Resource Category: Literature Guides

Being Home by Traci Sorell, a two-time Sibert Medal and Orbis Pictus honoree for her nonfiction work, was illustrated by Michaela Goade, aCaldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times Bestselling illustrator of Kirkus Prize Finalist We Are Water Protectors,. Being Home is the story of a young Cherokee girl’s experience leaving behind bustling city life. Told through the girl’s perspective, the narrative follows her as she says goodbye to a different life in the busy city and begins the drive to her family’s ancestral homeland, looking forward to life in new surroundings—family gatherings, cultural traditions, and the slower rhythms of Cherokee life. By the journey’s end, the girl embraces her new home, filled with opportunities to reconnect with the land, relatives, and the deep sense of belonging that comes from knowing where you come from.

Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults retains the wisdom and beauty of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s original work, Braiding Sweetgrass, published November 1, 2022. The book introduces readers to Indigenous ways of knowing, illustrating how plants, animals, and ecosystems serve as important teachers and guides. By sharing personal stories, scientific insights, and Indigenous worldviews, Kimmerer and Smith invite young readers to reflect on their relationship with the natural world and consider how gratitude, reciprocity, and stewardship can foster deeper connections with all living things.

Meet Jo Jo Makoons, a fun and imaginative seven-year-old girl from the Ojibwe tribe, in Dawn Quigley’s engaging book series. Jo Jo’s lively adventures take place on a fictional reservation, Pembina Ojibwe, where she sees the world in her own special way. She often surprises her family and teacher with her unique perspective and creative ideas.

Jo Jo loves her best friend, Mimi, who is a cat, but she worries about her friendship with Fern, a friend from school. She’s not sure if Fern still wants to be friends because she thinks Fern is making fun of her and therefore doesn’t like her. So Jo Jo wonders if she should try to make more friends. Even with these concerns, Jo Jo’s journey is full of laughter and warmth as she learns some early lessons about the complexity of friendships while also learning more about herself.

This book highlights the voices and stories of Native people, offering young readers a chance to step into Jo Jo’s vibrant world and see the strength and maturation of Indigenous youth who use their talents and intellect to find a path forward. It also emphasizes the importance and richness of Indigenous cultures today.

My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith is a beautifully crafted children’s board book that has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the British Columbia Book Prize for Children’s Literature and the 2017 Christie Harris BC Book Award for Children’s Literature. Monique Gray Smith is a Canadian author of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent. The vibrant illustrations are created by Julie Flett, a Cree-Métis author and illustrator. This heartwarming book is a celebration of Indigenous experience and joy, encouraging everyone to reflect on moments that bring happiness in life. It’s a wonderful way to teach all children that they are seen and valued by all those around them. 

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story is an acclaimed book that won both the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal, recognizing the top informational book for children, and an American Indian Youth Literature award from the American Indian Library Association. This beautiful story celebrates Native joy and pride, and focuses on the ways that a contemporary food – fry bread – builds meaning and connection in family and community lives. The story invites readers to explore how food nourishes not just bodies, but other important qualities and values, such as understanding of time, art, place, and flavor. The book’s artwork includes diverse characters who, just like other families, enjoy quality time together and engage in a fun, meaningful activity together.

Additionally, the Author’s Note offers a wealth of important information about the diversity among Native Americans. It discusses the historical context of removal and displacement, and outlines the complexities of federally recognized tribes, including the processes of termination and recognition.

The author also includes a fry bread recipe as an invitation for all families to create their own fry bread family stories.

“Treaty Words: For As Long As The Rivers Flow” by Aimée Craft and illustrated by Luke Swinson, explores the relationship between a grandfather (Mishomis) and his granddaughter, teaching her about the significance of relationships, respect, and reciprocity, along with the first Anishinaabe treaty. This treaty is presented not just as an agreement among humans, but as a commitment to the Earth and natural law, encompassing all of Creation. The story emphasizes that treaties are enduring, meant to last “for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow,” highlighting their lasting reality and the shared responsibilities they entail.

“We Are Water Protectors” is a book by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade, which introduces children to environmental issues caused by resource extraction, particularly focusing on water protection through the lens of Indigenous-led climate movements. The book emphasizes the sacredness of water and the importance of collective action and intergenerational cooperation in environmental stewardship.