Browse Items · Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Tags: native american

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A land of books: Dreams of young Mexihcah word painters

Topnatiuh, Duncan

Aztec artists living in Mesoamerica painted beautifully crafted books to keep the knowledge, culture, and history of the Mexihcah (also known as the Aztec). The process of making paper and obtaining dyes from plants, animals, and rocks is explained, then the way that a painter of words and images will share their work to be sung by a reader in a land of books.

Tags

art, author's note, books, calendar, careers, colors, culture, history, images, interpretation, language, native american, nature, sequence

Where wonder grows

Gonzalez, Xelena

When Grandma goes to her garden, her grandchildren follow so they can gather magic rocks and relics from nature. They use the rocks to learn more about the world and earth. And the rocks are used to send songs and prayers through the air to their ancestors. Down into the water, they dive to see the rocks. Grandma reminds her granddaughters that "water names and breaks even the biggest rocks, very slowly, over time. So when life feels too hard, just remember to go with the flow".

Tags

author's note, bodies of water, colors, earth, fish, garden, grandparents, multicultural, mystery, native american, nature, night, perspective, rocks, shells, space, traditions

Fry bread: A Native American family story

Maillard, Kevin Noble

Children help a Native American grandmother make fry bread while learning about the history, social ways, food, art, and politics of America's 573 recognized Indian tribes.

Tags

america, art, author's note, baking, colors, diversity, family, five senses, food, friendship, geography, heritage, history, native american, nutrition, preparation, recipe, sounds, storytelling, variety

We all play

Flett, Julie

Just as humans do, animals play and sleep too! Rabbits love to hide and hop while bears love to wiggle and wobble. As a result, all living things are connected and everyone maintains the responsibility to look out for each other.

Tags

activities, alliteration, animals, baby, bat, bear, birds, buffalo, colors, fox, goose, language, multicultural, native american, rabbit, seal, snake, turtle, wolf

The good luck cat

Harjo, Joy

Woogie, the cat, is thought to have good luck. But when she goes missing, will her good luck run out or will it bring her back home before her nine lives run out?

Tags

animals, birds, cat, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dog, family, feelings, goal setting, happiness, luck, missing, multicultural, native american, parents, sadness, verbal communication

Amelia to zora

Chin-Lee, Cynthia

Explore in an alphabet formula, biographies that examine different successes and triumphs of famous women in history from Amelia Earhart to Zora Neale.

Beyond turkey

Herman, Debbie // Koffsky, Ann D.

Almost 400 years ago, pilgrims traveled to North America. They met and befriended the Indians of the area. The different cultures came together to prepare a harvest and a celebration. This celebration became known as Thanksgiving.

Let's dance

Ancona, George

Children from all backgrounds move and dance to different rhythms of their culture. Dances range from tap to folk dances and from Native American dance to Tibetan dance. There are many forms, types, and styles of dance a person can do to express their emotions. There are different dances for men, women, animals, and puppets too!

Tags

acrobat, afghani, african american, american, appalachian, body parts, celebration, child care, chinese, clothing, congo, creativity, culture, dancing, england, feelings, greek, india, indian, instruments, jumping, korean, mexican, moving, multicultural, native american, nature, puppets, relationship, rhythm, sadness, scottish, singing, spain, storytelling, turkish, yak

The magic kite

Stanbridge, Bobette

A kite travels to America through time and watches America change and grow. Katy the kite spends time with a young girl in a city until it becomes too busy to fly. A Native American medicine man teaches Katy to speak to mother earth, father sky, angels, and fairies.

Tags

angel, animals, birds, butterfly, elephant, friendship, grasshopper, imagination, insects, kite, magic, multicultural, native american, picnic, prayer, spiritual, tree, turtle

Count down to fall

Hawell, Fran

Count backwards from ten to one during one of the most colorful times of the year. Learn about bright, colorful leaves and the trees from which they fall. Watch the animals frolicking in the crisp, autumn air as they get ready for the approaching cold winter.

