from the bookshelf
November is Native American Heritage Month. The New Orleans Public Library has great reads for all ages to celebrate, honor, and learn about the history and culture of Indigenous people in the United States.
CHILDREN Indigenous from A to Z by Traci Sorell & Natasha Donovan is a stunning alphabetical introduction to the rich history of Native peoples across the USA. Letter by letter, award- winning author Traci Sorell (Cherokee) offers terms that speak to both the vast diversity among Native Nations and the many connections they share, building an essential foundation of understanding for young readers. Explore themes of gratitude while learning about the Anishinaabe people and their language in Chi Miigwech, Big Thank You by Astra Márta & Jordan Stranger, which takes the reader on a journey of thanks for the natural world. The Women Before Us: Weaving Stories in My Huipil by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez & Dana Sanmar reveals the history behind the intricate and handwoven Mayan tunic and how it can connect generations of Guatemalan women. MIDDLE GRADE Female Indigenous Heroes: 51 North American Women from the 1800s to Today by Katrina M. Phillips is a collection of biographies for kids that explores the lives of North American Indigenous women from different backgrounds, life experiences, and eras who achieved amazing things in art, science, medicine, sports, and more. For fantasy-loving kids, check out Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique, an epic adventure inspired by Indigenous American mythology about a band of misfit children who must pull off an impossible heist to save the world. Discover how the lives of buffalo, Indigenous people, and the North American prairie have long been intertwined in Welcome Home, Buffalo: Restoring Connections Between People, Prairie, and Bison by Sandra Markle & Ferin Davis Anderson. Along with recounting historical and scientific information, the book incorporates the perspective of Indigenous environmental scientist Ferin Davis Anderson. TEEN In Our Own Words: True Stories of Indian Boarding Schools by Brenda J. Child & Benay
McNamara is an in-depth history examining letters to and from boarding schools. With a special focus on the Haskell Institute in Kansas, the Flandreau School in South Dakota, and the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, this work offers an unfiltered look at letters written by parents, children, and school officials—all of which convey the impacts of the boarding school era, from illnesses to poor living conditions, homesickness, and the suppression of Native languages. Medicine Wheels by Byron Graves is the unforgettable story of a gifted young Ojibwe athlete learning to ride in his father’s footsteps while practicing for a skateboarding championship, written by American Indian Youth Literature and Morris Award-winning author of Rez Ball. Native to This Land: A History of Indigenous Rights in North America by Heather Bruegl uncovers the rich tapestry of Indigenous histories, highlighting the enduring spirit that continues to thrive. This examination of Indigenous rights shows an evolving landscape where the struggle for justice and self-determination is as crucial as ever.
Kacy Helwick is the youth collection development librarian for the New Orleans Public Library’s collections and acquisitions department. Marie Simoneaux is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
8 NOVEMBER 2026 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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