Educators are being encouraged to highlight Native American voices and literature in classrooms during Native American Heritage Month. The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is recommending a selection of books by Indigenous authors to help students understand the histories, cultures, and current experiences of Native peoples.
The CEA’s Department of Human & Civil Rights selected titles aimed at various age groups. For elementary students, the list includes “Native American Stories for Kids: 12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes across North America” by Tom Pecore Weso, “Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina” by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Wells, “Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher” by Becky Ray McCain, and “We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga” by Traci Sorell. Other recommended works are “Winter’s Gifts” by Kaitlin B. Curtice, “A Kid’s Guide to Native American History: More than 50 Activities” by Yvonne Wakim and Dennis Arlene Hirschfelder, “The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story Book” and “A Boy Called Slow,” both by Joseph Bruchac, as well as “We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade. Additional suggestions include “D Is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet Hardcover” by Michael Shoulders and Debbie Shoulders, and “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal.
For middle grade and young adult readers, recommendations feature titles such as “Inspirational Native American Stories for Kids: Empowering Tales of Tradition, Wisdom and Resilience-Inspiring Cultural Pride, Empathy and Hope Book” by Ahoy Publications; “Soft Rain (A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears)” by Cornelia Cornelissen; “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie; “Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids” edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith; and “Healer of the Water Monster” by Brian Young.
The National Education Association (NEA) is also participating in this initiative through its Read Across America program. As part of its annual event, NEA has highlighted several books for Native American Heritage Month including “I Love Salmon and Lampreys” by Brook M. Thompson for elementary readers; “On a Wing and a Tear” by Cynthia Leitich Smith for middle grade students; and “Where Wolves Don’t Die” by Anton Treuer for young adults.
Resources like Colorín Colorado provide additional book lists that focus on biographies, history, cultural traditions, family stories, humorous tales, and narratives about growing up Indigenous targeted at kindergarten through fifth grade audiences.
“This Native American Heritage Month, we invite educators to celebrate and center Indigenous voices in the classroom. Books by Native American authors offer powerful ways for students to learn about the histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples. From picture books and middle-grade stories to young adult novels, these titles encourage reflection, empathy, and understanding. Explore our list of recommendations to help students connect with diverse perspectives and honor the richness of Native storytelling.”
“The books below were chosen by CEA’s Department of Human & Civil Rights as a way to add powerful titles to our classrooms and libraries, and inspire the next generation of readers and leaders.”
