2025 New Picture Book Releases

This book list contains new and upcoming picture books with publication dates in 2025. These diverse titles include depictions of Native children in the contemporary world, accounts of historical Native heroes, introductions to Native traditions and cultures, and much more. Readers learn about the Native skywalkers who helped build cities across North America in To Walk The Sky, are introduced to the traditions of Squamish culture in The Land Knows Me, and witness the tender and meaningful moments surrounding the birth of a baby girl in For a Girl Becoming.

Throughout these pages, Native children will see themselves and their traditions represented and celebrated in literature, while all readers will have valuable opportunities to learn about Indigenous history and cultures.

Book cover of Brave

Brave

Author

Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva)

Summary

Each morning, Dad brushes the knots from his son’s long hair to braid it. The boy winces at the tugging, and at school he’s teased for his braid. But he remembers the stories of how his father and grandpa were forced to cut their hair and forbidden from practicing their traditions when they were young, and how they fought to make it possible for him to wear his hair long. Although it can hurt, having long hair ultimately makes him feel brave and strong.

Book cover of How Rabbit Tricked the Buzzards

How Rabbit Tricked the Buzzards

Author

Arvis Boughman (Lumbee)

Illustrator

MaryBeth Timothy (Cherokee Nation)

Summary

Long ago, when the buzzards were keepers of the fire, they were very stingy. On a frigid winter night Rabbit was freezing, he pleaded with the buzzards to share the warmth of their fire. The buzzards refused, yelling “This is our fire!” The playful Northwest Wind saw rabbit hopping slowly away, it decided to play tricks on Rabbit to make him even colder. Rabbit realized that If he wanted to get warm, and share the warmth with the other animals, he must come up with a clever plan.

Book cover of To Walk The Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities

To Walk The Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities

Author

Patricia Morris Buckley (Mohawk of Kahnawá:ke)

Illustrator

E. B Lewis

Summary

High above the ground, generation after generation, Native workers called skywalkers have sculpted city skylines, balancing on narrow beams, facing down terrifying heights and heartbreaking loss. These skywalkers who dared to touch the heavens have built a legacy of landmarks all over the North American continent—and even today, there are Native Americans still climbing up among the clouds, brave enough to walk the sky.

Book cover of Fierce Aunties!

Fierce Aunties!

Author

Laurel Goodluck (Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian)

Illustrator

Steph Littlebird (Kalapuya (Conf Tribes of Grand Ronde))

Summary

Who do you go to for advice and support? Or when you want an adventure and a little extra courage? Or when you need to find that warrior spirit inside you? Fierce aunties! Aunties come in different shapes, sizes, and ages. They all have different laughs, skills, and stories. They might be your parents’ sisters, your older cousins, or even family friends. But there’s something they all have in common: They’re fierce, they love you, and they’ll help make everything better.

Book cover of Yáadilá! Good Grief!

Yáadilá! Good Grief!

Author

Laurel Goodluck (Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian)

Illustrator

Jonathan Nelson (Diné)

Summary

Bahe and Dezba are helping their grandmother, Nali, move from her sheep camp home to their house. The family is packing up, carrying heavy boxes, and settling into a new life together, which isn’t always easy. At every frustration, they throw up their hands and exclaim, “Yaadila!”, Good grief! Bahe sees that this big change is hardest for Nali. But he has a secret plan. Whatever can he be doing with a bucket of water, all that yarn, and Dezba’s dollhouse?

Book cover of For a Girl Becoming

For a Girl Becoming

Author

Joy Harjo (Muscogee Nation)

Illustrator

Adriana Garcia

Summary

A baby girl is welcomed to the breathing world by generations of her family and set on the magnificent journey of becoming. As she grows, she is reminded of her connections to the natural world; to her family, her ancestors, her neighbors; to the source of all magic and sorrow—and of her responsibility to uphold and honor those connections.

