The Libri Foundation

National American Indian Heritage Month

Adopted by the Eagles, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-6.

When White Hawk and Tall Bear, sworn to be friends for life, fall in love with the same woman, White Hawk resorts to treachery and abandons his friend to face certain death on a narrow ledge on a deserted butte. Tall Bear, however, is saved by the eagles. When he returns to his village, White Hawk flees in shame.

Apache Rodeo, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Grades 3-6.

Ten-year-old Felecita, who lives on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, prepares to enter the White Mountain Apache Tribes' annual rodeo in the barrel racing competition and goat tying contest. Includes an overview of Apache history and culture, the Sunrise Ceremony, and life on the reservation today.

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale, by Gerald McDermott. Grades 3-6.

An adaptation of the Pueblo myth which explains how the spirit of the Lord of the Sun was brought to the people.

The Children of the Morning Light: Wampanoag Tales, by Manitonquat, illus. by Mary F. Arquette. Grades 3-6.

The Children of the Morning Light are the Wampanoag Indians of Massachusetts, the people who met the Pilgrims at Plymouth. A respected elder retells in his own voice 11 tales of his people. Each story is accompanied by a full-color, full-page illustration by Arquette, a Mohawk artist.

Crow Chief: A Plains Indian Story, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-3.

The myth of the white-feathered Crow Chief who alerts grazing buffalo of approaching hunters.

Dancing Teepees: Poems of American Indian Youth, selected by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. Grades 1-4.

Selections from the oral tradition of Native Americans and from contemporary tribal poets.

Dream Wolf, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-3.

A wolf helps two lost children find their way home. Their tribe honors the wolf and declares everlasting friendship with the wolf people. Includes a page of Native American wolf poems.

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-3.

A young girl's love of wild horses is tested, but her eventual triumph enables her to become one of them.

Home to Medicine Mountain, by Chlori Santiago, illus. by Judith Lowry. Grades 1-4.

Stanley and Benny Len ride hundreds of miles atop a freight car as they flee home to their family from the government-run Indian boarding school they were forced to attend. Set in California in the 1930s and based on the true story of the author's father and uncle.

Iktomi and the Boulder, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-3.

The first of Goble's Iktomi the trickster tales. In this story, Iktomi loses his blanket to a boulder.

An Indian Winter, by Russell Freedman, illus. by Karl Bodmer. Grades 4 up.

In 1833-34, Maximilian, a German prince, and Karl Bodmer, a Swiss artist, wintered with the Mandan and Hidatsa in what is today North Dakota. This is their story, told against the background of the Indians' culture and enhanced by Bodmer's original drawings.

The Lost Children: The Boys Who Were Neglected, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-3.

Homeless, hungry, and abused by their community, six orphaned brothers decide to become stars. They are welcomed in the Above World by Moon Woman and Sun Man and become the constellation Pleiades, known to the Blackfoot as the Lost Children or the Bunched Stars.

Maria Martinez: Pueblo Potter, by Peter Anderson. Grades 3-5.

Celebrates the life and work of Martinez, who developed her craft from the traditions of her people and became a nationally acclaimed artist.

Native Artists of North America, by Reavis Moore. Grades 2-5.

Using a broad definition of art, this work introduces contemporary Native American Artists-two painters, a beadworker, a dancer, a musician, and a dollmaker.

Native American Doctor: The Story of Susan LaFlesche Picotte, by Jeri Ferris. Grades 4-6.

Susan LaFlesche (1865-1915) grew up on the Omaha reservation in Nebraska and became the first Native American woman to graduate from medical school. After receiving her degree from the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia, LaFlesche returned to her reservation to practice medicine and became a leader of her people.

Navajo Code Talkers, by Nathan Aaseng. Grades 5-9.

During World War II, Navajo volunteers overcame extreme prejudice to play a vital role in the defeat of the Japanese by developing an unbreakable code in their native language, which they used to send and receive military messages for U.S. intelligence.

The People Shall Continue, by Simon Ortiz, illus. by Sharol Graves. All grades.

Described in the reference book Through Indian Eyes as the "single best overview of Native History for younger children."

