Independent Reading Suggested Books for Honoring Indigenous Peoples
See our Independent Reading for Elementary Students Teacher Tool for guidance on how to use the suggested texts below.
Fiction Texts with Connecting Topics and Themes
- Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson (740L)
- I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
- I am Not a Number by Dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer (640L)
- Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorell (720L)
- Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith (650L)
- Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light by Tim Tingle
- Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwaaso Tradition) by Marcie Rendon
- Stolen Words by Melanie Florence (530L) *
- When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton (760L) **
- When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson (600L)
Informational Texts to Build Content Knowledge
- A Kid’s Guide to Native American History: More than 50 Activities by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder
- An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (1220L)
- Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from the Past and Present by Adrienne Keene
- Red Cloud: A Lakota Story of War and Surrender by S.D Nelson
- Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman by Sharice Davids and Nancy K. Mays
- Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People by S.D. Nelson
- The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson (730L)
- True Books: American Indians series by Kevin Cunningham
- What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me by Alexis Bunten
- Young Water Protectors by Aslan Tudor, Kelly Tudor, and Jason Eaglespeaker
* lower Lexile or qualitative measures than core text.
** higher Lexile or qualitative measures than core text.
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