of Siuluk and his legendary strength will captivate young readers.

Ages 3–8

From Sitting Bull's childhood - killing his first buffalo at age 10 - to being named war chief to leading his people against the U.S. Army, Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People brings the story of the great chief to light ...

Ages 3–8

Richly evocative of native Huron culture and mythology, and penned by the patron saint of Canada, Father Jean de Brébeuf,The Huron Carol is a classic lyric that puts a distinctly North American spin on the well known Nativity story.

Ages 3–8

Pourquoi tales from Africa, North America, India, Australia, China and several other cultures explain how animals such as the coyote, tiger, frog, crane, peacock, and other animals came to look as they do.

Ages 3–8

A young Cree Indian boy, Trout-with-Flattened-Nose, is not fond of his given name and seeks to earn a new one that is more flattering.

Ages 3–8

Paintings by Paul Morin evoke the crackle of fire, the scent of cedar, the mysterious dark side of the moon. The Vision Seeker is a book for all people and all ages.

Ages 3–8

This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big.

Ages 3–8

Little Indian by Peggy Parish — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

A story about trust between parents and children and the importance of being true to oneself. Native Americans, legends, Pacific Northwest, animals

Ages 3–8

With sweeping illustrations and extensive backmatter, including hand-drawn maps, a chronology, archival photographs, an author's notes, and additional resource information, Deborah Kogan Ray offers a remarkable look at an underrepresented ...

Ages 3–8

Blue Jay and the Monster by K. Campbell — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

En Hermana Aguila, Hermano Cielo, las palabras del Jefe Seattle se transforman en una experiencia que los minos de toda edad y de todo origen pueden aprovechar para estimular la conciencia de un mundo cuyos recursos naturales estan ...

Ages 3–8

Wise Old Coyote steals the fire from the greedy Yellow Jacket Sisters, while Eagle, Cougar, Fox, Bear, Measuring Worm, Turtle, and Frog work together to help, in this wonderful recounting of how the animal people first captured fire.

Ages 3–8

Navajo ABC by Luci Tapahonso — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

The big race by Unknown — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Yakari, tome 4 by Derib — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Simple text introduces the hardworking residents of Monster Town, including Postmaster Skeleton and Frank N. Stein, an electrician.

Ages 3–8

Golden Eagle by Mercer Mayer — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Gathering Tree by Larry Loyie — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

And there, he saw a figure he knew. Aboriginal elder Alfred Scow and award-winning author Andrea Spalding collaborate to tell the story, to tell the secret of the dance.

Ages 3–8

The bell ringer and the pirates by Eleanor Coerr — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Although teased by the other children in her tribe, a young Cheyenne girl cares for an odd gray stone, believing it to be the egg of the Thundergod who brings summer rains to their parched land.

Ages 3–8

A Navajo girl feels lonely tending sheep by herself for the first time until she makes some dolls to keep her company and, even better, meets a new friend.

Ages 3–8

An Algonkian Indian girl lives in the shadow of her four brothers' achievements until her cultivation of a sunflower garden and an attack on a rattlesnake bring praise from the entire village.

Ages 3–8

A blind twelve-year-old Salish Indian boy is inspired to overcome his disability by a legend of his people known as the "Eye of the Changer".

Ages 3–8

Yetsa joins her grandmother for a day of cleaning and spinning wool. The yarn will be knitted into Cowichan sweaters, a specialty of the Coast Salish Indians. Intergenerational relationships

Ages 3–8

With rich illustrations that makes each page look like a leather shirt, tells the proud tale of wild horses in the natural world and the special importance they had in the communities of the First Peoples.

Ages 3–8

Multilingual versions of the text, the music and a full description of how this carol has come down to us today are included.

Ages 3–8

In telling the story of inuksuit, the story of those who dwell in the Arctic unfolds. A guide to Inuktitut words rounds out this comprehensive guide to the inuksuk.

Ages 3–8

Dancing With the Cranes by Jeannette Armstrong — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Missing Nimama by Melanie Florence — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Engines, Engines by Lisa Bruce — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

A journey through the circle of life by Desiree Gillespie — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

This simple story in Cree and English explores a young child's relationship to his kôhkom, his grandmother, as they go for a walk in the bush to pick rosehips.

Ages 3–8

Which Way Should I Go by Sylvia Olsen — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

A gentle and moving story of love, faith and letting go, Goose Girl marks a new direction for Joe and Matrine McLellan after 10 enduring books in the Nanabosho series, with sumptuous illustrations from Rhian Brynjolson.

Ages 3–8

Native American picture books of change by Rebecca C. Benes — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Steeped in aboriginal myth and lore, Hidden Buffalo is also the tale of how a whole tribe can turn its gaze from the horizon to see to the wisdom of a child.

Ages 3–8

"Thomas needs to make a wheeled vehicle for science class. When his father helps him build a Red River Cart, Thomas learns another fascinating aspect of his Metis history."--Jacket.

Ages 3–8

Akuluk is not excited about visiting her grandparents in Nunavut, until she sees all the animals that the tundra has to offer, and learns about hunting for wild eggs.

Ages 3–8

Malu Kangaroo by Judith Morecroft — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.