Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Native American Authors

It’s Native American Heritage Month and that means you get a special book list of children’s and young adult titles written by Native Americans! Rather than just focusing on characters who identify with a Native American tribe, I’ve highlighted 20 different authors on this list (and there are more!) that have all written about a Native American experience through their eyes. Now granted, I definitely have not highlighted every Native American tribe (and I specifically focused on American authors), but this is a great starting point, plus check out these other great websites for more information!

• First Nations – Native American Children’s Literature Recommended Reading List
• American Indians In Children’s Literature – Best Books
• Colors of Us – 32 Native American Children’s Books
• Pragmatic Mom – Top 10: Native American Children’s Books
• Kid World Citizen – 5 Native American Books for Kids

Booklist:

1. Chicakdee by Louise Erdrich
2. Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis
3. Baby Learns about Colors illustrated by Beverley Blacksheep, Jessie Eve Ruffenach
4. My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Julie Flett
5. Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim LaFave
6. Kiki’s Journey by Kristy Orona-Ramirez
7. Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales
8. When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz, illustrated by  David Kanietakeron Fadden
9. The Hunter’s Promise by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth
10. SkySisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose, illustrated by Brian Deines
11. Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Ying-Hwa Hu and Cornelius Van Wright
12. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tim Tingle, illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges
13. Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story by Sebastian Robertson, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
14. Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon
15. Trickster: Native American Tales by Matt Dembicki, Dayton Edmonds, illustrated by Roy Boney Jr
16. Son Who Returns by Gary Robinson, Syliva Olsen
17. Moccasin Thunder by Lori Marie Carlson
18. How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle
19. If I Ever Get Out of Hereby Eric Gansworth
20. In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III