Plains Warrior: Chief Quanah Parker and the Comanches, by Albert Marrin. Grades 6 up.

In 1836, nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was captured by a Comanche raiding party. Raised a Comanche, she married a chief and had three children. Her firstborn, Quanah, also became a chief and fought a losing battle to save his people and preserve their way of life.

Rising Voices: Writings of Young Native Americans, selected by Arlene B. Hirschfelder and Beverly R. Singer. Grades 5 up.

Over 100 years of poetry, stories, songs, and essays by young Native Americans, with extensive biographical information on the contributors.

The Return of the Buffaloes: A Plains Indian Story about Famine and Renewal of the Earth, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. Grades K-6.

Based on the Lakota legend of the mysterious young woman who brought the buffalo out of Wind Cave in the Black Hills of South Dakota and saved the People from starvation.

Sacajawea: The Story of Bird Woman and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, by Joseph Bruchac. Grades 6 up.

Alternating first-person narratives weave Sacajawea's recollections of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with those of Captain William Clark. An engaging novel of two extraordinary people who participated in one of the greatest adventures in American history.

The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering, by Gordon Regguinti. Grades 3 up.

Eleven-year-old Glen Jackson, Jr., an Ojibwa Indian from the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota, takes part in his first sacred harvest and learns how to harvest, parch, winnow, and cook the wild rice grown by his people.

Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina, by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Wells, illus. by Gary Kelley. Grades 2-4.

A picture-book autobiography of Maria Tallchief's early years, from her childhood on the Osage Indian reservation in Oklahoma and her formative dance training in Los Angeles to her departure as a 17-year-old for New York City, where she joins the New York City Ballet and becomes an international star.

Toughboy and Sister, by Kirkpatrick Hill. Ages 8-12.

Two orphaned Athabascan Indian children take care of each other during the months they are marooned at their family's summer fishing camp, proving they are worthy of respect and deserve to stay together in their native village rather than being sent to relatives.

When the Rain Sings: Poems by Young Native Americans, by National Museum of the American Indian. Grades 4 up.

A collection of 37 poems by young Native Americans writers (ages 7-17). The poems are either their personal reactions to and associations with images of Native artifacts from the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian or they are paired with photographs from the NMAI.

The Winter People, by Joseph Bruchac. Grades 5-9.

On his own, 14-year-old Saxso must track and rescue his mother and two younger sisters after they have been taken hostage by the British soldiers who raided their village. Told from the Abenaki perspective, the French and Indian Wars are seen from an entirely different light in this taut historical novel, based on Abenaki and personal family history.

Women in American Indian Society, by Rayna Green. Grades 6 up.

Discusses prevailing images, stereotypes, and Native women's return to the traditional leadership roles they held before their displacement by European beliefs about the proper roles for women.

Day of the Dead (November 1st and 2nd)

Fiesta U.S.A., by George Ancona. Grades 3-5.

With colorful photographs, readers are invited to share in four Hispanic holidays, in four different locales: El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) in San Francisco; the processions of Las Posadas in Albuquerque (Mary and Joseph's attempt to find lodging in Bethlehem); the New Year's day dance of Los Matachines in El Rancho, New Mexico; and La Fiesta de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings' Day) in East Harlem, New York.

Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead, by George Ancona. Preschool-Grade 2.

Pablo and his family celebrate All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day, Mexico's three-day festival which honors the memory of the dead.

Veterans' Day (November 11th)

The Wall, by Eve Bunting, illus. by Ronald Himler. Grades 1-3.

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in search of his grandfather's name. This moving picture book is a good choice for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or for any discussion about war and its consequences.

Remember Pearl Harbor: American and Japanese Survivors Tell Their Stories, by Thomas B. Allen. Grades 4 up.

Based on first-person oral histories, this is a short, but compelling presentation of one of the most dramatic events to occur in the 20th century.

Soldier's Heart: A Novel of the Civil War, by Gary Paulsen. Grades 6 up.

In this short, stark, realistic tale of one boy's enlistment and service in the Union Army during the Civil War, Paulsen shows both the physical horrors of actual combat and the mental anguish suffered by so many survivors. Loosely based on the life of Charley Goddard who enlisted at age 15 and died a broken man at age 23.