Tags

animals, bear, beaver, cat, chipmunk, counting, deer, fall, frog, moon, native american, opossum, owl, raccoon, seasons, squirrel, tortoise, tree

So happy!

Henkes, Kevin

A magic seed was planted, a rabbit wandered, and a little boy just wanted something to do. Just before it began to rain the seed became thirsty, the rabbit was lost, and the little boy was bored. The rain brought happiness to the boy and left the rabbit wet and scared. As the seed grew, the boy built a bridge to reach it and the rabbit used it to cross the creek to return to his family. The little boy returned home with the flower that grew from the seed as a present to his mother.

Tags

animals, bodies of water, boredom, creek, family, fear, feelings, happiness, imagination, magic, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, parents, plants, rabbit, rain, seed, sun, weather

Napi

Ramirez, Antonio

Napi and her Mazateca Indian family live in a village on the bank of a river. As Napi relaxes in the garden and listens to her grandfatherʼs stories, she notices the vibrant colors in the trees, village, river, and animals around her. Napi dreams of being a heron, flying softly above her world.

Tags

animals, birds, bodies of water, colors, culture, customs, day, dreams, family, grandparents, heron, language, mexican, multicultural, native american, river, storytelling

How the moon regained her shape

Heller, Janet Ruth

Influenced by Native American folktales, this fascinating story deals with bullying, self-confidence, and understanding the phases of the moon. After the sun insults and bullies her, the moon gets very upset and disappears - much to the chagrin of rabbits who miss their moonlight romps. With the help of her friends, the moon gains more self-confidence each day until she is back to her full size.

Tags

animals, beauty, dancing, depression, feelings, folktale, forest, friendship, happiness, moon, multicultural, native american, night, rabbit, self esteem, song, sun

Loon chase

Diehl, Jean Heilprin

A boy discovers that his domesticated dog still has powerful instincts similar to animals in the wild. There is a surprise encounter between the dog and a mother loon: the bigger animal doesn't necessarily prevail. In his moment of wonder, the boy finally meets the loon himself.

Tags

animals, birds, bodies of water, critical thinking, dog, family, fear, feelings, independence, lake, loon, multicultural, native american, nature, parents, play, relief, teamwork, transportation

Shi-shi-etko

Campbell, Nichola I.

Shi-shi-etko is a young Native American who will be leaving for residential school in a few days. Before she leaves, her family takes her on walks and canoe rides to learn about nature. She gathers all the information she can and adds them to her memories before leaving.

Tags

critical thinking, family, grandparents, learning, multicultural, native american, nature, parents, school, traditions

Welcoming babies

Knight, Margy Burns

People celebrate the gift of a new baby in different ways around the world. Babies are welcomed into their families using different customs like singing, kissing, touching, blessing, naming, and other special actions.

Tags

adoption, afghani, african, cambodian, correspondence, customs, family, food, glossary, grandparents, indian, iranian, Jewish, korean, language, multicultural, muslim, native american, pakistani, parents, puerto rican, quakers, siblings, spanish, spiritual, traditions, vietnamese

Nutik, the wolf pup

Gearge, Jean

As Eskimo girl brings a sickly wolf pup home to her brother who cares for it until it's old enough to rejoin the pack. The two grow close, so when it is time for the pup to leave, they can't say good-bye.

Tags

animals, caring, companion, conflict resolution, courage, decision making, family, feelings, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, parents, pets, sadness, show, siblings, storytelling, weather, wolf

The golden rule

Cooper, Ilene

A boy and his grandfather are standing on a city sidewalk when they see a billboard starting Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The boy asks his grandpa what it says and the grandpa reads it and explains the Golden Rule. The boy is intrigued by the rule and starts asking questions. The grandpa explains that each religion has their own version of the Golden Rule. They discuss what the world would be like if everyone followed the Golden Rule. The boy starts to understand the Golden Rule and the grandpa reminds him that the Golden Rule starts with one person: You. It beings with you.

Buffalo

Brodsky, Beverly

The buffalo was very important for the survival of Native Americans. Learn about the history and importance of the buffalo. Excerpts from Native American songs and many original paintings add an artistic dimension.

