This list is drawn from books recommended by Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). 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.
Titles that we recommend are featured below. The ones with reviews are noted with an asterisk (*). Some titles are recommended with a caveat. At the end of this page, we provide a list of titles on this theme, with reviews, that we do not recommend.
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Button Up! Fall in Alaska*
By Angela Y. Gonzales
Bye-Bye Ice! Springtime in Alaska *
By Carla Snow
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
We Sang You Home*
By Richard Van Camp, Julie Flett (Illustrator)
Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns
By Richard Van Camp
Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer *
By Traci Sorell and Natasha Donovan (Illustrator)
Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series *
By Traci Sorell and Arigon Starr (Illustrator)
Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom *
By Tim Tingle, Jeanne Rorex Bridges (Illustrator)
Finding My Dance
By Ria Thundercloud and Kalila J. Fuller (Illustrator)
The First Blade of Sweetgrass
By Suzanne Greenlaw, Gabriel Frey, and Nancy Baker (Illustrator)
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)
If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving
By Chris Newell and Winona Nelson (Illustrator)
I'm Finding My Talk *
By Rebecca Thomas and Pauline Young (Illustrator)
In My Anaana's Amautik*
By Nadia Sammurtok and Lenny Lishchenko (Illustrator)
Indian Shoes
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Jim Madsen (Illustrator)
Johnny's Pheasant*
By Cheryl Minnema
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend *
By Dawn Quigley and Tara Audibert (Illustrator)
Josie Dances
By Denise Lajimodiere and Angela Erdrich (Illustrator)
Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story *
By Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten, and Garry Meeches (Illustrator)
Let's Go! haw êkwa!
By Julie Flett
A Letter for Bob *
By Kim Rogers and Jonathan Nelson
Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! *
By Art Coulson and Madelyn Goodnight (Illustrator)
Mashkiki Road: The Seven Grandfather Teachings
By Elizabeth S. Barrett and Jonathan Thunder (Illustrator)
Mnoomin Maan'gowing / The Gift of Mnoomin
By Brittany Luby and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Illustrator)
Mothers of Xsan series
By Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)
Muskrat Will Be Swimming
By Cheryl Savageau, Robert Hynes (Illustrator)
Rock & Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story
By Sebastian Robertson, Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)
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)
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)
Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwaaso Tradition) *
By Marcie Rendon and Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Illustrator)
Sweetest Kulu
By Celina Kalluk, Alexandria Neonakis (Illustrator)
Tanna's Owl
By Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, and Yong Ling Kang (Illustrator)
Thanks to the Animals
By Allen Sockabasin, Rebekah Raye (Illustrator)
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude *
By Miranda Paul and Marlena Myles (Illustrator)
We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
By Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac (Illustrator)
What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me: Deb Haaland's Historic Inauguration
By Alexis Bunten and Nicole Neidhardt (Illustrator)
What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know about Horses? *
By Richard Van Camp and George Littlechild (Illustrator)
When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast *
By Andrea L. Rogers and Madelyn Goodnight (Illustrator)
Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills *
By Billy Mills, Donna Janell Bowman, and S. D. Nelson (Illustrator)
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
Chickadee *
By Louise Erdrich
Deb Haaland: First Native American Cabinet Secretary *
By Matthew J. Martinez and Jill Doerfler
Do All Indians Live in Tipis?
By Smithsonian Books
Fatty Legs: A True Story
By Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Liz Amini-Holmes (Illustrator)
The Game of Silence *
By Louise Erdrich
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)
Heroes of the Water Monster
By Brian Young
History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People
By Kate Messner, Jose Barreiro, and Falynn Koch (Illustrator)
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
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People*
By Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Debbie Reese
Navajo Code Talkers *
By Danielle C. Burbank
Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor *
By Jessica Engelking and Tashia Hart (Illustrator)
The Porcupine Year *
By Louise Erdrich
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
Son Who Returns
By Gary Robinson
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story
By David A. Robertson, Scott B. Henderson, (Illustrator), Donovan Yaciuk (Colourist)
This Place: 150 Years Retold
By Alicia Elliott (Foreword by), Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (Contribution by), Sonny Assu (Contribution by)
Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection
By Matt Dembicki (Editor)
Triple Threat
By Jacqueline Guest
Two Tribes
By Emily Bowen Cohen
Under the Mesquite
By Guadalupe Garcia McCall
We Dream Medicine Dreams
By Lisa Boivin
We Still Belong *
By Christine Day
The Wolf's Trail: An Ojibwe Story, Told by Wolves
By Thomas D. Peacock
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)
The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature *
Edited by Esther G. Belin and Jeff Berglund
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices
By Lisa Charleyboy, Mary Beth Leatherdale (Editor)
Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich
By Annie Boochever and Roy Peratrovich Jr
How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America
Edited by Sara Sinclair
Hunting by Stars (a Marrow Thieves Novel)
By Cherie Dimaline
Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the Nation's Capital
By Elizabeth Rule
Last Standing Woman
By Winona LaDuke
The Lesser Blessed
By Richard Van Camp
Man Made Monsters
By Andrea Rogers and Jeff Edwards (Illustrator)
The Marrow Thieves*
By Cherie Dimaline
Mean Spirit
By Linda Hogan
Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today
By Lori Marie Carlson
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
Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation
By Nick Estes, Melanie Yazzie, Jennifer Nez Denetdale, and David Correia
Rez Ball *
By Byron Graves
Robopocalypse
By Daniel H. Wilson
Spíləx̣m: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience, and Resurgence *
By Nicola I. Campbell
Team Spirits: The Native American Mascots Controversy
By C. Richard King (Editor), Charles Fruehling Springwood (Editor), Vine Deloria Jr (Foreword by)
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)
Indigenizing Education: Transformative Research, Theories, and Praxis
Edited by Jeremy Garcia, Valerie Shirley, and Hollie Anderson Kulago
Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years: Resources for Teaching about the Impact of the Arrival of Columbus in the Americas
By Bill Bigelow (Editor), Bob Peterson (Editor)
Teaching Critically about Lewis and Clark: Challenging Dominant Narratives in K-12 Curriculum
By Alison Schmitke and Leilani Sabzalian and Jeff Edmundson
Learn More
- 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?"
- Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms with Visual Examples
- Native Ways of Knowing Booklist
- Banning of Native Voices/Books
- American Indians in Children's Literature: Year In Review for 2023
- "Not a badge of honor": how book bans affect Indigenous literature
- Native Ways of Knowing: Selecting and Using Children’s Books about Boarding School
- Native American Heritage Now: An Interview With Dr. Debbie Reese
- Native Students — and Non-Native Students — Deserve to Learn About the True Experiences of Indigenous People
Not recommended
- The Brave by James Bird
- Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting
- Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
- I Am Birch by Scott Kelley
- Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
- kimotinâniwiw itwêwina / Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
- Kiska by John Smelcer
- The Medicine Wheel by Teddy Anderson
- My Heart is on the Ground by Ann Rinaldi
- Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
- The Secret Project by Jonah Winter
- Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
- Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon
To read more, see America Indians in Children's Literature list of "not recommended" books.
Learn about our criteria for selecting and reviewing titles at Social Justice Books. Feedback on these lists and suggestions for additional titles are welcome.
Most of the books on these lists are linked for more information or purchase to Bookshop (an indie bookstore platform). A small percentage from book sales through these links goes to Teaching for Change.