Recommended books for (late) early to (early) middle years (‘first round’ picks in red)
Ahenakew, Freda. (Illus. Sherry Farrell Racette). (1999). Wisahkecahk flies to the moon. Winnipeg, MB:
Pemmican Publishing. ISBN: 0921827571
Amnesty International UK. (2008). We are all born free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in
Pictures. London, UK: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. ISBN: 1845076508
Ancona, George. (1993). Powwow. Orlando, FL: Harcourt. ISBN: 0152632697
Andre, Julie-Ann, & Willett, Mindy. (2008). We feel good out here. Calgary, AB: Fifth House. ISBN:
9781897252338
Andrews, Jan. (1985). Very last first time. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. ISBN: 9780888990433
Armstrong, Jeannette. (Illus. Ron Hall). (2005). Dancing with the cranes. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books.
ISBN: 9781894778701
Armstrong, Jeanette, C. (Illus. Barbara Marchand). (2008). Neekna and Chemai. Penticton, BC: Theytus.
ISBN: 9781894778565
Ashamock, Annie. (2007). Cedar child hear the teachings. Owen Sound, ON: Ningwakwe Learning
Press. ISBN: 9781896832760
Auger, Dale. (2006). Mwakwa talks to the loon: A Cree story for children. Surrey, BC: Heritage House.
ISBN: 9781894974325
Baker, Olaf. (Illus. Stephen Gammell). (1981). Where the buffaloes begin. New York: Puffin Books.
ISBN: 0140505601
Bateson-Hill, Margaret. (Illus. Christine Fowler). (2001). Shota and the star quilt. Chicago, IL: Zero to
Ten. ISBN: 1840890231
Baylor, Byrd (Illus. Peter Parnall). (1978). The other way to listen. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
ISBN: 9780689810534
Baylor, Byrd. (Illus. Peter Parnall). (1986). I’m in charge of celebrations. New York: Aladdin. ISBN:
9780689806209
1
Baylor, Byrd. (Illus. Peter Parnall). (1986). The way to start a day. New York: Aladdin. ISBN:
9780689820083
Baylor, Byrd. (Illus. Peter Parnall). (2008). The table where rich people sit. New York: Aladdin. ISBN:
9780689820083
Berkes, Marianne. (Illus. Jennifer DiRubbio). 2010). Going home: The mystery of animal migration.
Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publications. ISBN: 9781584691273
Brodsky, Beverly. (2003). Buffalo (with selections from Native-American song poems; illustrated with
original paintings). Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside. ISBN: 1550415891
Browne, Vee F. (2008). The stone cutter and the Navajo maiden. Flagstaff, AZ: Salina Bookshelf.
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Paul Morin). (1993). Fox song. Toronto: Oxford University Press. ISBN:
0195410009
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Rocco Baviera). (1994). A boy called Slow. New York: A Paperstar. ISBN:
069811616X
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Susan L. Roth). (1994). The great ball game. New York: Dial Books for Young
Readers. ISBN: 9780803715394
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Diana Magnuson). (1999). The trail of tears. New York: Random House. ISBN:
0679890521
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. S.D. Nelson). (2000). Crazy Horse’s vision. New York: Lee & Low. ISBN:
9781584302827
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Teresa Flavin). (2000). Pushing up the sky. Seven Native American plays for
children. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780803721685
Bruchac, Joseph. (2001). Skeleton man. New York: HarperTrophy. ISBN: 9780064408882
Bruchac, Joseph. (2004). Jim Thorpe’s bright path. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN:
9781584301660
Bruchac, Joseph. (2004). The dark pond. New York: HarperTrophy. ISBN: 9780060529987 Harcourt.
ISBN: 0803729219
2
Bruchac, Joseph. (2006). The seven teachings. Victoria, BC: Trafford Publishing.
Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Bill Farnsworth). (2008). Buffalo song. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN:
9781584302803
Bruchac, Joseph, & Bruchac, James. (Illus. Kayeri Akweks). (2000). Native American games and stories.
Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing. ISBN: 9781555919795
Bruchac, James, & Bruchac, Joseph. (Illus. Stefano Vitale). (2008). The girl who helped thunder and
other Native American folktales. New York: Sterling. ISBN: 9781402732638
Bruchac, Joseph. (2002). Navajo long walk. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. ISBN:
0792270584
Bunting, Eve. (Illus. Irving Toddy). (1995). Cheyenne again. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN:
9780618194650
Bunting, Eve. (Illus. John Sanford). (1997). Moonstick: The seasons of the Sioux. New York: Joanna
Cotler Books.
Bushey, Jeanne. (2004). Orphans in the sky. Calgary, AB: Northern Lights Books for Children. ISBN:
0889952914
Calahasen, Stella. (2009). Dream catcher. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books. ISBN: 9781894778923
Campbell, Nicola I. (Illus. Kim LaFave). (2005). Shi-shi-etko. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. ISBN:
978-0-88899-659-6
Campbell, Nicola I. (2008). Shin-chi’s Canoe. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. ISBN:
9780888998576\
Carriere, Ken. (2002). The bulrush helps the pond. Saskatoon, SK: Gabriel Dumont Institute. ISBN:
0920915655
Chartrand, Jane, & Nolan, Dionne. (Illus. James Mathieu Chambers). (2009). I want to be in the show.
Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican Publications. ISBN: 9781894717526
Chartrand, Jane. (2005). The bear’s long tail: A tale retold. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican. ISBN:
9781894917311
3
Chartrand, Jane. (2004). The dream catcher pool. Winnipeg: Pemmican Publications. ISBN: 1894717260
Cherry, Lynne. (1992). A river ran wild. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 9780152163723
Christopher, Matt. (2006). Lacrosse face-off. New York: Little Brown, and Company. ISBN: 0316796417
Christopher, Matt. (2008). Lacrosse firestorm. New York: Little Brown, and Company. ISBN:
9780316016315
Cleaver, Elizabeth. (1977). The loon’s necklace. Toronto, ON: Oxford University Press. ISBN:
0195406753
Corbiere, Emilie. (Illus. Cynthia Steinborn). (2006) Porcupine’s bad day. Tottenham, ON: Red Road
Publishing. ISBN: 0978063309
Cumming, Peter. (2004). Out on the ice in the middle of the bay. Toronto, ON: Annick Press. ISBN:
1550378716
Denny, Elizabeth. (Illus. Chris Auchter). (2008). Jenneli’s dance. Pentiction, BC: Theytus Books. ISBN:
9781894778619
Dimaline, Cherie. (2010). Seven gifts for Cedar. Owen Sound, ON: Ningwakwe Learning Press.
Dorian, Betty. (2004). Melanie Bluelake’s dream. Regina, SK: Coteau Books. ISBN: 1550500813
Dorian, Leah, & Fleury, Norman. (2009). The giving tree: A retelling of a traditional Metis story.
