15 children’s books that celebrate Indigenous people

Dubbed “a powwow tale for the ages,” this children’s book centers around a character named Windy Girl and her dog, Itchy Boy. Readers learn about her family’s traditional powwows where they eat, dance, sing, and recount long-ago stories while around a campfire, under the stars.

Ages: Preschool – 3

A 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner, Fry Bread is a beautifully versed picture book about a modern Native American family.

Ages: Preschool – 1

New to the neighborhood, young Katherena finds solace in an elderly woman named Agnes, who resides next door. The two have a lot in common. They love arts and crafts and find beauty in spending time outside with birds and nature; but when Agnes falls ill, Katherena feels like her world is being turned upside down.

Ages: Preschool – 3

In Xelena Gonzalez’s debut picture book, she writes about the strong bond between a grandfather and granddaughter, who embark on a journey to learn about the “circles” or cycles of life and nature, and what it means to be truly present in this half of the circle.

Ages: Preschool – 2

Told through the heart and eyes of a new Inuit mom, Sweetest Kulu depicts “the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants” through lovely illustrations of a newborn receiving gifts from all the cute Arctic animals. This board book makes for a thoughtful bedtime poem.

Ages: Baby and up

In this New York Times bestselling picture book, which is inspired by real events, a young water protector stands up to fight the evil black snake that is threatening to wipe out the Earth’s water resources.

Ages: Preschool – 1

What makes your child happy? What brings a smile to their face? Monique Gray Smith alongside famed illustrator Julie Flett created this board book to inspire little ones to contemplate the things in life that bring them joy. Per Amazon, these two creatives joined forces “to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families.”

Ages: Preschool and up

Intrigued and a little confused, a young girl asks her Cree grandmother about the things that make her “different” from other people in their neighborhood, like her grandmother’s braided hair, her colorful clothes, their family traditions, and why she chooses to speak Cree all the time.

Ages: K – 2

River wants to dance at the annual powwow day but due to a recent illness she might not get the chance to. In this inspiring picture book, read about the healing power of community and the history behind powwow days.

Ages: Preschool and up

In this Newbery Honor Award winner Attean, a boy from the Beaver tribe strikes an unlikely friendship with a white boy named Matt. Matt is having trouble guarding his family’s cabin and hunting for food when Attean arrives just in time to help him out and explain dangers of the changing frontier.

Ages: 9-11

A little girl asks her grandfather how to say something in his native language, Cree. But, when he says his language was stolen from him long ago, the little girl sets out to help reunite him with his language. This moving picture book portrays the shared pain of Indigenous children who were removed from their families and sent to residential schools.

Ages: 6-9

A little girl accompanies her grandmother for the first time to gather sweetgrass for basket weaving. She must overcome her impatience to learn the art of gathering just as her ancestors have done for generations. This Own Voices Native American picture book story was named an ALA Notable Children’s Books 2022.

Ages: preschool and up

This beautiful picture book tells the unique story of a village girl who loved horses. She guided them to water and where she went they followed until, finally she ran as free as they did.

Ages: baby and up

Based on an Algonquin Indian folklore, this picture books tells an epic Cinderella-like tale of an invisible being on the shores of Lake Ontario. Everyone tried to gain his attention, including the cruel sisters of a girl whose face was once scarred by fire. Could she succeed where others had failed?

Ages: 6-9

In this retelling of a Navajo folktale, the First Woman tries to use the stars to write the law of the land but she is tricked by the trickster Coyote.

Ages: baby and up