Georgia O'Keeffe's Birthday (November 15, 1887)

My Name is Georgia, by Jeanette Winter. Grades K-4.

Using primitive, folk-art illustrations by the author rather than O'Keeffe's own work, this picture-book biography introduces young readers to one of this century's most famous artists.

National Children's Book Week (November 12-18, 2007)

Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo. Grades 4-6.

The heart-warming story of 10-year-old India Opal Buloni, who, with her preacher father, has recently moved to Naomi, Florida and how a big, ugly-but-lovable dog she befriends in the produce department of a Winn-Dixie grocery store helps her make friends and come to terms with the fact that her mother abandoned her family.

The Boggart, by Susan Cooper. Ages 8-12.

Accidentally shipped to Canada in an antique desk, a Scottish boggart, an ancient mischievous spirit, wrecks havoc on his new family. It is up to Emily and Jessup to get him back to Scotland before he causes a major catastrophe.

Bubba and Beau, Best Friends, by Kathi Appelt, illus. by Arthur Howard. Preschool-Grade 2.

Baby Bubba and Beau the puppy love each other and Bubba's blankie. When Mom washes the blanket and ruins its wonderful smell, the two are in shock. Then, she washes them. Oh, heavens! Now the blanket matches their own soapy-clean smell and all is right with their world.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin. Preschool-Grade 3.

Tired of living in a cold barn, Farmer Brown's cows use a clanking old typewriter to write a note demanding electric blankets. No blankets, no milk. The farmer's troubles mount when the hens, in a show of solidarity, quit laying eggs. A laugh-out-loud introduction to labor relations for the picture book crowd.

Farm Flu, by Teresa Bateman, illus. by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Preschool-Grade 2.

After Mom leaves the farm for the day, all the animals come down with the flu. Her son decides to care for the animals just like his mother would care for him-with hilarious results. When the now indoor farm animals begin having too much fun being sick, the son again imitates Mom and takes away their TV and other goodies.

Gossie, by Olivier Dunrea. Preschool-Grade K.

Gossie is surprised to find her missing red boots on the feet of another, smaller gosling named Gertie. Friendship prevails as Gossie decides sharing with Gertie is as much fun as having red boots.

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss. Picture Book.

The classic favorite featuring Sam-I-am, as well as green eggs and ham.

If You Give a Moose a Muffin, by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illus. by Felicia Bond. Preschool-Grade 2.

A moose smells muffins cooking and starts a hilarious chain reaction of curious events. Fun for all.

Julie, by Jean Craighead George, illus. by Wendell Winor. Grades 4-6.

In this sequel to the 1972 Newbery Winner Julie of the Wolves, Julie struggles to adjust to the changing world of her own family and of her people. Her father has forsaken many of the old ways: he has married a non-Eskimo woman, become head of the village's corporation, and threatens to kill Julie's beloved wolves if they endanger the musk oxen, who represent the village's financial security. Her life is further complicated by a young man from Siberia.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes. Picture Book.

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her wonderful teacher Mr. Slinger. However, when he refuses to let her interrupt class to show off her new movie star glasses, three shiny quarters, and purple plastic purse, she draws a mean picture of him and sneaks it into his book bag. Oh, what remorse she feels when he returns her possessions and she finds a nice note and bag of tasty snacks in the bottom of her purse. Lilly's parents help her make amends and she is again a happy, and perhaps a little wiser, mouse.

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, by Joseph Slate, illus. by Ashley Wolff. Preschool-Grade 1.

As each of her 26 animal students gets ready for the first day of school, Miss Bindergarten, a border collie, and her parrot prepare the classroom. The rhyming text is perfectly matched by child-appealing watercolor illustrations. The last page includes class pictures of all the students, from Adam Alligator to Zack Zebra. Great read-aloud fun.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Paint the Porch, by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Arthur Howard. Grades K-3.

One day Mr. Putter innocently decides to paint his porch. What he didn't count on is all the "help" he receives from his cat Tabby and Zeke, the dog next-door. It takes three tries, but finally Mr. Putter has a newly painted yellow porch-and the neighborhood has a pink squirrel and a blue chipmunk. Another satisfying adventure in this popular series.