Saskatoon, SK: The Gabriel Dumont Institute. ISBN: 9780920915905
Dorris, Michael. (1994). Guests. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children. ISBN: 0786813563
Dorris, Michael. (1992). Morning Girl. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children. ISBN:
078681358X
Dorris, Michael. (1996). Sees Behind Trees. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children. ISBN:
9780786813575
Enzoe, Pete, & Willett, Mindy. (Illus. Tessa Macintosh). (2010). The caribou feed our soul. Markham,
ON: Fifth House. ISBN: 978-1-897252-67-3
Erdrich, Lise. (2002). Bears make rock soup and other stories. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book
Press. ISBN: 0892391723
4
Eyvindson, Peter. (Illus. Wendy Wolsak). (1987). The wish wind. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 9780921827030
Eyvindson, Peter. (Illus. Rhian Brynjolson). (1993). The missing sun. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 9780921827290
Eyvindson, Peter. (Illus. Rhian Brynjolson). (1996). Red parka Mary. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 0921827504
Garcia, Emmett, “Shkeme.” (Illus. Victoria Pringle). (2006). Coyote and the sky: How the sun, moon, and
stars began. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. ISBN: 9780826337306
Goble, Paul. (1978). The girl who loved wild horses. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN:
9780689716966
Goble, Paul. (1983). Star boy. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780689714993
Goble, Paul. (1985). The great race of the birds and animals. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN:
9780689714528
Goble, Paul. (1986). Buffalo woman. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780689711091
Goble, Paul. (1987). Death of the iron horse. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780689716867
Goble, Paul. (1987). The gift of the sacred dog. New York: Aladdin Press. ISBN: 0020432801
Goble, Paul. (1988). Her seven brothers. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 068971730X
Goble, Paul. (1990). Dream wolf. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780689815065
Goble, Paul. (1993). Beyond the ridge. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 0689717318
Goble, Paul. (1996/2002). The return of the buffaloes. Washington, DC: National Geographic. ISBN:
0792265548
Goble, Paul. (1997). Love flute. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780689816833
Goble, Paul. (1998). The legend of the white buffalo woman. Washington, DC: National Geographic.
ISBN: 0792265521
Goble, Paul. (1998). The lost children. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780689816833
Goble, Paul. (2003). Mystic horse. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780060298135
5
Goble, Paul, & Medicine Crow, Joe. (2009). The earth made new: Plains Indian stories of creation.
Bloomington, IN: World Wisdom. ISBN: 9781933316673
Goble, Paul. (2005). All Our Relatives. Bloomington, ID: World Wisdom Inc. ISBN: 9780941532778
Greene, Gracie. (1992). Tjarany roughtail. Broome, WA: Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation.
Guest, Jacqueline. (2004). Belle of Batoche. Victoria, BC: Orca. ISBN: 9781551432977
Halfmann, Janet. (2006). Polar bear horizon. Norwalk, CT: Soundprints. ISBN: 9781592497621
Heller, Janet Ruth. (Illus. Ben Hodson). (2006). How the moon regained her shape. Mount Pleasant, SC:
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Highway, Tomson. (2011). Fox on the ice. Calgary, AB: Fifth House. ISBN: 978-1-897252-65-9
Hobbs, Will. (Illus. Jill Kastner). (1997). Beardream. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN:
9780689319730
King, Sandra. (1993). Shannon: An Ojibway dancer. Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue Editions. ISBN:
0822596431
King, Thomas. (Illus. Johnny Wales). (1998). Coyote sings to the moon. Toronto: Key Porter Kids.
King, Thomas. (Illus. Johnny Wales). (2004). Coyote’s new suit. Toronto, ON: Key Porter Kids. ISBN:
9781554702398
King, Thomas. (Illus. Gary Clement). (2009). A Coyote solstice tale. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
ISBN: 9780888999290
Klippenstein, Blaine. (Illus. Christie Jedele). (2008). Andrea’s fiddle. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books. ISBN:
9781896201825
Kusugak, Michael Arvaarluk. (Illus. Vladyana Langer Krykorka). (1998). Arctic stories. Buffalo, NY:
Annick Press. ISBN: 1550374532
Kusugak, Michael Arvaarluk. (Illus. Vladyana Krykorka). (1990). Baseball bats for Christmas. Buffalo,
NY: Annick Press. ISBN: 9781550371444
Kusugak, Michal Arvvarluk. (1993). Northern lights: The soccer trails. Buffalo, NY: Annick Press.
ISBN: 1550373390
6
Lacapa, Michael. (1990). The flute player. Flagstaff, AZ: Rising Moon Books. ISBN: 9780873586276
Lane, Phil, Jr. (1984). The sacred tree. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press.
Lewis, Wendy A. (2008). Lacrosse warrior: The life of Mohawk lacrosse champion Gaylord Powless.
