Introduction:
November is Native American Heritage Month. It’s a time to learn about and celebrate the rich history, culture, and stories of Native Americans. Here are 25 wonderful picture books that honor Native American heritage and showcase the diverse stories and traditions from various Indigenous communities.
- Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
- We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell
- Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
- At The Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorell
- Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith
- How I Became A Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle
- The Water Princess by Susan Verde
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
- Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tim Tingle
- Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew
- Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson
- Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim by Brenda Child
- The Girl Who Married the Moon: Tales from Native North America by Joseph Bruchac
- The Good Luck Cat by Joy Harjo
- When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson
- Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light by Tim Tingle
- Swift Fox All Along by Rebecca Thomas
- Powwow Summer: Ahiyaw Wiwamayatoonwiya Naa Me Okihi Ke Keskimitayan Keskimitatotonawan (Plains Cree Edition) by Nahanni Shingoose
- Coyote School News by Joan Sandin
- Unstoppable: How Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team Defeated Army by Art Coulson
- Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk
- My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith
- Black Elk’s Vision: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson
- The Canoe’s Story: Mân Shâpani Nepayiwâkkikh (Cree and English Edition) by Salima Échaquan DuBa Lepage
- Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky: Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School, edited by Timothy P. McLaughlin
Conclusion:
These 25 picture books are wonderful tools to foster understanding, awareness, and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and traditions. Read them with your children, students, or friends this November as we honor Native American Heritage Month. Learning about and celebrating diverse stories will not only help to support a more inclusive world but will also ensure that the rich heritage of Indigenous people continues to be celebrated for generations to come.
