2013: Best Books for Elementary School

If I was starting a library in an elementary school or if I was ordering books for an elementary school library, these are ten books I'd buy right away, along with the ten listed in 2010: Top Ten Books Recommended for Elementary School.

With these books, students will read the works of Native and non-Native writers who know what they're talking about. The books include picture and chapter books, traditional stories, contemporary and historical fiction, and, biography and autobiography, too.

• Edwardson, Debby Dahl. Whale Snow.
• Erdrich, Louise. Chickadee.
• Francis, Lee DeCora. Kunu's Basket: A Story from Indian Island
• Galvan, Glenda. Chikasha Stories, Volume One: Shared Spirit
• Jordan-Fenton, Christy and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. Fatty Legs: A True Story
• Nelson, S.D. Greet the Dawn: The Lakota Way
• Nelson, S.D. Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story
• Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood
• Tingle, Tim. Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light
• Uluadluak, Donald. Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story

For brief annotations, see my 2013 article in School Library Journal, "Resources and Kid Lit about American Indians." (Note: this is a list compiled in 2013, not a list of books published in 2013.)

2010: Best Books Recommended for Elementary School

Editor's Note: January 18, 2014 - The title of this post has been edited to reflect its year of publication. See also 2013: Top Ten Books Recommended for Elementary School. 

If I was starting a library in an elementary school, these are the first ten books I'd buy. In reading these books, students would be reading stories Native writers create about Native people and places. The books I list here include fiction, historical fiction, traditional story, and poetry.

• Campbell, Nicola. Shi-shi-etko
• Campbell, Nicola. Shin-chi's Canoe
• Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story
• Harjo, Joy. The Good Luck Cat
• Messinger, Carla. When the Shadbush Blooms
• Ortiz, Simon J. The Good Rainbow Road/Rawa 'kashtyaa'tsi hiyaani: A Native American Tale
• Sockabasin, Allen J. Thanks to the Animals
• Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Jingle Dancer
• Tingle, Tim. Crossing Bok Chitto (If you can, also get When Turtle Grew Feathers and Saltypie)
• Waboose, Jan Bourdeau. SkySisters

For annotations, see my article Native Voices in School Library Journal.

See also:
Top Ten Books Recommended for Middle School
Top Ten Books Recommended for High School


Download a pdf titled "Selecting Children's and Young Adult Literature about American Indians that includes an introduction and all three "Top Ten" lists.