Kim Rogers (Wichita and Affiliated Tribes)

Jonathan Nelson (Navajo)

Katie’s family has a car named Bob, who has traveled many miles with them. When it’s time to get a new car, the family must say goodbye to Bob, and Katie takes this opportunity to reminisce about her childhood memories. One time, Bob took them to visit Katie’s Akah (grandparent) in Shaconage (Smoky Mountains). Bob also accompanied the family to the Wichita Annual Dance. Katie even remembers when she got sick and sat in the back seat after eating “too much fry bread at the Indian Hills Powwow.” Katie says goodbye — and thank you — to Bob for being with them during many Wichita and Cherokee traditions.

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Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation)

Michaela Goade (Tlingit/Haida)

Goodbye is another word for “new beginning.” A young Cherokee girl learns this when her family moves away from their city home. The family is moving back to their ancestral land, and the girl excitedly draws in her sketchbook as her mother drives them to their new beginning. The young girl can’t wait for what lies ahead, like eating a feast with her big, extended family and playing with her cousins by the creek.

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Monique Gray Smith (Cree, Lakota, and Scottish)

Nicole Neidhardt (Diné)

At the Intertribal Community Center, Molly and her family do lots of fun things. Dancing, singing, gardening, praying, learning, and—most of all—being together. Tonight, Molly and her family are going to have a feast. Molly takes this occasion to celebrate everyone she knows: her grandmother, her grandmother’s wife, her uncles and their new child, her cousins, and her friends. Everyone is unique. Together, they make one big circle of love.

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Kim Rogers (Wichita and Affiliated Tribes)

Bobby Von Martin (Choctaw Nation)

This nonfiction picture book follows the life of Clarence Tinker, a member of the Osage Nation. As a child, he was taken from his family and community, then sent to a boarding school. This was an unfortunate and common fate for Native children during this time, and it prevented them from speaking their language or celebrating their customs. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Clarence worked hard and became a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Army. Throughout his life and despite his early childhood circumstances, Clarence was a hero who never forgot—and always treasured—his Osage heritage.

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Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian Nations)

Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation)

Children from different tribes throughout Turtle Island celebrate Rock Your Mocs Week, which is observed in November. These children wear their moccasins as they celebrate their cultures and show intertribal pride. But moccasins aren’t only for special occasions; children can also wear them for playtime and school. This book highlights the cultural significance of moccasins, and it also depicts the different styles and materials used by tribes in the United States and Canada.

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Kaitlin B. Curtice (Potawatomi Nation)

Eduardo Marticorena

Bo is a Potawatomi boy who’s excited for summer. He’s looking forward to gardening, going on walks with his dog, and swimming in the river with his older sister. But his summer plans are interrupted when he learns that his favorite spot is polluted by garbage. Even though Bo is shy, he shares his love for Earth and Creator by inviting his community to care for their planet and celebrate Anishinaabe culture.

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Kealani Netane (Native Hawaiian/Samoan)

Dung Ho

Tala is a Samoan girl who looks up to her Aunty Sina. Tala wishes she could do the traditional dance, taualuga, just like her Aunty. Tala has the perfect opportunity to show her dance moves at her Grandma’s birthday. But when Tala is about to start her performance, she freezes with nervousness. Can she overcome her nerves by drawing on the courage and strength of the family around her?

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Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian Nations)

Bridget George (Anishinaabe)

Russell is a Native boy who yearns for a chance to shine. When he gets a role in the school play, he’s excited to share the news with his family. But his family is a lot! They’re loud and boisterous, and there are so many individual people and personalities that it’s difficult to get the family’s attention. That’s when Russell decides to keep his success to himself. But he soon realizes that being alone is… lonely. Ultimately, Russell learns that a lot of family means a lot of love and support.

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Brittany Luby (Anishinaabe-kwe)

Natasha Donovan (Métis)

When Ojiig and his family move to the city, Ojiig misses the home they’ve left behind. He especially misses the night sky and the stars that would watch over him. His parents try to find alternative ways to comfort him. They try glow-in-the-dark star stickers—and even a star nightlight. Nothing works until they make him a quilt. The stitching weaves family stories into the quilt, which reminds Ojiig of home. Ojiig learns that, as long as he carries his traditions and stories with him, any place can feel like home.

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Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation)

Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation)

A Cherokee child celebrates their heritage by gathering wild onions. This is a special ingredient that will be used in a meal during a big community tradition. Readers are introduced to this custom, which is celebrated by several southeastern tribes.

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