Like most American kids, I learned very little about Native Americans in school and especially around Thanksgiving. I’ve been excited to read picture books for Native American Heritage Month and learn about their extraordinary heritage with my kids. Here are 10 books you can share with your family for November, which marks Native American Heritage Month. They are great options for Thanksgiving as well.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal. I included this in my Thanksgiving picture books list as well because it’s a beautiful story about Native American culture. It’s also about the history of fry bread (which taught me so much!) and gorgeously illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Juana Martinez-Neal.
Powwow Day by Tracy Sorell and Madelyn Goodnight. I absolutely adored this book about a little girl who is ill and sad that she can’t participate in her community’s powwow. She ultimately learns about the healing power of powwows and is welcomed by those who dance on her behalf. My kids and I learned so much about the dances and rituals from this story!
I Sang You Down From the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade. Parents, you’ll want a tissue reading this book (or at least I did). It focuses on a mother preparing for her baby to be born by gathering a medicine bundle with a white feather, sage, cedar, a stone, and more. I love the illustrations and the emotions of this book and the beautiful traditions it explains.
Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten and Gary Meeches Sr. This story helped me talk to my kids about the first Thanksgiving and how the Wampanoag people were instrumental in helping the Pilgrims make it through their first winter. I also really appreciated that this book includes a pronunciation guide and Native American words throughout. It turns out I was pronouncing Wampanoag completely wrong.
Still This Love Goes On by Buffy Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett. I am a big fan of Julie Flett’s work, and this book featuring song lyrics about the Cree people is gorgeous. It’s also about gratitude for your heritage and for the earth, so it’s perfect for Thanksgiving as well.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac. Members of the Cherokee nation use the word otsaliheliga to express gratitude. This book goes through the different seasons and talks about Cherokee traditions and ways the people are thankful. Like the other story above, it also includes a glossary to help you pronounce the words used throughout. I love this book and bought it for our home.
Berry Song by Michaela Goade. As I turned the pages of this stunning book with my family, I was reminded of my own (very different) summers picking huckleberries as a kid. The story centers around a girl and her grandmother picking berries and fishing and singing a song of gratitude to the earth. I need to buy this one for our collection.
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp and Erwin Printup, Jr. This is another book I’ve included on a Thanksgiving list because it is all about being grateful for the things we have. It includes a traditional Iroquois ceremonial address as well.
The Circle of Thanks by Joseph Bruchac and Murv Jacob. I am trying to find more books that introduce my children to poetry. This compilation of 14 poems about nature and Thanksgiving from Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac is beautiful and a wonderful reminder of the importance of gratitude.
Stolen Words by Melanie Florence and Gabrielle Grimard. While this is a heavier book for kids, I think it does a wonderful job of talking about schools that separated indigenous children from their families. The story follows a little girl who asks her grandfather to say something in Cree. When he responds that his language was stolen from him as a boy, she helps him reclaim his language and heritage. Check this one out for sure.
I would love to know your favorite picture books for Native American Heritage Month! I’m especially interested in those written and illustrated by Native American authors.