Book cover of Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People

Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People

Author

Kamalani Hurley (Native Hawaiian)

Illustrator

Harinani Orme (Native Hawaiian)

Summary

Beginning with her birth in a volcanic eruption, Kaho‘olawe thrives surrounded by animals on land and in the sea. When Polynesian voyagers arrive and begin to raise their families there, the island is happy. As the years pass, invasive goats devastate the ecosystem, and during World War II and the decades that follow, the US military claims the island for target practice. Kaho‘olawe is hurt. Yet activists never give up on the island, and they finally succeed in reclaiming her Kaho‘olawe endures.

Book cover of The Land Knows Me: A Nature Walk Exploring Indigenous Wisdom

The Land Knows Me: A Nature Walk Exploring Indigenous Wisdom

Author

Leigh Joseph (Squamish Nation)

Illustrator

Natalie Schnitter

Summary

The best way to learn about plants is through observing and interacting with living examples. In this book, through the Indigenous traditions of Squamish culture, readers will learn how to ground themselves on the land, how to introduce themselves in the Squamish language to their plant relatives, and the many teachings about plants, cultural stories, and learnings related to the flora seen on their walk.

The Gift of the Great Buffalo

Author

Carole Lindstrom (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe)

Illustrator

Aly McKnight (Shoshone-Bannock)

Summary

Rose is a young Métis-Ojibwe girl who has traveled far with her family for the biannual buffalo hunt made up of hundreds of other Métis families. The ritual of the hunt has been practiced for generations, and each hunt must see the community through the next six months. But in recent years, the buffalo population has dwindled, and after days on the hunt, there are no buffalo to be found. Can Rose help her family find the herd that will enable them to survive the long winter?

Trade Reviews

Publishers Weekly: “[An] engaging account of prairie life.”

Link to review

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Charlotte’s New Moccasins

Author

Jenn Moudahi (Métis)

Illustrator

Rhael McGregor (Métis)

Book cover of I Am the Sun

I Am The Sun

Author

Janessa Parker (Diné)

Illustrator

Beverly Blacksheep (Diné)

Summary

This story tells of the hardships, the triumphs, and the resilience of a mighty people: the Diné (or the Navajo). They raise sheep. They craft stunning jewelry. They weave vibrant rugs. Still many are without running water or electricity, and their stories and past remain forgotten to nearly all but themselves. This book tells their story, capturing the joy and endurance of a people who love their history, family, language, art, food, dance, and land―and who hope patiently for a day when the sun will rise even brighter.

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The Trickster Shadow

Author

Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Wasauksing First Nation)

Book cover of I Am on Indigenous Land

I am on Indigenous Land

Author

Katrina M. Phillips (Red Cliff Ojibwe)

Illustrator

Sam Zimmerman (Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe)

Summary

I fly my kite above fall-colored hills. I am on Cherokee land. This picture book explores the beauty and resources of thirteen ancestral Indigenous lands and how we all use those lands each day. Simple poetry and portrayals of children and families enjoying rivers, bike paths, beaches, and parks show how everyday activities can include honoring Indigenous cultures.

Book cover of The Sacred Stone Camp

The Sacred Stone Camp

Author

Rae Rose (Paiute/Mayan)

Illustrator

Aly McKnight (Shoshone-Bannock)

Summary

As Water Protectors gather to defend the water and protect the land against a black snake that threatens the rivers that millions of people depend on, a young girl looks to her Unci LaDonna and Lala Miles who are leading the way to the camp. Although she’s nervous about what might happen next, she finds strength from her family and the strangers all coming together to stand up for what’s right.

Book cover of Firefly Season

Firefly Season

Author

Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Nation)

Illustrator

Kate Gardiner (Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians)

Summary

Piper feels grateful for visits with her relatives, especially for the time spent with her cousins in Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Nation during summer vacations, fishing on misty mornings and playing on firefly-filled evenings. Piper’s family lives a road trip away in Kansas City. So when a neighbor named Sumi moves in next door, Piper is excited to share her stories and seasons with a new friend. The two are inseparable—until Piper’s family moves to another city. Their bond overcomes distance, and with time, Piper dreams up a plan to reunite with the people she loves most of all.

