These kids books about Native Americans are great read alouds for the month of November for National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. These Native American picture books would tie in nicely with a Thanksgiving social studies unit during this time, but can really be used any time of the school year.
If you are looking for any of the following, then you will find the list of the best Native American books for kids below helpful.
- picture books about Native American culture
- children’s books with Native American characters
- books for Native American Heritage Month
- best children’s books about Native American history
- children’s books about Native American heritage
Check out the full list of kids books about Native Americans below!
5 Kids Books about Native Americans
Below are 5 quality kids books about Native Americans that are great Native American Heritage Month books and fall read alouds. Your elementary students will love listening to these Native American read alouds and learning about this group of people!
1. Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard
One of the best Native American children’s books is Kevin Noble Maillard’s book, Fry Bread. It teaches readers about the Native American tradition of making fry bread. This book is rich with figurative language as the author describes what fry bread is, what it looks like and what it tastes like.
Readers will learn how making fry bread is an important part of the Native American culture. It shows how it is a way for them to gather as a family and community. This is one of my favorite children’s books about Native American culture, which is why I added it to my Starts With a Story collection. Check out these Fry Bread activities!
 | 
|
|  |
2. Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child
Windy Girl and her dog Itchy Boy love spending time with their uncle. Some of their favorite memories are driving in his pickup truck listening to stories about powwows from the past. Windy Girl feels that the best nights of the summer take place at the powwow. She enjoys listening to the music, watching the dancers, and eating treats like snow cones and popcorn.
Readers learn about the powwow through Windy Girl’s experience. At the powwow, children stay up late dancing and fall asleep outside under the northern lights. In the book, Windy Girl has a weird and wonderful dream at the powwow. Her dream takes readers on a journey of past powwows. She imagines veterans from the past, a visiting drum group, and various kinds of dancers. Thankfully, Windy wakes up in time for the last dance of the night.
Brenda Child’s book Bowwow Powwow, is a great read aloud to teach students about the cultural importance of powwows and the importance of gratitude. Check out these Bowwow Powwow activities!
 | 
|
|
| |
3. The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin
This Native American fairytale is a take on the classic story, Cinderella. There was a man who had three daughters, two of which were mean and cruel. They made other daughter stoke the fire, and as she had scars all over, they called her The Rough-Faced Girl.
There was a great and powerful Invisible Being, and when a woman was able to see him, they would marry. The two elder, evil sisters claimed to have seen him, but when they were asked questions, they shamefully did not know the answers.
Then one day, the Rough-Faced Girl went to see the Invisible Being. She saw his bow and his sled, two of the tests to marry the man. They wed and lived happily ever after! Check out these The Rough-Face Girl activities!
| 
|
|
| |
4. We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
This is one of the most popular children’s books on Native American culture. We are Water Protectors is about a girl and her people who live in a village. They are water protectors, and they honor and appreciate everything water has done for them. It is the first medicine, it nourishes all life, and it is sacred. When a black snake threatens her people’s land, the girl rallies her village to stand against the threat. This is one of my favorite books in this category, which is why I added it to my Starts With a Story collection. Check out these We Are Water Protectors activities!
| 
|
|
| |
5. Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Jenna daydreamed at the kitchen table about her grandmother as a Jingle Dancer. She loves and appreciates the tradition of jingle dancing. This has been passed from generations down to her. So, when she finally can do it herself, she goes on a mission to find jingles to help her dress sing.
Jenna visits various people in her life, asking to borrow rows. Eventually, with the help of her grandmother and a pair of moccasins, she collects enough to dance in the powwow!
As Jenna dances, she thinks of all the people who helped her to get to this powwow. She dedicates her dance to them! Check out these Jingle Dancer activities!
 | 
|
|
| |
Get All of the Related Book Companions
Save money by scooping up all of the Native American Heritage Month book companions!
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
We hope you found this list of kids books about Native Americans helpful! As I mentioned above, these are great children’s books for Native American Heritage Month, but can be used any time of the year. If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
