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Race/Culture: First/Native Nations/American Indian/Indigenous

Unstoppable

2018

by Art Coulson and Nick Hardcastle

In the autumn of 1912, the football team from Carlisle Indian Industrial School took the field at the U.S. Military Academy, home to the bigger, stronger, and better -equipped West Points Cadets. Sportswriters billed the game as a sort of rematch, pitting against each other the descendants of U.S. soldiers and American Indians who fought on the battlefield only 20 years earlier. But for lightning-fast Jim Thorpe and the other Carlisle players, that day's game was about skill, strategy, and determination. Known for unusual formations and innovative plays, the Carlisle squad was out to prove just one thing- -that it was the best football team in all the land.

Biography

The spirit trackers

2018

by Jan Bourdeau Waboose and François Thisdale

Native telling of the Windigo, the Night Spirit of Winter, told by an uncle elder to two Aboriginal cousins, and the tracking of the feared creature into the forest. This illustrated story is populated with raven, moose and other forest animals, the Spirit Moon and a cold winter night; a heartwarming story of family, love, togetherness and respect for the environment.--Provided by publisher

Beautiful Life

Only in My Hometown / Kisimi taimaippaktut angirrarijarani

2017

by Angnakuluk Friesen, Ippiksaut Friesen and Jean Kusugak

The northern lights shine, women gather to eat raw caribou meat and everyone could be family in this ode to small-town life in Nunavut, written in English and Inuktitut. Sisters Angnakuluk Friesen and Ippiksaut Friesen collaborate on this story about what it's like to grow up in an Inuit community in Nunavut. Every line about the hometown in this book will have readers thinking about what makes their own hometowns unique. With strong social studies curriculum connections, Only in My Hometown introduces young readers to life in the Canadian North, as well as the Inuit language and culture. Angnakuluk's simple text, translated into Inuktitut and written out in syllabics and transliterated roman characters, is complemented by Ippiksaut's warm paintings of their shared hometown.

Beautiful Life

The gathering

2018

by Theresa Meuse-Dallien and Art Stevens

Celebrated Mi'kmaw writer and artist depict a young Mi'kmaw girl's first spiritual gathering (mawiomi) in this vibrant picture book. Alex is attending her first Mi'kmaw spiritual gathering, or mawiomi. Though she is timid at first, older cousin Matthew takes her under his wing. Meeting Elders along the way, they learn about traditional Mi'kmaw culture: the sacred fire, drumming, tanning and moccasin decorating, basket-and canoe-making, and enjoy a Mi'kmaw feast. Most importantly, Alex finds her voice in the talking circle. With contemporary illustrations by renowned artist Leonard Paul, The Gathering is an inclusive story that will educate and entertain Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike.--Provided by publisher

All around us

2017

by Xelena Gonzalez and Adriana M. Garcia

Finding circles everywhere, a grandfather and his granddaughter meditate on the cycles of life and nature.

Wilma’s way home

2019

by Doreen Rappaport and Linda Kukuk

A picture book biography of Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation.--Provided by publisher

Biography

First laugh

2018

by Rose Ann Tahe, Bo Flood and Jonathan Nelson

The First Laugh Ceremony is a celebration held to welcome a new member of the community. As everyone—from Baby's nima (mom) to nadi (big sister) to cheii (grandfather)—tries to elicit the joyous sound from Baby, readers are introduced to details about Navajo life and the Navajo names for family members. Back matter includes information about other cultural ceremonies that welcome new babies and children, including man yue celebration (China), sanskaras (Hindu) and aquiqa (Muslim).--provided by publisher

Beautiful Life Race/Culture Concepts

Bowwow powwow

2018

by Brenda J. Child, Gordon Jourdain and Jonathan Thunder

When Uncle and Windy Girl attend a powwow, Windy watches the dancers and listens to the singers. She eats tasty food and joins family and friends around the campfire. Later, Windy falls asleep under the stars. Uncle's stories inspire visions in her head: a bowwow powwow, where all the dancers are dogs. In these magical scenes, Windy sees veterans in a Grand Entry, and a visiting drum group, and traditional dancers, grass dancers, and jingle-dress dancers -- all with telltale ears and paws and tails. All celebrating in song and dance. All attesting to the wonder of the powwow.--Provided by publisher

Beautiful Life

Song on the wind

2018

by Caroline Everson and Anne Marie Bourgeois

In fourteen gentle stanzas, sleepy & dash-eyed children throughout history draw comfort from bedtime tales and tender lullabies. Here, their innate curiosity about the world around them is satisfied by timeless music that drifts through centuries on the wind. Loving parents sing of white polar bears, northern lights, sea creatures, and woodland animals that dance under the stars and visit each child on the edge of sleep. Evocative rhyming text and vivid images will call little ones back time and again to hear the song that drifts into their own special dreams and links them to past and future generations.--Provided by publisher

Many of the cover images on this site are from Google Books.

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