Picture Books for Indigenous Peoples' Day
The New York Public Library honors Monday, October 11, as Indigenous Peoples' Day in the United States. We've rounded up some of our favorite picture books about Indigenous communities for families to share with little ones. Celebrate your identity or learn something new with these fantastic reads!
David Robertson and Julie Flett’s On the Trapline is a beautiful story about a little boy and his grandfather who take a trip to a special place that has great meaning for Moshom, the grandfather. Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula’s The Pencil, illustrated by Charlene Chua, is a story about three siblings who have lots of fun drawing with their grandmother’s pencil after she leaves their iglu—but when she comes back and sees how small the pencil has gotten, what will she say? Based on author Susan Avingaq’s memories of growing up in an iglu, this book reminds us about the importance of using things wisely.
Tiny future readers will love Richard Van Camp and Julie Flett’s Little You, which celebrates the joy babies bring into the world. Van Camp also wrote Kiss by Kiss: A Counting Book for Families, which counts kisses in beautiful rhyme, in both English and Cree. The perfect book to share during this autumn season, Julie Flett’s We All Play highlights the wonder of play and the beauty of nature, and includes a glossary with the English and Cree names for each animal.
Fans of fairy tales can pick up The Honey Jarby Rigoberta Menchú with Dante Liano, illustrated by Domi and translated by David Unger. The Honey Jar, written by a longtime activist for Indigenous people, retells several Mayan fairtyales told to her by her grandparents.
Join young Zonia in the rainforest in her home near the Amazon, who must learn what to do when the rainforest calls to her for help in Zonia's Rainforest by Juana Martinez-Neal and translated by Arlynder Sett Gaspar Paulino. This lush text is written in both English and Asháninka. Finally, Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade's We Are Water Protectors, an NYPL 2020 Best Books for Kids pick, is a lyrical and stirring book that reminds us how precious water is to all life on Earth, told from the perspective of one brave young girl who stands up to the snake trying to poison her people’s water.