November is National Native American Heritage Month
What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.
Read more about the history of various state and national observances at the National Native American Heritage Month website created by the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
In recognition of this important month, the Children’s Book Council has compiled a list of 30 wonderful books by and about Native Americans, all published in 2024.
Being Home, by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Michaela Goade (Penguin Random House / Kokila) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Family / Community, Places / Travel, ages 4-6.
Between the Pipes, by Albert McLeod; illustrated by Alice RL and Kielamel Sibal (Portage & Main Press / HighWater Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, LGBTQIA+, Coming of Age, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Teen.
Birth of the Chosen One: A First Nations Retelling of the Christmas Story, by Terry M. Wildman; illustrated by Hannah Noel Buchanan and Holly Buchanan (IVP / IVP Kids) — Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Religion / Spirituality, BIPOC Characters and Creators, ages 4-6.
Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem: A Graphic Novel, by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Kekla Magoon; illustrated by Molly Murakami (Candlewick Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Family / Community, Action / Adventure, ages 7-12.
Circle of Love, by Monique Gray Smith; illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, LGBTQIA+, Family / Community, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 4-6.
A Constellation of Minor Bears, by Jen Ferguson (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Family / Community, Coming of Age, Places / Travel, Teen.
Crow Helps a Friend, by Andrea Fritz (Orca Book Publishers) — Animals, Friendships, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Kindness / Generosity, ages 7-12.
A Family Tree, by Staci Lola Drouillard; illustrated by Kate Gardiner (HarperCollins / Clarion Books) — Family / Community, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Places / Travel, ages 4-6.
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls, by Cherie Dimaline (Penguin Random House / Tundra Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Death / Grief / Loss, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Teen.
God Flare (The Reckoner Rises Vol 3), by David A. Robertson; illustrated by Scott B. Henderson and Andrew Thomas (Portage & Main Press / HighWater Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Fantasy, Mental / Physical Health, Action / Adventure, Teen.
The Heartbeat Drum, by Deidre Havrelock; illustrated by Aphelandra (Abrams Books / Abrams Books for Young Readers) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Biography / Memoir, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Art / Performing Arts, ages 4-6.
Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachvffa, by Leslie Stall Widener; illustrated by Johnson Yazzie (Charlesbridge Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, History, Friendships, Kindness / Generosity, ages 4-6.
The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage, by David A. Robertson (Portage & Main Press / HighWater Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Sports / Games / Recreation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Coming of Age, ages 7-12.
Let’s Go!, by Julie Flett (Greystone Books / Greystone Kids) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Sports / Games / Recreation, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow, by Nicholas DeShaw; illustrated by Tara Audibert (Penguin Random House / Nancy Paulsen Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, Animals, Humor, ages 4-6.
Looking for Smoke, by K. A. Cobell (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — Mystery / Thriller, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, Friendships, Teen.
The Rez Doctor, by Gitz Crazyboy; illustrated by Veronika Barinova, Azby Whitecalf, and Toben Racicot (Portage & Main Press / HighWater Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Careers / Hobbies, Family / Community, Coming of Age, Teen.
Secrets of Stone (A Wolf in the Sun Series), by Coltrane Seesequasis (Kegedonce Press) — Animals, Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Cultural Diversity, Teen.
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, by Jen Ferguson (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, LGBTQIA+, Coming of Age, Family / Community, Teen.
Summer’s Magic, by Kaitlin B. Curtice; illustrated by Eduardo Marticorena (Penguin Random House / Convergent Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Concepts, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Family / Community, ages 4-6.
This Land, by Ashley Fairbanks; illustrated by Bridget George (Penguin Random House / Crown Books for Young Readers ) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, History, Places / Travel, ages 4-6.
This Land Is a Lullaby, by Tonya Simpson; illustrated by Delreé Dumont (Orca Book Publishers) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Science / Nature, Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime, Cultural Diversity, ages 4-6.
Today Is Orange Shirt Day, by Phyllis Webstad; illustrated by Natassia Davies (Medicine Wheel Publishing) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Cultural Diversity, History, ages 0-3.
Too Much: My Great Big Native Family, by Laurel Goodluck; illustrated by Bridget George (Simon & Schuster / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Family / Community, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
The Unfinished, by Cheryl Isaacs (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — Horror, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Friendships, Teen.
We Still Belong, by Christine Day (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Family / Community, Romance, Coming of Age, ages 7-12.
When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast, by Andrea L. Rogers; illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (HarperCollins / Heartdrum) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Family / Community, Cultural Diversity, Food / Cooking, ages 4-6.
Where Wolves Don’t Die, by Anton Treuer (Levine Querido) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Mystery / Thriller, Family / Community, Death / Grief / Loss, Teen.
Why We Dance: A Story of Hope and Healing, by Deidre Havrelock; illustrated by Aly McKnight (Abrams Books / Abrams Books for Young Readers) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Art / Performing Arts, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Family / Community, ages 4-6.
Wisdom Weavers, by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw; illustrated by Marcus Trujillo (Quarto / becker&mayer! kids) — Biography / Memoir, Non-English Languages, Cultural Diversity, Concepts, ages 7-12.
Check out more Diversity booklists and resources, and our Inclusivity Resources.