The bell ringer and the pirates

Coerr, Eleanor

Pio is a young Indian who lives on a mission. The people at the mission discover that pirates will arrive in two days so they hide in the hills. Pio stays behind to ring the bells so his friends and family know when the pirates come and leave.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, family, friendship, helping, multicultural, native american, pirates, refusal skills, sounds

Folks call me appleseed john

Glass, Andrew

Johnny Appleseed is one of America's favorite heroes. As he travels across the wilderness of a peaceful land, he meets people and leaves behind appleseeds.

Tags

adventures, animals, bodies of water, cave, critical thinking, decision making, exploration, heroism, lake, native american, neighbors, nonverbal communication, plants, river, verbal communication, wolf

Buffalo bill and the pony express

Coerr, Eleanor

A young, determined Buffalo Bill uses his head to overcome nature and the dangers of the old west.

Tags

animals, critical thinking, determination, horse, native american, nature, robbery, wolf

Sky dogs

Yolen, Jane

A young orphan boy lives with his tribe of Blackfeet Native Americans. He witnesses the introduction of horses and becomes good with them as his tribe is changed forever.

Tags

animals, horse, loneliness, multicultural, native american, orphan

There still are buffalo

Clark, Ann Nolan

In the Dakotas, a buffalo bull baby is born to the Sioux. Its life is traced as it learns from the herd and grows to eventually become its leader.

Tags

animals, bull, cowboys, critical thinking, growing up, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, parents

Ten little rabbits

Grossman, Virginia

Rabbits are shown in Native American tradition. Count to ten as the rabbits perform various rhyming activities. Includes a glossary on Native American customs.

Tags

animals, counting, customs, multicultural, native american, numbers, rabbit, rhyme, traditions

The chief's blanket

Chanin, Michael

After the rain, Flower longs for a day when she will see the great chief. When she has to make a blanket for him, she doubts her weaving skills. With her grandmother's love and encouragement, Flower makes the blanket. Will the chief ever receive such a gift?

Tags

anger, animals, author's note, canyon, clouds, colors, confidence, decision making, excitement, family, feelings, flowers, garden, giving, goal setting, grandparents, happiness, horse, illness, multicultural, native american, nature, plants, sadness, spiritual

Moonstick: The seasons of the sioux

Bunting, Eve

A young Sioux is taught the way of life by his father. The young boy is too young to do many things, but one day he will be able to do what he is taught. When the seasons change, he makes another notch in his moonstick.

Tags

author's note, change, family, growing up, learning, moon, multicultural, native american, parents, poetry, rhyme, seasons, self esteem, spring, summer, traditions, verbal communication, winter

The popcorn book

dePaola, Tomie

Where does popcorn come from?This book gives the history of popcorn along with some helpful hints for storing, preparing, and popping popcorn.

Tags

celebration, food, history, multicultural, native american, nutrition, plants, recipe

Three fools and a horse

Baker, Betty

Three Fools (a fictional tribe invented by the Apache Indians) go looking for buffalo and see horses for the first time. Three of the Indians want a horse to help them become big, important men. Instead of becoming bigger men, they make bigger fools of themselves.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, food, helping, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, self esteem, verbal communication

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Morris, Ann

A rhyme about shoes from all over the world ranges from new shoes to work shoes, game shoes to fun shoes.

Tags

american, bolivian, british, canadian, clothing, columbian, dancing, dutch, exercise, geography, guatemalan, italian, japanese, kenyan, mexican, moroccan, mountains, multicultural, native american, rain, romanian, russian, seasons, snow, soccer, spanish, sports, swedish, swimming, transportation, walking, weather

The storyteller

Weisman, Joan

Lottie moves from her Indian Pueblo village to the city. She misses her Pueblo life until she meets an old woman with whom she shares old Pueblo stories. A new friendship is made when they share their stories.

Tags

change, coping, friendship, loneliness, loss, memories, moving, multicultural, native american, sharing, storytelling

The great encounter: A special meeting before columbus

Piercy, Patricia A

An African American tells the story of the discovery of America from a different point of view. He brings new knowledge to an excited and interested elementary classroom while telling the historical story.

