12 Books to Celebrate Native American and Alaska Native Heritage

A visually vibrant and insightful story of nature, the environment, and family. A grandmother shares her knowledge about minerals and imparts her wisdom about the universe, love, and relationships to her grandchildren. This story teaches us about love for one another and the world around us. (It’s also available in Spanish.)

Berry picking in the summer with grandma is a favorite Alaska activity for the main character and her sister. All kinds of wild berries are fun to pick and share. The watercolor illustrations from award-winning Caldecott medalist Michaela Goade will take you on a journey to the Tlingit homelands and introduce you to the land, water, and traditions of the people.

Buffy Sainte Marie’s song, “Still This Love Goes On,” is beautifully illustrated by Julie Flett. This book celebrates the music and storytelling of Cree singer Buffy Saint-Marie as a picture book accessible to children of all ages. Families can hear the song on YouTube.

“We Are Still Here”is a book about Native American history for kids and families. It introduces children to Native tribal nations through a timeline and presentations from elementary school students. The book is great for upper elementary-age kids and shares the message that Native Peoples are still here today. The audio version is one of our family favorites because it’s narrated by Native kids and is great for listening and following along with the book. “We Are Still Here” is a 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Award honor picture book.

Molly’s awesome guide introduces the characters from “Molly of Denali” and reveals facts and information about life in Alaska including animals, seasonal activities, and Alaska Native languages. Fans of Molly will love the tips — and the pages that share traditions of music, dancing, and beading from Molly and her community.

This nonfiction story is available in English and Navajo. The book includes personal photos and words from the author as she participates in the annual Miss Navajo competition. She shares her memories as a contestant in the weeklong competition where she demonstrated her Navajo language knowledge, traditional skills like sheep butchering with food preparation, and contemporary talents. “Becoming Miss Navajo” is a 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Award honor book.

This bilingual picture book is written in Anishinabemowin, the Ojibwe language, and English. It tells the story of Windy Girl and her dog, Itchy Boy. Windy Girl dreams of a powwow for dogs. This story celebrates the tradition of powwow with creativity and joy.

This innovative picture book won the American Indian Youth Literature Award Best Picture book for 2022. It shares a young girl’s adventures at home on the Navajo Reservation through illustrations — not words. Traditional imagery of the landscapes of Northern Arizona fill the pages (and readers imagination) with deeply moving content of sheep herding and traditional life.The back pages include a glossary of Navajo language and images from the book.

The second Monday in October is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day to celebrate and honor Native Americans across the United States. This accessible nonfiction reader introduces children to important Indigenous concepts and celebrations. This book is a 2022 American Indian Youth Literature n Award honor book.

This comic book style picture book is the autobiography of Sharice Davids, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. As the first openly LGBTQ+ congressperson to represent Kansas, Sharice uses her voice to help others and listen to the needs of her community. The end of this book has a helpful introduction to the Ho-Chunk Nation, sharing the message that every voice deserves to be seen and heard.

My family adores this fun storytelling picture book. It’s about a little boy who is looking for something to hold and show off the homemade marbles that his family makes and sells at the Cherokee Nation Holiday festival. He tries different containers and boxes until he finds one that is the perfect size. This is a perfect book to share with early elementary students about volume and area concepts. The back pages include a small glossary of Cherokee vocabulary and traditional Cherokee marbles. It features some helpful ideas for exploring math concepts, too. (There’s also a Spanish version.)

This beginning reader story is inspired by the “Crane Song” episode of “Molly of Denali.” Molly and her dad accompany photojournalist Nina and scientist Dr. Antigone on a trip to track baby sandhill cranes. Traditional knowledge from Molly’s grandpa Nat helps Molly and the team to catch the cranes.