American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage: Booklists and Resources
Colorín Colorado has an in-depth series of themed booklists for children and young adults featuring Native titles. We encourage educators and librarians to look for opportunities to include these stories across the curriculum throughout the year!
In addition, we have compiled related resources and videos for educators and families.
Booklists: Elementary School
- A Changing World
- Biographies & Tales of Courage
- Code Talkers: Books for All Ages
- Native Trailblazers Series
- Remarkable Girls & Women
- Far from Home: Residential Schools
- Horse Stories
- Veterans: Native Stories
- Bilingual Books
- Books for Young Children
- Classroom Activities & Resources
- Traditional Tales
- Trickster Tales
Family Stories and Traditions
- Art and Artists
- Favorite Foods
- Festivals and Celebrations
- Music & Dance
- Nature's Gifts
- Seasons and Cycles
- Summer Stories
- Powwow: Celebrations and Stories
- Christmas: A Native American Perspective
- Photo Essays: American Indian Heritage
- Native Kids Today: American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage
- Athletes and Sports
- Native and Indigenous Peoples of North America: Award-Winning Books (Reading Rockets)
- Stories and Voices of Contemporary Native Americans (Reading Rockets)
Award Winners
Booklists: Young Adults
- Coming of Age Stories
- Contemporary Voices: American Indian Youth Today
- Graphic Novels and Comics: American Indian Heritage
- Historical Fiction for Young Adults
- Memoir & Ancestral Voices
- Native Trailblazers Series
- Poetry, Plays, and Short Stories
- Remarkable Women: Native Voices
- Residential Schools: Books for Young Adults
- Science Fiction and Supernatural
- Sports Stories for Young Adults
Related Resources
Using Appropriate Terminology
What is the correct terminology: American Indian, Indian, Native American, Indigenous, or Native? (National Museum of the American Indian)
- Tips for Choosing Culturally Appropriate Books & Resources About Native Americans by Dr. Cathy Gutierrez-Gomez
- American Indian Youth Literature Awards (American Indian Library Association)
- Indigenous Reads Rising (We Need Diverse Books)
- Native Knowledge 360° Education Initiative (National Museum of the American Indian)
- Native Children's and Young Adult Books and Resources from Cynthia Leitich Smith
- American Indians in Children's Literature from Debbie Reese
Articles
- How to ensure Native Americans are accurately represented in curriculum (K-12 Dive)
- How Native Writers Talk Story: Honoring Authentic Voices in Books for Young People (School Library Journal)
- Nine Native American Graphic Novels (School Library Journal)
- 12 Picture Books That Showcase Native Voices (School Library Journal)
- Native YA: Four Native American Authors on Their Messages for Teens (School Library Journal)
- Joy Harjo Becomes The First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate (NPR)
Video
Author Traci Sorell on finding authentic Native books for children and teens
Cynthia Leitich Smith: Heartdrum and Native publishing today
National Native American Heritage Month Authors Series: Celebrating the Culture, History, and Diversity
The Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) celebrated National Native American Heritage Month with a panel discussion with award-winning authors whose work highlights the diversity of heroes and heroines within the Native American community. This engaging conversation was moderated by Ron Lessard (Mohawk), and featured Traci Sorell (Cherokee), Dr. Brenda Child (Red Lake Ojibwe), and Brian Young (Diné). The authors also provided book recommendations.
References
- Oyate Website. Catalog selections grades 7-12.
- Reese, Debbie. American Indians in Children's Literature.