My Life in Dog Years, by Gary Paulsen. Grades 4-10.

This is Paulsen's affection portrait of just a few of the important dogs who have shared his life. The eight chapters, one to a dog, begin with his first puppy, Snowball, given to him as a 7-year-old living in the Philippines and ends with Josh, a border collie who worked on his New Mexico ranch. A book to touch the heart of all animal lovers.

Sheep in a Jeep, by Nancy Shaw, illus. by Margot Apple. Board Book.

In this hilarious rhyming tale, a silly gang of sheep have an adventurous ride in a jeep.

Tops and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens. Ages 4-7.

When land-owning but lazy Bear goes into the vegetable business with the poor but industrious Hare family, he gets beaten at every turn by their ingenuity. Although the story is marvelous fun, the illustrations are the true winners in this updated Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear tale.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszka, illus. by Lane Smith. Picture Book.

In the 10th anniversary edition of this modern day classic, the wolf not only gives his version of what really happened when he visited the three little pigs, but he adds a new chapter-his perspective of ten long years in jail.

Abigail Adams' Birthday (November 22, 1744)

Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution, by Natalie S. Bober. Grades 6-12.

The exciting 18th-century world of Abigail Adams, a woman of her times and a woman for all times.

Sojourner Truth's Death Anniversary (November 26, 1883)

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Stephen Alcorn. Grades 4-7.

Biographical sketches of ten noted African-American women who helped further the cause of civil rights. Included are: Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethue, Rosa Parks, Biddy Mason, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Ella Josephine Baker, Dorothy Irene Height, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Shirley Chisholm.

Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, by Anne Rockwell, illus. by Gregory Christie. Grades 3-5.

This picture-book biography covers Sojourner Truth's early life as a Dutch-speaking child named Isabella, the successful court case she waged as a freed slave against her former master for illegally selling her son, and the tireless crusade against slavery she began at age 46, when she renamed herself Sojourner Truth.

Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?, by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick McKissack. Grades 5-8.

Drawing on Truth's own Narrative, the authors integrate her personal story with a general history of slavery, resistance, and the leading figures in the abolitionist movement.

Thanksgiving Day (November 22, 2007)

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message, by Chief Jake Swamp, illus. by Erwin Printup Jr. Grades K-3.

According to the author, "the words in this book are based on the Thanksgiving Address, an ancient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants... These works are still spoken at ceremonial and governmental gatherings held by the Six Nations." The Six Nations are the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora. The entire text is given in Mohawk on the last page.

Guests, by Michael Dorris. Ages 8-12.

An introspective novel of a young Native American boy, caught between childhood and adulthood, who struggles to find his place in the world. He is especially upset that guests, who know neither his people's language nor customs, are to be invited to the annual harvest feast, to what was perhaps the first Thanksgiving.

Molly's Pilgrim, by Barbara Cohen, illus. by Michael J. Deraney. Grades 1-3.

Third-grader Molly, a recent immigrant from Russia, is the target of many schoolmate cruelties due to her clothing and accent. When her mother helps her with a class project, making a doll for Thanksgiving, she dresses it in the traditional clothing of her own youth. Her mother tells Molly that just as the Pilgrims fled England in order to freely practice their religion, so they fled Russia, making them Pilgrims. Of course, Molly's doll looks nothing like the other children's dolls and leads to more teasing. But it is Molly's special doll teaches her classmates the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

Wild Turkey, Tame Turkey, by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, photographs by William Munoz. Grades 4-6.

An informative look at the wild turkey and its domesticated cousin.

About the Booklist

The librarian of each library participating in the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program selects the books her library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation. The 700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the list reflect the very best of children's literature published within the last three years, as well as a selection of classic favorites. Although the complete booklist is for the sole use of libraries participating in the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program, the website features an ever-changing selection of books from current and past booklists.

Top of Page

November Birthdays: Authors and Illustrators | Fundraising Ideas | Grant Recipients | Links to Related Sites | More Books & Birthdays | Wish List Books

Home

©1996-2008 The Libri Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.