A Dozen Strong Indigenous Voices in YA and Picturebooks
There has been a struggle to bring authentic Indigenous voices into books for young readers. Recent publications have been encouraging as more and more insider voices tell stories that are culturally authentic and respectful of the multiple tribal viewpoints in Indigenous communities. This WOW Dozen focuses on bringing to light a few strong and significant examples. Some have received renowned awards with most written and illustrated by members of Indigenous communities.
Young tells a strong Navajo story stemming from his own connections to his land & people, including a link between imagination & the real world at the Navajo reservation where his grandmother lives.
by Pam Muñoz Ryan,
9781484728352, Disney Hyperion, 2022.
Ryan brings to life a captivating story set in Mexico where a Princess with Spanish & Indigenous heritage must fight for her people.
Sorrell & Goodnight share a contemporary story that highlights the significance of tradition & community in a richly illustrated book. River wants to dance at the Powwow but cannot as she has been unwell, & so her family & community bring the dance to her. The story is strengthened by information of the significance of Powwow.
9781623541927, Charlesbridge, 2021.
Sorell & Lessac bring Native lives into the present by highlighting 12 Indigenous young voices that explore contemporary laws & policies that impact their communities & lives in a colorful informational book celebrating their survival.
Sorell & Lessac highlight the concept of being grateful that is inherent in Cherokee communities in a beautifully illustrated book with information on the Cherokee syllabary.
Sorell & Donovan highlight the life & career of a Cherokee aerospace engineer.
Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal, this book highlights significance of protecting our waters as an integral belief of many Indigenous communities.
Tradition & family come together in this beautifully illustrated book in verse that connects past & present through food.
A unique baby book unveils the traditions of Indigenous beliefs as a mother awaits her cherished child.
This book celebrates the history & contributions of Indigenous peoples through the concepts of oral traditions.
With authentic pictures & spectacular illustrations from celebrated author/artist S.D. Nelson, this gripping dual biography explores the lives of two enemies whose conflict changed American history.
Tonatiuh brings a powerful narrative of the life of José de la Luz Sáenz (Luz) who fought for the Mexican American Civil Rights using an Indigenous style of illustration.
WOW Dozen features a list of 12 global books for children and adolescents around a theme, topic, issue or personal favorites. Each Dozen consists of ten newly-published titles with two older "must have" books. Please share or recommend additional books that fit the theme in the comments section or on social media using #WOWDozen. Use the printer icon in the upper left corner of this post to print or save this list as a PDF.
