Indigenous Peoples in the United States

Award-winning author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve introduces young readers to the Sioux peoples.

The buffalo was the center of Sioux life. After hunting buffalo on horseback, the Sioux people would use every piece of the animal, making food, beds, clothing, storage boxes, and even sleds from the ribs! Discover how the Sioux people lived on the Great Plains with this accessible introduction. Learn about the Sioux creation story, life in the village as a kid, the importance of their feathered headdresses, and more.

This updated edition provides the most up to date and accurate information on the Sioux people of past and present. The back of the book includes a section on Sioux life today, proper names for all of the Sioux tribes, and an excerpt from the Lakota pipe ceremony.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

This book is part of the First Americans series.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.55" x 9.47" | Paperback

A Lakota child spends a summer with grandparents at their home on the Rosebud Reservation in this young chapter book, illustrated in full-color.

This charming chapter book follows a present-day Lakota child connecting with extended family, embracing new experiences, and growing up along the way.

When Eddie’s parents drive from the Black Hills to the Dakota plains to drop him off with Grandpa and Grandma High Elk, Eddie aches all over at the thought of being away from Mom and Dad for the first time.

But quickly, Eddie’s stay on the Rosebud Reservation becomes a summer that he’ll never forget as he spends his days riding horses, fishing, helping Grandma in her garden, and playing with the toy bone horses that his grandfather gave him. When his grandfather is hurt and needs medical attention, Eddie steps up and helps him get the care he needs.

Reviews
"Sneve (Rosebud Sioux) crafts a gentle chapter book tale of an Indigenous youth immersing himself in his heritage and learning from his elders. Seamlessly layered plotting builds to a captivating climax, and vivid colored pencil and digitally enhanced drawings with block print textures by Littlebird (Oregon Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) inject warmth throughout." — Publishers Weekly

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Additional Information
64 pages | 6.00" x 8.25" | full-color and two-color illustrations throughout | Hardcover 

Look to the sky!

High above the ground, generation after generation, Native workers called skywalkers have sculpted city skylines, balancing on narrow beams, facing down terrifying heights and heartbreaking loss. These skywalkers who dared to touch the heavens have built a legacy of landmarks all over the North American continent—and even today, there are Native Americans still climbing up among the clouds, brave enough to walk the sky.

With impactful and illuminating prose, Patricia Morris Buckley (Mohawk) tells the soaring story of the remarkable skywalkers, whose bravery and tragedies are warmly captured in moving watercolors by award-winning artist E. B. Lewis (Lenni-Lenape).

Reviews
"By turns solemnly reverent and enthusiastic, Buckley’s elegant text will leave young people keenly aware of the historical and present-day significance of these groundbreaking workers, as well as their strength and resilience. Awe-inspiring." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Graceful language honors skywalkers throughout this stirring telling, while fluidly rendered watercolor illustrations in a desaturated color palette employ sweeping perspective and scale." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This fascinating narrative provides an in-depth history of skywalkers, the Caughnawaga, and their contributions to our cities and infrastructure." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"The text, even with all its facts and figures, is deeply emotional, capturing the giddy danger of skywalking, the relentless need to better one’s life, and the sorrow in a preventable tragedy...blurring faces and bodies in a way that emphasizes the comradery and connection between the workers." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Here, a descendant of one of the 75 workers who died in the 1907 collapse of the Quebec Bridge pays eloquent tribute to the first generation of Mohawk “skywalkers” who came out of the Caughnawaga (later Kahnawà:ke) reserve in Canada." — Booklist

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | Hardcover 

Learn about the life and legacy of the first woman to serve as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation! Wilma Mankiller's struggle for political change throughout her life will be sure to inspire readers in this addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Wilma Mankiller grew up immersed in the Cherokee community and culture of Oklahoma. When her family moved to San Francisco as part of the Indian Relocation Program, she had to quickly adjust to city life. Along the way, Wilma never lost her dedication to her people and their centuries-old traditions. She grew up to become a major political activist. From aiding the Occupation of Alcatraz in 1969 to making history as the first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985, Wilma never wavered in her support for her community. She spent her life fighting for the rights of Native Americans and inspires political activism to this day.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Additional Information
112 pages | 5.31" x 7.62" | Paperback 

In Wôpanâak Seasons a young Wampanoag child takes readers on a seasonal journey through Aquinnah, on Neope, known as Martha’s Vineyard. Spring brings the return of wildlife; summer brings beach adventures and clambakes; fall is for harvesting cranberries and making jams; and winter features cozy gatherings and heartfelt traditions. Each season showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Wampanoag people. With striking illustrations and lyrical prose, this book is about an appreciation of the land and the joy the joy of coming together with our community all year round.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
40 pages | 7.00" x 8.50" | Hardcover

Bahe and Dezba are helping their grandmother, Nali, move from her sheep camp home to their house. The family is packing up, carrying heavy boxes, and settling into a new life together, which isn’t always easy. At every frustration, they throw up their hands and exclaim, “Yaadila!” Good grief!

