Items selected in the early 2000s by Debbie Reese, Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Jean Mendoza, Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education, Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois (Last Update: Sep 2017. Our views have shifted since the list was created. See recent Best Books.) 
Note: There are three sections here. Scroll down to find each one.  
Section 1: A Sampling of Recommended Children's and Young Adult Books about American IndiansSection 2: Books and Articles about American Indians in Children's LiteratureSection 3: Books about American Indian Culture
Section 1: A Sampling of Recommended Children's and Young Adult Books about American Indians 
PIC – Picture book; RF – Realistic Fiction; HF – Historical Fiction; NF – Nonfiction; P – Poetry; TL – Traditional Literature; B – Biography; AB – Autobiography; E – Elem.; M – Middle School; YA – Young Adult
Allen, Paula Gunn. (2001) As Long As the Rivers Flow: The Stories of Nine Native Americans. New York 
Ancona, George. (1993) Powwow. San Diego , CA 
Ancona, George. (1995). Earth Daughter: Alicia of Acoma Pueblo 
Andrews, Jan. (1998). Very Last First Time. Aladdin (PIC/RF – All ages). 
Archuleta, Margaret L., Brenda J. Child, and K. Tsianina Lomawaima. (2000) Away from Home: American  Indian  Boarding School Phoenix 
Begay, Shonto (1995) Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa New York 
Blacksheep, Beverly [illustrator] (2003). Baby Learns About Animals. Flagstaff , AZ  : Salina 
Blacksheep, Beverly [illustrator] (2003). Baby’s First Laugh Flagstaff , AZ 
Blacksheep, Beverly [illustrator] (2003). Baby Learns to Count, Flagstaff , AZ 
Blacksheep, Beverly [illustrator] (2003). Baby Learns about Colors, Flagstaff , AZ 
Braine, Susan. (1995). Drumbeat…Heartbeat: A Celebration of the Powwow. Lerner Pub. (Photo essay/NF – All ages)
Broker, Ignatia. (1983) Night Flying Woman. St. Paul : Minnesota 
Note from Debbie Reese on Sep 30, 2023: I no longer recommend Joseph Bruchac's work. For details, see Is Joseph Bruchac truly Abenaki?
Campbell, Maria. (1973) Halfbreed. Lincoln : University  of Nebraska 
Campbell, Nicola. (2006) Shi-shi-etko , NY 
Carlson, Lori Marie [ed.] (2005). Moccasin Thunder. NY: Harper Collins. (RF - YA) Short stories by Harjo, Hogan, Alexie, Smith. 
Child, Brenda. (2000). Boarding School Seasons: American Indian Families, 1900-1940. Bison Books Corporation. (NF – All ages)
Children of LaLoche & Friends. (1990). Byron through the Seasons. Fifth House Ltd. (PIC/RF – E/M).
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, (2005), Lincoln: U of Nebraska 
Crum, Robert. (1994). Eagle Drum: On the Powwow Trail with a Young Grass Dancer. Simon & Schuster. (Photo essay/NF – All ages) 
De Montano, Marty Kreipe (1998) Coyote in Love with a Star. New   York 
Deloria, Ella. (1988) Waterlily. Lincoln : University  of Nebraska 
Deloria, Vine. (1969). Custer Died For Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto. New York 
Dorris, Michael. (1994) Guests. New York 
Dorris, Michael (1992) Morning Girl. New York 
Dorris, Michael. (1996). Sees Behind Trees. New   York 
Dorris, Michael. (1998). The Window. Hyperion (RF – M/YA).
Earling, Debra Magpie. (2002). Perma Red. Blue Hen Books. (RF-YA).
Eastman, Charles. (1977) From the Deep Woods to Civilization. University   of Nebraska 
Eastman, Charles (1993) Indian Boyhood. Alexander , VA 
Ellis, Clyde . (1996). To Change Them Forever: Indian Education at the Rainy Mountain   Boarding School University   of Oklahoma 
Erdrich, Louise. (1999). Grandmother's Pigeon. Hyperion (PIC/RF - E).
