Books by Native Authors and Illustrators
Celebrate indigenous creators with these wonderful picture books by Native authors and illustrators! Perfect to share for Native American Heritage Month or any time of year!
Books by Native Authors and Illustrators
Books by Native Authors and Illustrators
We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know presents issues faced by Native peoples in the past and today, such as assimilation and self-determination. The main message is that Native peoples are still here; they are not a relic of the past! I love how the book highlights the diversity of Native Nations. There is also a wealth of additional information at the back of the book on each of the topics covered. Best of all? I recently got to present on this wonderful book at the monthly Multicultural Children’s Book Club meeting from Walking in Other People’s Shoes! We even had a visit from award-winning author Traci Sorell, a citizen of the Cherokee nation. Check the website soon for a recording of the event.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing author Sherri Maret about her wonderful book The Cloud Artist. Written to celebrate Maret’s Choctaw heritage, The Cloud Artist is about learning to listen to your own inner voice. It also teaches children that beauty is meant to be shared, not sold. What makes this bilingual English-Choctaw book even more special is that it is is illustrated by Choctaw artist Merisha Sequoia Clark – who, they discovered later, is Maret’s cousin!
We Are Water Protectors is a powerful call to protect the Earth and its natural resources. Its vibrant illustrations earned illustrator Michaela Goade a Caldecott Medal, the first Native American to do so. This best-selling picture book is a must read to help children understand the urgency of taking action to protect our precious resources from harm.
Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know: Niibing, dgwaagig, bboong, mnookmig dbaadjigaade maanpii mzin’igning / A Book about the Seasons is another bilingual book, this time told in English and Anishinaabemowin. In it we experience the wonder of changing seasons through the eyes of a young girl. With each season, she notes the signs in the natural world: the ripe blueberries in summertime, the departure of Red-winged Blackbird in fall, when hungry animals in winter, and the green shoots peeking through the snow in spring. A wonderful book to help children sharpen their observation skills and appreciate how to “read” nature.
When I Was Young in Nunavut is a celebration of the author’s own childhood and Inuit heritage. It looks at all the activities she enjoyed growing up, such as finding the flowers blooming on the tundra in the summer, or harvesting berries in the fall. And of course, there were the glorious northern lights to watch stream across the sky. When I Was Young in Nunavut is a joyful look at the seasons and the natural world, as well as a warm remembrance of family and simple pleasures.