Bahe sees that this big change is hardest for Nali. But he has a secret plan. Whatever can he be doing with a bucket of water, all that yarn, and Dezba’s dollhouse?

In this heartwarming and quintessentially Navajo (Diné) story, author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) and illustrator Jonathan Nelson (Diné) together show a big change for an Elder made easier with a creative gesture of love and care.

Reviews
"Exasperation and love go hand in hand in this humorous yarn....Diné words are sprinkled into the text and defined in a glossary. Though the narrative could have benefited from a fuller explanation of the titular term at the outset, young readers will understand “Yáadilá!” by book’s end and will be amused by the interplay between Bahe and the “Helpful Narrator,” who breaks the fourth wall with comic book–style interjections. Underscoring Diné language and heritage, the tale touches on family and homesickness in a context many will relate to." — Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 10.00" x 8.00" | Hardcover

A modern-day twist to The Giving Tree, this book chronicles the changes brought upon a beloved family tree that must be uprooted and planted on new land. This debut picture book by Staci Lola Drouillard (Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe descendant) celebrates resiliency, family bonds, and our deep connection to and responsibility for nature.

Grandma’s garden was not just any garden. It was where a spruce tree, only as tall as baby Francis, reached her roots into the soil and stretched her branches toward the sky. Here, on the shore of Gichigaming, is where Francis and the sapling felt right at home.

But when Grandma and Grandpa decide to move away, Francis wants to take the tree with them—can they?

Brimming with tenderness, this story from Staci Lola Drouillard (Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe descendant), with illustrations by Kate Gardiner (Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians), traces the journey of one family, and a little tree, as they adapt to change by drawing on the strength of their roots.

Reviews
"Drouillard, a Grand Portage band of Ojibwe descendant, and Gardiner, a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians, expertly weave together Francis and Gawaandagoonce’s grief and growth, conveying the heartbreak and resilience that often accompany transition while honoring Ojibwe values and language. A poignant illustration of how our roots keep us grounded amid change." — Kirkus Reviews

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 10.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She’s always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories.

Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he’s been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.

Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries.

And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.

Darcie Little Badger introduced herself to the world with Elatsoe. In A Snake Falls to Earth, she draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.

Reviews
"Evokes the timeless feeling of listening to traditional oral storytelling.”—Kirkus Reviews

“If Elatsoe was a ten out of ten, then A Snake Falls to Earth is a solid 11. This book could have been twice as long and I still would have begged for more. Although aimed at a young-adult audience, it has the kind of easy appeal and heartfelt tone that will entice younger kids and older adults as well. Anyone reading or buying YA needs to add this to their shelves immediately.” — Locus

“This is a delightful and imaginative novel with alternating protagonists. One is Nina, a teenager trying to translate a story told by her great-great-grandmother in her native Athabaskan language, Lipan. The other is Oli, a cottonmouth snake with the ability to shapeshift, who is learning to find his way after being pushed from the nest. Climate change features, informed by the author’s geoscience degree and PhD in oceanography. Another theme is linguistic diversity and the crucial role of storytelling in keeping cultures alive. A Snake Falls to Earth is also very much a story of friendship.”—Five Books

Educator Information
Recommended by publisher for ages 12 to 18.

#OwnVoices Lipan Apache author.

An original work of Indigenous futurism that draws on Lipan Apache storytelling traditions.

Additional Information
384 pages | 5.50" x 8.25" | Paperback

Discover the power of poetry in this simple, modern introduction to Indigenous poet Alexander Posey, featuring an ode to autumn and the changing seasons

Autumn depicts a dreamy fall day full of jaybird songs and scarlet leaves dancing through the air. In this poem, Muscogee poet Alexander Posey celebrates the changing of the seasons as the golden sun sets on summer and the world prepares for a time of rest. With stunning illustrations from Salish artist Paige Pettibon and interactive back matter that encourages young readers to create their own poetry, this accessible picture book is a joy for young poets and their parents alike.

Reviews
"A dreamy, succinct poem across many pages that all together encapsulates the sense of fall. A strong first purchase. The poem and artwork, which create an exquisite sense of a child’s joy in playing on an autumn afternoon, will appeal to all ages." — School Library Journal

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Additional Information
24 pages | 8.00" x 8.00" | Hardcover 

From Sibert Honor–winning author Traci Sorell and Caldecott Medal–winning artist Michaela Goade comes a heartwarming picture book about a Native American family and the joy of moving back to their ancestral land.

Today is a day of excitement—it’s time to move! As a young Cherokee girl says goodbye to the swing, the house, and the city she's called home her whole life, she readies herself for the upcoming road trip. While her mother drives, the girl draws the changing landscape outside her window. She looks forward to the end of the journey, where she'll eat the feast her family has prepared, play in the creek with her cousins, and settle into the new rhythm of home.