Book cover of Raven’s Ribbons

Raven’s Ribbons

Author

Tasha Spillett (Cree)

Illustrator

Daniel Ramirez (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, certified descendant)

Summary

Raven loves round dances. The drums sing to the people, and the people dance to their songs. Raven especially loves dancing with his grandma, sidestepping to the rhythm of the drums. His favourite part of all is watching the ribbon skirts swirl like rainbows. “Nohkum, do you think a boy could wear a ribbon skirt?” Raven asks his grandmother one day. She tells him she has lived for a long time, but she has never seen it. That evening, she sews late into the night, and Raven awakes to a rainbow skirt of his own. “I’ve lived for a long time,” his grandma says, “and I’m lucky to see beautiful things that I’ve never seen before.” At the next dance, Raven wears the swirl of unique ribbons with pride.

Book cover of Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen's First Great Story

Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen’s First Great Story

Author

Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Illustrator

Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation)

Summary

Janie Yolen loves to read, write, dance, and sing. So when her teacher announces Janie’s elementary class will perform a play, Janie is thrilled. There’s just one problem… the play is boring. With the support of her teacher and classmates, Janie rewrites the play, resulting in a hit class musical.

Book cover of I Love Salmon and Lampreys: A Native Story of Resilience

I Love Salmon and Lampreys: A Native Story of Resistance

Author

Brook M. Thompson (Yurok/Karuk)

Illustrator

Anastasia Khmelevska

Summary

Growing up in the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, Brook Thompson learned to care for the fish that nurtured her and her family. She knew that along the Klamath River in Northern California, salmon and lampreys are a needed part of life. But she also saw how these fish were in danger. People had built dams along the Klamath River, making it very hard for salmon and lampreys to live. Tribal people and their friends organized to have four of the dams removed, and they won.

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Our Sacred Mountain: An Ode to Mauna Kea

Author

Ilima Todd (Native Hawaiian)

Illustrator

Shar Tuiasoa (Pasifika/Tongan)

Summary

Mauna Kea stands tall on the island of Hawaii. It is the center of origin, spirituality, and everyday life for those who call the island chain their home. The mountain is also ideal for science, the exploration of space. But when outsiders try to build a telescope so large it threatens the integrity of the natives’ home, people from all over the globe stand tall and peacefully defend that which is sacred.

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Body Beautiful

Author

Susan Verde

Illustrator

Steph Littlebird (Kalapuya (Conf Tribes of Grand Ronde))

Book cover of Baby's First Cherokee

Baby’s First Cherokee

Author

Brad Wagnon (Cherokee Nation)

Illustrator

Beth Anderson (Cherokee Nation)

Summary

This board book introduces toddlers and young children to the Cherokee syllabary. The object in each picture is named in Cherokee, along with the Cherokee pronunciation of the word, and the name of the object in English.

Book cover of Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father's Love

Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father’s Love

Author

Pasha Westbrook (Chickasaw & Choctaw Freedmen descendant)

Illustrator

Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation)

Summary

As a young girl’s father lovingly yet painstakingly braids her hair, he weaves a story about the strength and resilience of their ancestors, Freedmen who walked the Trail of Tears from Mississippi to Oklahoma.

Conclusion

These diverse picture books focus on empowering Native children and celebrating Native cultures, making them wonderful additions to libraries and classrooms. Students will be able to see and connect to Native characters in contemporary settings, learn about Indigenous traditions and cultures, and read about important figures and moments in Native history.

A headshot of author Traci Sorell

About the Author

Traci Sorell

This book list was compiled by author Traci Sorell. You can find her online at https://www.tracisorell.com.