Bibliography
Books about Native Americans
by Lori Ragsdale
Emergent Readers
Early Readers
Transitional Readers
Independent Readers
Kids of all ages can have fun—and learn a lot—by reading about cultures with which
they’re not familiar. The books in this issue’s bibliography, which deal with Native
American characters and themes, will help children not only to gain insight into the
varied cultures of different Native American nations and tribes, but also to identify
similarities all people share no matter what our culture.
Emergent Readers
The Forest Has Eyes by Bev Doolittle (Illustrator)
This book features paintings and poems that portray Native Americans, the wilderness,
and animals.
The Good Luck Cat by Joy Harjo
Woogie, the Good Luck Cat, has used up eight of his nine lives. His little girl, a
Muskogee-Creek, is worried. . . .
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse
An Inuit little girl is reassured of her mother’s love, even if she does naughty things.
Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native America by Joseph Bruchac
This alphabet book, due out this month, identifies many Native American tribes and the
animals and objects in their lives.
Ten Little Rabbits by Virginia Grossman
This rhyming book contains double-page watercolors depicting different Native
American tribes.
Early ReadersBig Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley
While her grandmother makes tortillas, Marta learns to cope with some of life’s little
disasters.
Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting
In this story set in the late 1880s, Young Bull suffers when he is sent to boarding school
to “learn the white man’s ways,” but discovers how to retain his Cheyenne identity.
Grandmother’s Dream Catcher by Becky Ray McCain
Kimmy’s grandmother teaches her to make a dream catcher so she will have only good
dreams.
Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest by Gerald McDermott
This traditional tale of the Pacific Coast tribes tells of a raven who tries to find light and
warmth from the Sky Chief.
Mystic Horse by Paul Goble
In this Pawnee tale, a young boy is rewarded for his kindness after caring for a sick horse.
Transitional ReadersThe Boy Who Lived with the Bears and Other Iroquois Stories by Joseph Bruchac
This book of traditional Iroquois tales, many presented for the first time in writing, was
written with permission from tribal elders.
Ghost Horses by Gloria Skurzynski
This exciting mystery is the sixth in the National Parks Mystery series. Twelve-year-old
Jack, his younger sister, and two young Shoshone foster siblings face a mystery while
exploring in Zion National Park.
Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith
This collection of short stories tells about the Chicago adventures of Ray Halfmoon, a
Seminole-Cherokee boy, and his grandfather.
Sacagawea by Lise Erdrich
This story of the famous Shoshone woman who aided Lewis and Clark generally sticks to
the known facts of Sacagawea’s life.
Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews
Eva, a young Inuit girl, learns to walk alone under the ice to gather mussels.
Independent ReadersThe Girl who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
This award-winning story tells of a Plains Indian girl who loves horses and longs to run
free with them.
Minik’s Story by Jennifer Owings Dewey
Many cultural facts of the Inuits are depicted in this story of a 12-year-old Inuit girl.
The Place at the Edge of the Earth by Bebe Faas Rice
In this ghost story, Jenny and Jonah Flying Cloud work together, sometimes in each
other’s time periods, to send Jonah back to live with his tribe.
Warrior Angel by Robert Lipsyte
Sonny Bear, a Moscondaga Nation heavyweight champ, must fight his way back to the
top.
Who Will Tell My Brother? by Marlene Carvell
Evan, a Native American teenager in New York, continues his brother’s campaign to
remove the Indian as his high school’s mascot.