Books with Native American Characters

Last updated: March 24, 2026

From picture books to historical fiction to contemporary coming-of-age novels, this list offers a variety of options for books about and in most cases by Native Americans. Check out our selection of books for kids, tweens, and teens celebrating the many experiences of Indigenous characters. Some are classics, often assigned in school as powerful and provocative teaching tools. Others are recent looks at the modern experience of Indigenous kids and teens. But all of them are captivating and compelling stories. For more great reads, check out our Historical Fiction and Books About Families lists.

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Fry Bread Poster Image

BOOK

Fry Bread

age 3+

Lyrical tale shows role of special food in family, culture.

Kevin Noble Maillard Picture Book (2019)

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Let's Go book cover: Brown-skinned Cree boy in window watching brown-skinned older Cree boy skateboarding outside

BOOK

Let's Go!

age 3+

Joyful book celebrates skateboarding and Cree language.

Julie Flett Picture Book (2024)

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brown-skinned girl and her younger brother hug amid flowers as yellow ducklings walk toward an adult duck

BOOK

We All Love: We Do Too!, Book 2

age 3+

Gentle look at how animals and humans show love to littles.

Julie Flett Picture Book (2026)

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We all play book cover

BOOK

We All Play: We Do Too!, Book 1

age 3+

Kids feel kinship with animals in playful, artful book.

Julie Flett Picture Book (2021)

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We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga Poster Image

BOOK

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

age 3+

Warm celebration of Cherokee families' year-round gratitude.

Traci Sorell Picture Book (2018)

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We Are Water Protectors Poster Image

BOOK

We Are Water Protectors

age 3+

Powerful words, vibrant images inspire care for the earth.

Carole Lindstrom Picture Book (2020)

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A Letter for Bob book cover: An Indigenous family of four including a Dad, Mom, daughter and little brother are all smiling and riding in a white sedan car together; in the background and surrounding them are mountains and trees on a clear, bright day with a few clouds overhead

BOOK

A Letter for Bob

age 4+

Delightful tale about a beloved family car.

Kim Rogers Picture Book (2023)

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Being Home book cover: Native children run and play through trees and flowers

BOOK

Being Home

age 4+

Dreamy tale of young family moving to ancestral homeland.

Traci Sorell Picture Book (2024)

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Berry Song book cover: Indigenous grandmother in white and granddaughter in pink peek through a cluster of berries and leaves

BOOK

Berry Song: Song of the Seasons, Book 1

age 4+

Delicious tale about Tlingit family living with the land.

Michaela Goade Picture Book (2022)

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Bud Finds Her Gift book cover: Brown-haired girl kneels in field of flowers, by a tree, with her white and brown dog, and reaches for a blue butterfly

BOOK

Bud Finds Her Gift

age 4+

Girl learns gratitude, connection to nature in sweet tale.

Robin Wall Kimmerer Picture Book (2025)

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Chooch Helped book cover: Contemporary Cherokee girl looks upset with her little brother, who's spilling water from a watering can onto the floor

BOOK

Chooch Helped

age 4+

Girl grows to accept her brother in sweet sibling tale.

Andrea L. Rogers Picture Book (2024)

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I Sang You Down from the Stars Poster Image

BOOK

I Sang You Down from the Stars

age 4+

Beautiful tale of Indigenous mother preparing for new baby.

Tasha Spillet-Sumner Picture Book (2021)

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Just Like Grandma cover: In a field of trees, a grandma with long grey hair smiles and hugs her granddaughter in floral shirt

BOOK

Just Like Grandma

age 4+

Native girl finds inspiring role model in artistic grandma.

Kim Rogers Picture Book (2023)

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Native American girl with feater in her hiar, in front of a river and a large sun with bird flying

BOOK

My Powerful Hair

age 4+

Gorgeous, poignant story of Indigenous connection, culture.

Carole Lindstrom Picture Book (2023)

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Powwow Day Poster Image

BOOK

Powwow Day

age 4+

Warm, supportive story of a powwow is full of information.

Traci Sorell Picture Book (2022)

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Remember cover: Young girl with curly brown hair holds her hands open; colors, animals, insects and plants swirl around her

BOOK

Remember

age 4+

Gorgeous, poetic reminder of child's place in the world.

Joy Harjo Picture Book (2023)

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Thunder Boy Jr. Poster Image

BOOK

Thunder Boy Jr.

age 4+

Native American boy wants his own name in big-hearted story.

Sherman Alexie Picture Book (2016)

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Too Much: My Great Big Native Family book cover: A young Native boy with long brown hair wears an astronaut suit, various family members of different ages stand around him smiling, background is blue with stars, plants, bison, fish, car, and rocket ship

BOOK

Too Much: My Great Big Native Family

age 4+

Fun tale of boy learning to find his voice in a big family.

Laurel Goodluck Picture Book (2024)

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When the Stars Came Home book cover: Young dark-haired boy looks up while wrapping himself in colorful blanket; on each color section of blanket are memories of his relatives

BOOK

When the Stars Came Home

age 4+

Glowing tale of a boy discovering deeper meaning of home.

Brittany Luby Picture Book (2023)

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cover of Birdsong book

BOOK

Birdsong

age 5+

Gentle story of friendship and nature through the seasons.

Julie Flett Picture Book (2019)

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