Research Guides: Children's Literature: Indigenous Books

Online Resources

American Indian Youth Literature (AIYL) Awards
Awarded biennially
American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)
Established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, AICL provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. For in-depth book reviews, check out the AICL Blog.
Lakota Language Education Research Guide
Lakota Language Consortium
Toolkit For Educating Readers about Indigenous Stereotypes in Children’s Classic Literature
Resource from the University of Alberta. Classic children’s books are filled with inaccurate stereotypes of Indigenous peoples, perpetuating racism by normalizing Indigenous stereotypes, as well as affecting the self-identity of Indigenous children. However, removing these books from the library collection could be seen as censorship and many of these books are beloved, meaning they will be requested often. It is imperative that libraries find a way to educate their community about the inaccuracies portrayed in these books and pair these books with more accurate selections by Indigenous voices.

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States.

Below is a selection of books by Indigenous authors & illustrators featuring Indigenous characters.

Other search terms you can use:

A sampling of the books in the Chester Fritz Library:

A sampling of award winning books in the Chester Fritz Library collection:

Birdsong (includes glossary and pronunciation for Cree words), Julie Flett. Best Book of Year Award by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus, Horn Book, Quill & Quire, Globe and Mail. TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. AIYL honor.
The Cloud Artist (told in English and Choctaw), Sequoia Clark. Writers' League of Texas Book Award. Finalist for First Nation Communities Read, Native American Heritage Month book, and Oklahoma Book Award.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, Kevin Noble Maillard. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book honor.
Healer of the Water Monster (Navajo middle grade book), Brian Young. AIYL Award.
I can Make This Promise (Upper Skagit Indian Tribe middle grade book), Christine Day. AIYL honor. Charlotte Huck honor. Best Book of the Year from NPR, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Chicago Public Library.
Surviving the City (Anishinaabe and Inninew YA book), Tasha Spillett-Sumner. Indigenous Voices Award. In the Margins Award Top Fiction Novel.
We are still here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know, Traci Sorell. Robert F. Sibert honor. American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book honor. NCSS 2022 Notable Social Studies Award.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, Traci Sorell. Robert F. Sibert honor. Orbis Pictus honor. AILA Youth Literature Award. Boston Globe Horn Book Award.
We are Water Protectors, Carole Lindstrom. Caldecott winner.