Erdrich, Louise. (1999). Birchbark House. New York 
Erdrich, Louise. (2005) Game of Silence. New York 
Eyvindson, Peter. (1984). Kyle’s Bath 
Eyvindson, Peter. (1988). Chester 
Gravelle, Karen. (1997). Growing Up Where the Partridge Drums Its Wings. Franklin Watts. (Photo essay/NF – All ages)
Francis, Lee. (1996). Native Time: A Historical Time Line of Native America New  York : St. Martin’s Griffin 
Geiogamah, Hanay & Darby, Jaye T., (1999). Stories of Our Way: An Anthology of American Indian Plays. Los Angeles : UCLA  American   Indian  Studies   Center 
Grace, Catherine O’Neill and Bruchac, Margaret. (2001). National Geographic Society. (NF – All ages)
Hale, Janet Campbell. (1993). Bloodlines. Tucson : University  of Arizona 
Hale, Janet Campbell. (1998). The Owl’s Song. University   of New Mexico 
Harjo, Joy. (1996) Woman Who Fell From the Sky. W. W. Norton & Company (P – YA)
Harjo, Joy. (2000). The Good Luck Cat. (PIC/RF - E/M)
Himango, Deanna. (2002). Boozhoo, Come Play With Us. Cloquet , MN : Fond du Lac 
Howe, LeAnne. (2001). Shell Shaker. Aunt Lute Books. (Fiction – YA)
Howe, LeAnne. (2005). Evidence of Red: Prose and Poems. Salt Publishing. (Poetry – YA)
Hubbard, Jim. (1994) Shooting Back from the Reservation.  (Photo essay/NF – All ages)
Hucko, Bruce. (1996) A Rainbow At Night: The World in Words and Pictures. San Francisco 
Hucko, Bruce. (1996). Where There Is No Name for Art: The Art of Tewa Pueblo Santa Fe , N.M. : School  of American  Research: Distributed by the University   of Washington 
Hungry Wolf, Beverly New York 
Hunter, Sally, M. (1997) Four Seasons of Corn: A Winnebago Tradition. Photographs by Joe Allen. Minneapolis , MN 
Hunter, Sara Hoagland. (1996). The Unbreakable Code. Northland (PIC/RF – E/M).
Hyer, Sally. (1990). One House, One Voice, One Heart: Native American Education at the Santa Fe  Indian   School Museum  of New Mexico 
Jaakola, Lyz. (2001). Our Journey. Cloquet , MN : Fond du Lac 
Johnson, Diane Hamm. (1997). Daughter of Suqua. Albert Whitman & Co. (RF – E/M).
Keeshig-Tobias, Lenore. (1991). Bird Talk. Sister Vision (PIC/RF – E/M).
Keeshig-Tobias, Lenore. (1997). Emma and the Trees. Sister Vision (PIC/RF – E/M).
King, Sandra. Shannon : An Ojibway Dancer. (1993). Photographs by Catherine Whipple. Minneapolis , MN 
King, Thomas. (1993 ) One Good Story That One. Toronto 
King, Thomas. (1991) Medicine  River 
King, Thomas. (1992) A Coyote Columbus Toronto 
King, Thomas. (2000) Truth and Bright Water. Atlantic Monthly Press. (RF – YA)
King, Thomas. (2003). The Truth about Stories. Minneapolis : U of Minn 
Krull, Kathleen. (1995). One Nation, Many Tribes: How Kids Live in Milwaukee 
Kusugak, Michael. (1993). Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails. Annick Press Ltd. (PIC/RF – E/M).
Kusugak, Michael. (1996). My Arctic 1, 2, 3. Annick Press Ltd. (PIC/RF - E).
Lacapa, Michael. (1993). Antelope Woman, An Apache Folktale. (PIC/TL – E/M) 
Lacapa, Kathleen & Michael. (1994). Less Than Half, More Than Whole. Northland (PIC/RF – E/M).
LaFlesche, Francis. (1963)The Middle Five: Indian Schoolboys of the Omaha Lincoln : U of Neb. 
Littlechild, George. (1993) This Land is My Land. Children’s Book Press. (PIC/RF – All ages)
Lomawaima, K. Tsianina (1994). They Called It Prairie Light. University  of Nebraska 
Maher, Ramona. (2003). Alice Yazzie’s Year. Berkeley 
Marra, Ben. (1996) Powwow: Images Along the Red Road New York 
McDonald, Megan. (1997). Tundra Mouse. Orchard Books (PIC/RF – E/M).
McMillan, Bruce. (1997). Fort  Chipewyan  Homecoming: A Journey to Native Canada 
McNickle, D’Arcy. (1978). Wind from an Enemy Sky. HarperCollins. (RF - YA).
McNickle, D’Arcy. (1978). The Surrounded. University   of New Mexico 
McNickle, D’Arcy. (1987). Runner in the Sun.  University  of New   Mexico 
Messinger, Carla (2007) When the Shadbush Blooms. (PIC/E-M)
Momaday, N. Scott (1974) An Angle of Geese and Other Poems. Boston 
Momaday, N. Scott (1999)  Circle of Wonder. Albuquerque : University   of New Mexico 
Montour, Joel. (1996). Cloudwalker: Contemporary Native American Stories. Fulcrum (RF - M).
