Do not wait until November, of course, to start reading Indigenous picture books. I fell into this habit as a new librarian, excited to ditch my outdated, whitewashed Thanksgiving books and share the wealth of Indigenous stories I had searched up. But we live on Native land all year long, and we should be sharing their stories without pause. Students need to understand that American Indians are infinitely more than a prop in a Thanksgiving show, and see how Native people are still (despite settler-inflicted trauma) thriving in our communities in modern times. Below, I’ve collected some of my favorite recent releases from talented authors Indigenous to North America. You’ll notice some running themes, but mostly, you’ll realize you want more, more, more.
Outstanding Native and Indigenous Picture Books
I hope you’ve found some new books to add to the library of your choice. Whether you’re gifting books to young people in your life, working to expand your choice of read-alouds in the classroom, or simply trying to support Indigenous authors, these books will get you closer to your goal! Happy reading!
