Note – not all the authors of the books below are Native
American or First Nations.
Perhaps the most famous re-teller of Native American stories
is Paul Goble, though it should be noted that there is debate about his style
and purpose. Read here
Writer/illustrator Shonto Begay has written and/or
illustrated several books about Navajo culture, history, and traditions. The Mud Pony on which he worked
with Caron Lee Cohen is particularly good.
He also worked with Lois Duncan.
Kynandreia Jones wrote a Choose Your Own Adventure book, Spies:
Mary Bowser. It is about the
Civil War Spy Mary Bowser. Jones uses
Native American folklore in the story.
Sam Maggs’ Girl Squads details stories about
women who made history. It includes
Native American women.
Samantha Lee’s My First Choctaw Animal Book uses animals to introduce readers to the
Choctaw language.
I am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kacer, and Gillian
Newland. This is about a child’s
experience in the Canada residential school system. I recommend the dual Nishnaabemwin
(Ojibwe) Nbisiing dialect/English version.
Kevin Noble Maillard’s Fry
Bread has the honor of being critically acclaimed and on a number of
banned book lists.
Rafe Martin’s The Rough Faced
Girl is a retelling of an Algonquin
tale that is similar to Cinderella
David Alexander Robinson has
several children’s and graphic novels about Canadian First Nations, including
the acclaimed Sugar Falls A Residential School Story. He also a couple adult books of non-fiction.
Tim Tingle has written several
children’s books that relate Native American history.
Nicola I. Campbell has written
several children’s books about the First Nations/Native American experience and
culture.
Robert D. San Souci’s vast work of
folklore stories includes several Native American/Indigenous People tales.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstorm draws on the Indigenous people’s movement
for clean water. Also check out The
Gift by Luis Antonio Bacaro which is about Autumn Peltier and her campaign
for clean water.
Edward Field translated an Inuit
creation story in his Magic Words.
Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies by Harriet Peck Taylor is a retelling of a Tewa story.
Both Rebecca Roanhorse and Louise Erdrich
are known for the adult books, but they also have children’s books.
I have had students write about how
much they enjoyed Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaeksen
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories
for Kids edited by Cynthia Leitch Smith is
a collection of stories that are interconnected and set at an international
powwow.
Joseph Bruchac has been carried the
foremost indigenous American children’s author.
His work includes fiction and nonfiction.
Lisa Charleyboy has edited several
collections for Native American centered stories for teens.
Comments
Post a Comment