Moore, MariJo. (2000). The Cherokee Little People. Barrington ,  IL 
Moore, Marijo. (2000). The Ice Man.  Barrington , IL 
Moore, MariJo. (2000). First Fire. Barrington , IL 
Munsch, Robert. (1989). A Promise Is a Promise. Annick Press Ltd. (PIC/RF – E/M).
Okanagan Tribal Council (1999) How Food Was Given, How Names Were Given, and How Turtle Set the Animals Free. Okanagan Tribal Council. (TL – All Ages) 
Orie, Sandra DeCoteau. (1995) Did You Hear Wind Sing Your Name? An Oneida 
Ortiz, Simon. (1988). The People Shall Continue. Children’s Book Press. (PIC/P - all ages)
Parker, Dorothy R. (1996). Phoenix  Indian   School University  of Arizona 
Peters, Russell. (1992) Clambake: A Wampanoag Tradition. Photographs by John Madama. Minneapolis , MN 
Quoyawayma, Polingaysi. (1964). No Turning Back. A Hopi Indian Woman’s Struggle to Live in Two Worlds. University  of New Mexico 
Red Shirt, Delphine (1998). Bead on an Anthill: A Lakota Childhood Lincoln : U of Nebraska 
Regguinti, Gordon. (1992) The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering. Photographs by Dale Kakkak. Minneapolis , MN 
Rendon, Marcie. (1996) Powwow Summer: A Family Celebrates the Circle of Life. Photographs by Cheryl Walsh Bellville. Minneapolis , MN 
Rockwood, Joyce. (1976) To Spoil the Sun. New   York 
Roessel, Monty. (1993) Kinaaldá: A Navajo Girl Grows Up. Minneapolis , MN 
Roessel, Monty. (1995)  Songs from the Loom: A Navajo Girl Learns to Weave. Minneapolis , MN 
Roessel, Ruth. (1973). Navajo Stories of the Long Walk Period. Tsaile , AZ : Navajo   Community College 
Rose, LaVera. (1999) Grandchildren of the Lakota. Photographs by Cheryl Walsh Bellville. Minneapolis ,  MN 
Ross, Gayle (1995) How Turtle’s Back Was Cracked: A Traditional Cherokee Tale. New York 
Ross, Gayle (1996) The Legend of the Windigo. New York 
Ruoff, A. Lavonne Brown. (1991) Literatures of the American Indian. New York 
Sanderson, Esther. (1990). Two Pairs of Shoes. Pemmican Publications (PIC/RF - E).
Savageau, Cheryl. (1996). Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Northland (PIC/RF – E/M).
Scott, Ann Herbert. (1992). On Mother’s Lap. Clarion (PIC/RF - E).
Sekaquaptewa, Eugene. (1994). Coyote and the Winnowing Birds. Clear Light (PIC/TL – All ages).
Skolnick, Sharon. (1997) Where Courage is Like a Wild Horse. Lincoln : University  of Nebraska 
Smith, Cynthia. (2000). Jingle Dancer. Morrow Junior (PIC/RF – E/M).
Smith, Cynthia (1999). Rain is Not My Indian Name. New York 
Smith, Cynthia (2002). Indian Shoes. New York 
Sneve, Viriginia Driving Hawk (1994). The Seminoles: A First Americans Book. Holiday 
Steltzer, Ulli. Building an Igloo. New York 
Sterling, Shirley. (1997). My Name is Seepeetza. Douglas & McIntyre (RF - M).
Stroud, Virginia 
Students of G.T.   Cunningham  Elementary   School NF- 
Swentzell, Rina. (1992) Children of Clay: A Family of Pueblo  Potters, Minneapolis ,  MN 
Talashoema, Herschel; Sekaquaptewa, Emory (Ed.); and Pepper, Barbara (Ed.). (1994). Coyote and Little Turtle. Clear Light. (PIC/TL – All ages).
Tapahonso, Luci (1997). Blue Horses Rush In. Tucson: University  of Arizona 
Tapahonso, Luci. (1999). Songs of Shiprock Fair. Kiva (PIC/P – All ages).
