The Tribes of Washington map from Washington Tribes

November is Native American Heritage Month!

The American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) blog, established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children’s and young adult books. This is one of many sources that can help contextualize books we may have loved as children, or still see in libraries today, as well as recommend awesome books written by and about Native Americans.

For example, check out why Dr. Reese does not recommend The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble, a Caldecott Medal winner we still have in our collection, and good questions to ask about books like Storm Boy by Paul Owen Lewis, another book we own.

Stop by our Renaissance Kids collection to pick out a book to share with a child in your life, or celebrate Native American Heritage Month yourself by learning something or being called to action in a new way:

• We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frané Lessac (ages 7-10)
• Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (ages 2-6)
• I Sang You Down From the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner, illustrated by Micheaela Goade (baby-4)
• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Micheaela Goade (ages 3-7)

• Herizon by Daniel W. Vandever, illustrated by Corey Begay (ages 3-10)

The story details the journey of a young Diné girl as she helps her grandmother retrieve a flock of sheep aided by a magical scarf. Herizon is a wordless book as an ode to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) and in honor of all those without a voice (from Birchbark Books).

• Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Natasha Donovan (ages 7-11)
• Learning My Rights With Mousewoman by Morgan Asoyuf (ages 1-4)
• Be a Good Ancestor by Leona and Gabrielle Prince, illustrated by Carla Joseph (ages 3-5)

• Becoming Miss Navajo by Jolyana Begay-Kroupa (ages 5+)

Miss Navajo is a quintessential representation of her culture and serves as an ambassador for her people promoting education, community well-being, and the preservation of language and traditional life ways.

Contestants endure a week-long competition as they are tested on their fluency in Diné Bizaad (Navajo language), demonstrate traditional skills, perform contemporary talents, and engage in food preparation. Surrounded by her family and determined to represent her Navajo people, Jolyana Begay-Kroupa shares her journey to becoming Miss Navajo Nation (from Salina Bookshelf).

• Phoenix Gets Greater by Marty Wilson-Trudeau and Phoenix Wilson, illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith (ages 6-8)
• Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (ages 6-10)
• The Book of Sisters: Biographies of Incredible Siblings Through History by Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson, featuring Maria and Marjorie Tallchief (ages 8-10)
• Estoy orgullosa de mi pasado by Amy White, illustrated by María Jesús Alvarez (ages 3+)