Books for Elementary School
Here are some of the stronger selections of illustrated stories for elementary school audiences. There are more books listed in the "Resource List" tab.
Written by Traci Sorrell and Illustrated by Frané Lessac.
More of an informational text, this insightful book explores a number of myths and misconceptions about Indigenous People. Serving as a means to decolonize one’s perspective, children will find this story accessible and entertaining.
Sorell, T. (2021). We are still here! Native American truths everyone should know (F. Lessac, Illus.). Charlesbridge.
Written by Phyllis Webstad and Illustrated by Brock Nicol.
The origin of Orange Shirt Day, a national day of truth and reconciliation, Phyllis is kept from wearing her favorite orange shirt in the residential school. The wearing of it becomes an act of defiance and reclamation.
Webstad, P. (2019). Phyllis’s orange shirt (B. Nicol, Illus.). Medicine Wheel Education.
Written and Illustrated by Alan Syliboy
Drawn in an iconic and traditional style, Syliboy tells the story of how thunder and lightning came to earth. Little Thunder learns of his family, their responsibility, and their cultural heritage, all while telling this legend in a unique way.
Syliboy, A. (2018). The Thundermaker (A. Syliboy, Illus.). Nimbus Publishing.
Written by David A. Robertson and Illustrated by Julie Flett.
A young girl learns of her grandmother’s time in a residential school. It reveals that is the reason why she wears bright colors, speaks Cree, and grows her hair in a long braid – all in defiance of her restrictive past.
Robertson, D.A. (2016). When we were alone (J. Flett, Illus.). HighWater Press.
Written by Kevin Noble Maillard and Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal.
Serving as a celebration of Native American fry bread, this is a simple and cutely drawn story that shares a practice both diverse and unifying, modern and ancient. It even includes a fry bread recipe!
Noble Maillard, K. (2019). Fry bread: A Native American family story (J. Martinez-Neal, Illus.). Roaring Brook Press.
Written by Joseph MacLean and Illustrated by Brendan Heard
An alphabet book that explores the depth and breadth of Indigenous cultures, Native tribe names, famous people, and important words to represent the past and present. The book resonates and teaches on a number of relevant levels.
MacLean, J. (2014). A is For Aboriginal (B. Heard, Illus.). Interactive Publishing Corporation.
Written by Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey. Illustrated by Nancy Baker.
A tale of environmentalism, conservation, and preservation of a way of life, a young girl goes picking sweetgrass on the marshes with her grandmother. What she learns about nature, her family, and her culture will prove invaluable.
Greenlaw, S. & Frey, G. (2021). The first blade of sweetgrass: A Native American story (N. Baker, Illus.). Tilbury House.
Written and Illustrated by Danielle Daniel.
Playing on children’s love of animals and the totemic symbolism from her culture, Danielle Daniel shows the different faces that kids can wear, depending upon their moods, their personalities, and their strengths.
Daniel, D. (2017). Sometimes I feel like a fox (D. Daniel, Illus.). Groundwood Books.
Written by Robbie Robertson. Illustrated by David Shannon
While telling the story of Hiawatha at a key time in Iroquois history, this illustrated story (that comes with a CD of Robertson's music, written to accompany the book) tells a tale from the past with all the immediacy and relevance of today.
Robertson, R. (2015). Hiawatha and the Peacemaker (D. Shannon, Illus.). Harry N. Abrams.