Thompson, Sheila. (1991). Cheryl’s Potlatch. Yinka Dene Language Institute. (Photo essay/NF – All ages)
Turcotte, Mark. (1995). Songs of Our Ancestors. Chicago 
Van Camp, Richard. (1998), The Lesser Blessed. Douglas & McIntyre (RF – YA)
Van Camp, Richard; ill. by George Littlechild, (1997). A Man Called Raven. Children’s Book Press. (PIC/RF – E/M)
Van Camp, Richard; ill. by George Littlechild,  (1998). What’s the Most Beautiful Thing you Know about Horses. Children’s Book Press. (PIC/RF – E/M)
Van Camp, Richard. (2007) Welcome Song for Baby. (Board book – All ages). 
Velarde, Pablita. (1993) Old Father Storyteller. Santa   Fe 
Waboose, Jan Bourdeau. (1998). Morning on the Lake . Kids Can Press (PIC/RF – E/M).
Waboose, Jan Bourdeau (2001). Sky Sisters. (PIC/RF – E/M)
Wallis, Velma. (1993) Two Old Women. New York 
Walking Turtle, Eagle. (1997). Full Moon Stories. Hyperion (TL – All ages).
Wheeler, Bernelda. (1995). Where Did You Get Your Moccasins? Peguis Publications (PIC/RF - E).
Wheeler, Bernelda. (1993). I Can’t Have Bannock but the Beaver Has a Dam. Peguis Publications (PIC/RF - E).
Whitethorne, Baje. (1994). Sunpainters: Eclipse of the Navajo Sun. Northland (PIC/TL – All ages).
Wittstock, Laura Waterman. (1993). Ininatig's Gift of Sugar: Traditional Native 
Sugarmaking.  Photographs by Dale Kakkak. Minneapolis , MN 
Wood, Ted. (1992). A Boy Becomes a Man at Wounded Knee . Walker and Company. (Photo essay/NF – All ages)
Yamane, Linda. (1997) Weaving a California Minneapolis , MN 
Atleo, M., Caldwell, N., Landis, B., Mendoza, J., Miranda, D., Reese, D., Rose, L., Slapin, B., Smith, C. (1999). A Critical Review of Ann Rinaldi's My Heart is on the Ground: The Diary of Nannie Little Rose, A Sioux Girl. Oyate. http://oyate.org/books-to-avoid/index.html 
Caldwell-Wood, Naomi, and Lisa A. Mitten. (1991) “I” Is Not for Indian: The Portrayal of Native Americans in Books for Young People. http://www.nativeculturelinks.com/ailabib.htm 
Internet Public Library: Native American Authors. Provides a list of Native American authors, plus a short biography, a list of published works, and links to relevant sites.  http://www.ipl.org/div/natam/  
Kuipers, Barbara. (1991) American Indian Reference Books for Children and Young Adults. Englewood 
McCann, D. (1993). Native Americans in Books for the Young. In V. Harris (Ed.) Teaching Multicultural Literature in Grades K-8.  Norwood , MA 
Mendoza, Jean and Reese, Debbie. (2001). Examining Multicultural Picture Books for the Early Childhood Classroom: Possibilities and Pitfalls. Early Childhood Research and Practice 3 (2), On-line: http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v3n2/mendoza.html 
Molin, Paulette. (2005). American Indian Themes in Young Adult Literature. Lanham , MD 
Native American Books. This on-line resource contains critical reviews of children’s books.     http://www.kstrom.net/isk/books/bookmenu.html 
Reese, Debbie A., & Caldwell-Wood, Naomi. (1997). Native Americans in Children's Literature. In V. J. Harris (Ed.), Using Multiethnic Literature in the K-8 Classroom. Christopher Gordon, Inc.
Reese, Debbie. (2001). Representations of Native American Women and Girls in Children’s Historical Fiction, in Lehr, Susan. (Ed.) Portsmouth 
Reese, Debbie. (1999). Authenticity & Sensitivity: Goals on writing and reviewing books with Native American themes. School Library    Journal 45 (11), pp. 36-37.  On-line: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA153126.html 
Reese, Debbie A. (1998). “Look Mom! It’s George! He’s a TV Indian!” Horn Book Magazine, 74(5), pp. 636-641.
Seale, Doris, and Slapin, Beverly. (2006). A Broken Flute: The Native Experience in Books for Children. AltaMira  Press.
Slapin, Beverly, and Seale, Doris. (1998). Through Indian Eyes: The Native Experience in Books for Children. University   of California American  Indian   Studies  Center 
Smith, Cynthia L. Native American Themes in Books for Children and Teens. Start exploring Smith’s site with this page: http://cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/diversity/native_am/NativeThemes_intro.html 
Smithsonian Institution.  A Critical Bibliography on North American Indians for K-12. An extensive site, arranged by geographical area. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/anthro/outreach/Indbibl/index.html 
Thompson, M.K. (Sept: 2001) “A sea of good intentions: Native Americans in books for children.” The Lion and the Unicorn. 