Toronto, ON: James Lorimer & Company. ISBN: 9781550371444
Loewen, Iris. (Illus. Allan Pakarnyk). (1986). My mom is so unusual. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 0919143377
Lourie, Peter. (2007). Arctic thaw: The people of the whale in a changing climate. Honesdale, PA: Boyd
Mills Press.
Love, Ann, & Drake, Jane. (2000). The kids book of the far north. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press. ISBN:
1550745638
Loyie, Larry, & Brissenden, Constance. (Illus. Heather D. Holmlund). (2001). As long as the rivers flow.
Pentiction, BC: Theytus Books. ISBN: 9780888996961
Loyie, Larry, & Brissenden, Constance. (Illus. Heather D. Holmlund). (2005). The gathering tree.
Penticton, BC: Theytus Books. ISBN: 1894778286
Loyie, Larry, & Brissenden, Constance. (2006). When the spirits dance. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books.
ISBN: 1894778405
Loyie, Larry, & Brissenden, Constance. (2008). Goodbye Buffalo Bay. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books.
ISBN: 9781894778626
Lunge-Larsen, Lise, & Preus, Margi. (1999). The legend of the lady slipper. New York: Houghton
Mifflin. ISBN: 9780618432318
Matthews, Lizzie. (2000). Wee-sa-ki-jahk and the trees. Timmins, ON: Ojibway and Cree Cultural
Centre. ISBN: 091952317X
Mattinas, Albert. (2000). One time when Wee-sa-ki-jahk was walking. Timmins, ON: Ojibway and Cree
Cultural Centre. ISBN: 0919523188
McDermott, Gerald. (1993). Raven: A trickster tale from the Pacific Northwest. Orlando, FL: Voyager
Books. ISBN: 9780152024499
7
McDermott, Gerald. (1994). Coyote: A trickster tale from the American southwest. New York: Harcourt
Brace & Company. ISBN: 9780152207243
McDermott, Gerald. (2001). Jabuti the tortoise: A trickster tale from the Amazon. Orlando, FL: Voyager
Books. ISBN: 9780152053741
McDermott, Gerald. (1992). Papagayo: The mischief maker. Orlando, FL: Voyager Books. ISBN:
9780152594640
McLellan, Joe. (Illus. Jim Kirby). (1989). The birth of Nanabosho. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 9780921827009
McLellan, Joe. (Illus. Don Monkman). (1990). Nanabosho steals fire. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 9780921827054
McLellan, Joe. (Illus. Rhian Brynjolson). (1991). Nanabosho dances. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican
Publications. ISBN: 9780921827146
McLeod, Tom and Willett, Mindy (Photographs by Tessa Macintosh). (2008). The Delta is My Home.
Calgary, AB: Fifth House Ltd. ISBN: 9781897252321
Napoli, Donna Jo. (2011). The Crossing. Toronto, ON: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN:
9781416994749
Neering, Rosemary. (1999). Louis Riel. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside. ISBN: 1550414658
Nelson, S. D. (1999). Gift horse: A Lakota story. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN:
9780810941274
Nelson, S. D. (2003). The star people: A Lakota story. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 9780810945845
Nelson, S. D. (2006). Quiet hero: The Ira Hayes story. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN:
9781600604270
Nelson, S. D. (2010). Black Elk’s vision: A Lakota story. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 9780810983991
8
Oughton, Jerrie. (Illus. Lisa Desimini). (1992). How the stars fell into the sky: A Navajo legend. Boston,
MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 9780395779385
Racette, Sherry Farrell. (2009). The flower beadwork people. Saskatoon, SK: Gabriel Dumont Institute.
ISBN: 9780920915974
Reid, Gordon. (2002). Head-smashed-in buffalo jump. Calgary, AB: Fifth House. ISBN: 9781894004831
Rivera, Raquel. (2007). Orphan Ahwak. Victoria, BC: Orca Publishers.
Rivera, Raquel. (2008). Tuk and the whale. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
Rivera, Raquel. (2007). Arctic Adventures. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. ISBN: 9780888997142
Schoenherr, John. (1991). Bear. New York: Philomel Books.