With warm, expressive artwork and spare, lyrical prose, the story of a young girl’s move toward rather than away from home unfolds.

Reviews
"An evocative, heartwarming testament to the power of home and community." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"It’s a joyful image of a family embracing change that examines “the rhythm of being home." —Publishers Weekly starred review

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 10.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

A Fresh Retelling of the Christmas Story!

When they arrived, the time for Bitter Tears to have her child was upon her! But no place could be found in the lodging house, so He Gives Sons found a sheep cave where it was warm and dry.

There, Bitter Tears gave birth to her son. They wrapped him in a soft, warm blanket and laid him on a baby board. Then they placed him on a bed of straw in a feeding trough.

Every year at Christmas, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus—the Chosen One. Birth of the Chosen One is a unique retelling of this familiar story since it is an adaptation of the Gospel of Luke from the First Nations Version.

Birth of the Chosen One includes:

• The story of Jesus told in the tradition of Native storytellers' oral cultures
• A dynamic equivalence translation of the Christmas story that helps readers of all ages experience Scripture in a fresh and new way
• Illustrations from Native artists Hannah and Holly Buchanan
• A note from the author to encourage further conversation between children and the adults who read with them

Reviews
"It is a gentle, smooth account of Jesus' birth. I pray it reaches a vast audience encouraging each one's effort to search deeper." — Warren D. Petoskey, elder of the Waganakising Odawa and Minneconjou Lakotah nations and author of Dancing My Dream

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
32 pages | 9.00" x 9.00" | Hardcover 

Two everyday superheroes set out to save the world—starting with their school—in an exciting new middle-grade graphic series from two award-winning authors and a debut illustrator.

When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they get off to a rocky start. Outgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya misses her parents, on active duty in Japan, and just wants some space to herself. At school, Maya joins Robotics Club and Riley bonds with fellow gymnasts. Just when they start to feel at home, their school culture is threatened by an influential foe in disguise. Joining student council feels like a way to help, so both cousins toss their hats in the ring for sixth-grade class president. But when they realize what they’re up against—money, power, and lies—they quickly shift from competition to cooperation, joining forces as superheroes. Riley is savvy with people; Maya is a whiz with gadgets. In no time, this dazzling duo is off to save the day! Relatable and rich in themes of family, community, and compromise, the Blue Stars series will entertain and empower, inspiring readers to be the stars they are.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

This is the first book in The Blue Stars series, a middle-grade graphic series.

Additional Information
176 pages | 6.00" x 8.50" | Paperback

Our people believe spirit lives in everything.

Mountain, river, wind, tree.

Come, take a walk with me.

What do we learn from plants when we listen to them speaking? Indigenous plantsman Nicholas Hummingbird calls on the legacy of his great-grandparents to remember how one drop of rain, one seed, one plant can renew a cycle of hope and connection—for him and for each of us.

Perfect for readers of Sy Montgomery, debut authors Nicholas Hummingbird and Julia Wasson joyfully proclaim even the youngest person can be an earth protector. With gorgeous illustrations from Rock Your Mocs artist Madelyn Goodnight, Can You Hear the Plants Speak? encourages us to engage with the natural world.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
40 pages | 10.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

In this book, discover the difficult journey of The Cherokee people. How they came to North America and how they were then removed with other Nations through The Trail of Tears. Learn about the seven Cherokee clans. Their culture, traditions, and language as it was the first Indigenous language put into writing.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Indigenous Nations in North America series.

Additional Information
32 Pages | Paperback

A Cherokee girl introduces her younger brother to their family's traditions — begrudgingly! — in this picture book written by Walter Award-winner Andrea L. Rogers and featuring gorgeous collage illustrations from debut artist Rebecca Lee Kunz.

Sissy’s younger brother, Chooch, isn’t a baby anymore. They just celebrated his second birthday, after all. But no matter what Chooch does — even if he’s messing something up! Which is basically all the time! — their parents say he’s just “helping.” Sissy feels that Chooch can get away with anything!

When Elisi paints a mural, Chooch helps. When Edutsi makes grape dumplings, Chooch helps. When Oginalii gigs for crawdads, Chooch helps. When Sissy tries to make a clay pot, Chooch helps . . .

“Hesdi!” Sissy yells. Quit it! And Chooch bursts into tears. What follows is a tender family moment that will resonate with anyone who has welcomed a new little one to the fold. Chooch Helped is a universal story of an older sibling learning to make space for a new child, told with grace by Andrea L. Rogers and stunning art from Rebecca Lee Kunz showing one Cherokee family practicing their cultural traditions.

Awards

• 2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Additional Information
48 pages | 9.85" x 10.80" | Hardcover