Tyler, Rhonda Harris (Jul/Aug 2000) “Indian in the Cupboard: A Case Study in Perspective” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE), Vol. 13, Issue 4 
Section Three: Recommended Professional Resources. Books and websites listed here can help teachers and librarians locate books, do fact checking, and gain insight and awareness of issues related to Native culture and Native perspectives. 
Aperture.(1995) Strong Hearts: Native American Visions and Voices. New York 
American Indian Library Association website: http://www.nativeculturelinks.com/aila.html 
Berkhofer, Robert E. (1978). The White Man’s Indian. New   York 
Bigelow, Bill. (1998). Rethinking Columbus Milwaukee 
Cubbins, E.M. (1999) Techniques for Evaluating American Indian Web Sites. An excellent page with substantive information.http://www.u.arizona.edu/~ecubbins/webcrit.html 
Davis, Mary B. (1996). Native America New York 
Deloria, Phillip. (1998). Playing Indian. New Haven : Yale  University 
Hirschfelder, Arlene; Molin, Paulette Fairbanks; & Wakim, Yvonne. (1999). American Indian Stereotypes in the World of Children. Scarecrow Press.
Hoxie, Frederick E. (1996). Encyclopedia of North American Indians. New York 
Mitten, Lisa. Native American Home Pages.  http://www.nativeculturelinks.com/indians.html 
Reese, Debbie. (1996) Teaching Young Children about Native Americans. ERIC Digest. Urbana , IL 
Reese, Debbie. (1997). Thoughts on Not Seeing Oneself. Gender and Culture in Picture Books, School  of Communication Rutgers  University .  [on-line publication] 
Seale, Doris, B. Slapin, & C. Silverman. (1998) Thanksgiving: A Native Perspective. Berkeley 
Smithsonian Institution. Erasing Native American Stereotypes. An essay based on work done by June Sark Heinrich, Council on Books for Interracial Children, 1977 http://anthropology.si.edu/outreach/Indbibl/sterotyp.html 
Stedman, Raymond William. (1982). Shadows of the Indian. Norman : University  of Oklahoma 
Womack, Craig. (1999) Red on Red: Native American Literary Separatism. Minneapolis : U of Minnesota 
 
 
 
8 comments:
Have you seen the books by Ani Rucki? She worked with American Indians for the stories and drew the
art herself:
Turkey's gift to the people (the bird not the country)
The Earth wakes.
Ellen,
I do not know her books. If you have a copy in front of you, look for a page with an author's note, or a source note of some kind. Can you post here what it says?
When I consider a folktale, some things I look for are:
1) Is the person listed as the author listed as a "reteller"? That is, on the cover, is the book "By Ani Rucki" or "Retold by Ani Rucki."
2) In the author's note, does Rucki say where she heard the story, or what source she found it in?
3) If Rucki provides info about source, does she provide enough detail so that I could find the source if I wanted to?
4) In the author's note, does Rucki tell the reader the ways in which she changed/edited the story and why?
4) In a couple of reviews, there is mention that this is a Navajo folktale. How is that information provided in the book? Is it implied in the story itself or stated on the cover or title page?
I hope you will return to the blog and that you can answer the questions above.
Thanks,
Debbie
Many thanks for a very useful list, especially for breaking down as you did.
We're a home educating family in rural western Canada, and historical fiction and nonfiction are pretty popular with my kids. I'm especially happy to see "Fort Chipewyan Homecoming" on the list, since Ft. Chip isn't too far away from us.
I just found your blog and this wonderful list of books. I have written down several titles that I am going to look for and will return for more in the near future. Thank you for sharing.
Have you read I am Apache by Landman? I would be curious what you would think of it. I posted a review of it ages ago on my blog, and while i mostly liked it, I wondered if the author (who is British) perhaps was not familiar with many of the representational tropes used with American Indians. However, in terms of historical accuracy, I really wasn't sure.
Thank you so much for this list and all that you do!
I noticed that the URL for the Smithsonian article has now changed to:
http://anthropology.si.edu/outreach/Indbibl/sterotyp.html
Thanks, Carissa, and thanks for letting me know about the link, too. I'll fix it.
Debbie
Wow Debbie, you've sure been fighting the good fight for a long time. Thank you. I appreciate you.
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