Shaw-Mackinnon, Margaret. (Illus. Laszlo Gal). (1996). Tiktala. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
ISBN: 9780888997142
Shemie, Bonnie. (1989). Houses of snow, skin and bones. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books. ISBN:
0887763057
Shemie, Bonnie. (1993). Mounds of earth and shell. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books. ISBN: 0887763189
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. (2007). Tantalize. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763640590
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. (2002). Indian Shoes. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN:
9780060295318
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. (Illus. Stephen Gammell). (1989). Dancing teepees. New York: Holiday
House. ISBN: 9780823407248
Sockabasin, Allen. (Illus. Rebehak Raye). (2005). Thanks to the animals. Gardiner, MA: Tilbury House
Publishers. ISBN: 9780884482703
Taylor, C. J. (2006). All the stars in the sky: Native stories from the heavens. Toronto, ON: Tundra
Books. ISBN: 9780887767593
Taylor, C. J. (2004). Peacewalker: The legend of Hiawatha and Tekanawita. Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra
Books. ISBN: 9780887765476
9
Taylor, C. J. (1993). How we saw the world: Nine Native stories of the way things began. Toronto, ON:
Tundra Books. ISBN: 9780887763731
Taylor, C. J. (2009). Spirits, fairies, and merpeople: Native stories of other worlds. Toronto, ON: Tundra
Books. ISBN: 9780887768729
Taylor, Cora. (2002). Angelique: Book one, Buffalo hunt. Toronto, ON: Penguin Group. ISBN:
0141002719
Taylor, Cora. (2005). Angelique: Book two, The long way home. Toronto, ON: Penguin Group. ISBN:
0143014633
Taylor, Cora. (2005). Angelique: Book three, Autumn alone. Toronto, ON: Penguin Group. ISBN:
0143050087
Taylor, Cora. (2006). Angelique: Book four, Angel in the snow. Toronto, ON: Penguin Group.
Taylor, Harriet Peck. (1997). Coyote places the stars. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN:
9780689815355
Trottier, Maxine. (Illus. Stella East). (1999). Dreamstones. Toronto, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
ISBN: 0773731911
Trottier, Maxine. (Illus. John Mantha). (2000). Storm at Batoche. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry &
Whiteside. ISBN: 1550051032
Ulmer, Mike. (2004). The gift of the Inuksuk. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN:
9781585362141
Wargin, Kathy-jo. (2007). The Voyageur’s Paddle. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN:
9781585360079
Waboose, Jan Bourdeau. (Illus. Karen Reczuch). (1998). Morning on the lake. Toronto, ON: Kids Can
Press. ISBN: 9781550745887
Wallace, Mary. (1999). The inuksuk book. Vancouver, BC: Raincoast Books. ISBN: 1897066139
Wallace, Mary. (2001). Make your own inuksuk. Toronto, ON: Owlkids Books Inc. ISBN:
1897066147
10
Wallace, Mary. (2008). Inuksuk journey: An Artist at the top of the world. Toronto, ON: Maple Tree
Press. ISBN: 9781897349267
Wallace, Mary. (2009). “I” is for inuksuk: An Arctic celebration. Toronto, ON: Maple Tree Press.
ISBN: 9781897349571
Weesk, Anastasia. (2000). One Time When Wee-sa-ki-jahk Was Walking. Timmins, ON: Ojibway and
Cree Cultural Centre. ISBN: 0919523188
Weesk, Anastasia. (2000). Big Skunk, and Wolverine and the Wolves. Timmins, ON: Ojibway and
Cree Cultural Centre. ISBN: 0919523196
Whetung, James. (Illus. Paul Morin). (1996). The vision seeker. Toronto, ON: Stoddart. ISBN:
0773729666
Wise, Bill. (2007). Louis Sockalexis, Native American baseball pioneer. New York: Lee & Low
Books. ISBN: 9781584302698
11