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Indigenous Reads Rising: Picture Books |
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My Heart Fills with Happiness
by Monique Gray Smith
The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. 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.
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A Day with Yayah
by Nicola I Campbell
On an outing in Nicola Valley, British Columbia, a Native American family forages for herbs and mushrooms while the grandmother passes down her language and knowledge to her young grandchildren. Includes glossary.
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Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi'idim
by Brenda J. Child
When Uncle and Windy Girl attend a powwow, Windy watches the dancers and listens to the singers. She eats tasty food and joins family and friends around the campfire. Later, Windy falls asleep under the stars. Uncle's stories inspire visions in her head: a bowwow powwow, where all the dancers are dogs. In these magical scenes, Windy sees veterans in a Grand Entry, and a visiting drum group, and traditional dancers, grass dancers, and jingle-dress dancers--all with telltale ears and paws and tails. All celebrating in song and dance. All attesting to the wonder of the powwow.
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Birdsong
by Julie Flett
A celebration of art, nature and connecting across generations traces the experiences of a young girl who moves to a small town, where her friendship with an elderly fellow crafter is shaped by the seasons and her awareness of her friend's failing health. By the creator of Wild Berries. Illustrations.
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We all play = Kimãetawãanaw
by Julie Flett
Join celebrated artist Julie Flett on a joyful romp with animals. From chasing, chirping birds, to swimming, squirting whales, this book for young readers reminds them how animals play just like them. This picture book, with gorgeous images and sweet simple text, is a marvelous celebration of the interconnectedness of all creatures, and includes some Cree phrases. It is based on the Cree teaching of wahkohtowin, interconnectedness and play, and includes as well the English and Cree names of the animals in the book, all of whom are from 'Turtle Island' (North America).
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Wild Berries = Pikaci-måinisa
by Julie Flett
Clarence, a young Cree Indian, and his grandmother pick blueberries together as they sing, look out for the animals, and enjoy sampling the fruit.
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Berry Song
by Michaela Goade
As a young Tlingit girl collects wild berries over the seasons, she sings with her Grandmother as she learns to speak to the land and listen when the land speaks back.
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Where Wonder Grows
by Xelena Gonzâalez
When their Grandma invites them to explore her collection of treasures in her special garden, her granddaughters find their imaginations sparked by these objects from nature that each tell a powerful story. Illustrations.
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When We Are Kind
by Monique Gray Smith
This beautiful picture book looks at how the simple act of being kind, to others and oneself, affects all aspects of a child's life.
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You Hold Me Up
by Monique Gray Smith
An evocative picture book intended to foster reconciliation among children and encourage them to show each other love and support
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Keepunumuk: Weeãachumun's Thanksgiving Story
by Danielle Greendeer
Told in a Native tradition, this Wampanoag story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving shows how the Native people, who already lived on the land where the pilgrims settled, helped the pilgrims survive their first winter. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
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Awa Sis and the World-Famous Bannock
by Dallas Hunt
After losing the bannock bread on the way to deliver it for her grandmother, Awa sis searches for the ingredients to make more with help from some other-than-human relatives.
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We Are Water Protectors
by Carole Lindstrom
When a black snake threatens to destroy the earth, one young water protector takes a stand to defend the planet's water, in a tale inspired by the many indigenous-led conservation movements across North America.
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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
by Kevin Noble Maillard
Using illustrations that show the diversity in Native America and spare poetic text that emphasizes fry bread in terms of provenance, this volume tells the story of a post-colonial food that is a shared tradition for Native American families all across the North American continent. Includes a recipe and an extensive author note that delves into the social ways, foodways, and politics of America's 573 recognized tribes.
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When the Shadbush Blooms
by Carla Messinger
Illustrated by luminous paintings, this heartwarming story follows two Native American girls from different times--nearly four hundred years apart--as they each describe their family's lives through the seasons.
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On the Trapline
by David Robertson
A boy and Moshom, his grandpa, take a trip together to visit a place of great meaning to Moshom. A trapline is where people hunt and live off the land, and it was where Moshom grew up. As they embark on their northern journey, the child repeatedly asks his grandfather, "Is this your trapline?" This is a heartfelt story about memory, imagination and intergenerational connection that perfectly captures the experience of a young child's wonder as he is introduced to places and stories that hold meaning forhis family.
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Just Like Grandma
by Kim Rogers
Wanting to be just like Grandma, with whom she loves spending time, Becca discovers something surprising about Grandma that makes her love her even more! Illustrations.
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Beautiful You, Beautiful Me
by Tasha Spillett
When she realizes she looks different than her beautiful Mama, Izzy feels sad and confused until Mama encourages her to see her own unique beauty, in this heartwarming story about a multiracial child navigating identity and belonging. Illustrations.
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I Sang You Down from the Stars
by Tasha Spillett-Sumner
A Native American woman describes how she loved her child before it was born and, throughout her pregnancy, gathered a bundle of gifts to welcome the newborn.
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Kapaemahu
by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
This tribute to an Indigenous Hawaiian legend, and based on the Academy Award-contending short film, brings to life the story of four 19th century Mahu who shared their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki before disappearing. Illustrations.
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Nonfiction and Biographies
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Be a Good Ancestor
by Leona Prince
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a repeated call to action reminds young readers that everything in our world is connected.
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We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
by Traci Sorell
One dozen kids discuss the historical and contemporary laws, policies, movements and victories that have shaped Native American culture of the past and present, from forced assimilation and tribe nation delegitimization to language revival efforts and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Illustrations.
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We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
by Traci Sorell
Follows a full year of Cherokee celebrations and experiences, describing how the Cherokee Nation expresses thanks and reflects on struggles all year long.
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