Tags

acceptance, african american, critical thinking, discovery, diversity, fear, feelings, history, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, school, self esteem, storytelling

Small wolf

Benchley, Nathaniel

Small Wolf, a young Indian Boy, wants to become a man, so he goes off to the woods to hunt. While there, he finds white men who do not want to talk and they shoot at him. The tribe moves time and time again away from the white men, until there is no where else to move and their tribe dies out.

Tags

decision making, growing up, multicultural, native american, nature, woods

Encounter

Yolen, Jane

A Taino boy tells his view of Columbus' landing. He doesn't like the pale men and how the islanders are treated. He speaks out against this but no one listens because he is young.

Tags

critical thinking, frustration, history, island, listening, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, refusal skills

Chile fever: A celebration of peppers

King, Elizabeth

Each year, Hatch, New Mexico, has a festival to celebrate being the chile pepper capital of the world. The history of chile peppers, the different types of chiles, the making of ristras (garlands of red chiles), and the Hatch Chile Festival are described.

Tags

author's note, celebration, colors, farm, food, history, language, multicultural, native american, nutrition, plants, recipe

Corn-on and off the cob

Fowler, Allan

The many different ways corn can be used and prepared are discussed. Other topics include the history of corn and the way corn is grown.

Tags

farm, food, multicultural, native american, nutrition

Death of the iron horse

Goble, Paul

Native American legends guide their people. The story of an iron horse proved to come true when the Native Americans witnessed a train crash. In an attempt to keep the white men from stealing more land, the Native Americans burned the objects from the train.

The worry stone

Dengler, Marianna

When growing up, Amanda loved her Grandfather and his stories. But now that Amanda is old, she feels lonely. One day at the park she befriends a lonely boy. She is able to give the boy something very special. Then he gives her something in return.

Tags

aging, author's note, death, family, feelings, folktale, fossil, giving, grandparents, hope, loneliness, memories, multicultural, native american, park, rocks, self esteem, sharing, storytelling, verbal communication, worry

The three little javelinas

Lowell, Susan

Cousins of pigs (known as javelinas) attempt a daring rescue from the hungry coyote. The angry coyote huffs and puffs to blow the house down of the first and second javelinas--but not the third!The hungry coyote has a sizzling surprise in the adobe house where the three little javelinas live happily ever after.

Tags

animals, author's note, coyote, critical thinking, decision making, desert, escape, family, language, multicultural, native american, refusal skills, resolution, siblings, spanish, teamwork, trick, unselfish

The mud family

James, Betsy

Susi and her family are in desperate need of rain to save their corn and land. If it does not rain soon Susi and her family will have to move to a different place. Susi runs away to a secluded place and prays to her mud family to bring rain to the canyon. Eventually, the rain does come bringing Susi back to the family that needs her most of all.

Brother eagle, sister sky

Seattle, Chief

A Squamish Indian chief describes his people's respect and love for the earth and also his concern for its destruction.

Tags

destruction, environment, multicultural, native american, nature

Joanjo

Balet, Jan

Joanjo is sick of life in his fishing village. He dreams of a life far away from the village. He awakens to realize that perhaps a fisherman's life is a good life after all.

Tags

careers, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, dreams, goal setting, multicultural, native american

The dream stair

James, Betsy

A young girl lives with her grandmother. When she goes to sleep at night, she dreams about going up and down the stairs of life.

Tags

decision making, dreams, family, grandparents, images, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, perspective, secrets, sleep, verbal communication

Grandmother five baskets

Larrabee, Lisa

A Native American girl learns how to make baskets from an elderly woman. As she learns, she also discovers many things about her life and herself.

Tags

art, decision making, determination, learning, multicultural, native american, persistence, self esteem

Beyond the ridge

Goble, Paul

A grandmother takes a spritual journey of death while her family copes with their loss.

Tags

conflict resolution, death, decision making, family, grandparents, multicultural, native american, self esteem, stress management

Annie and the old one

Miles, Miska

Annie's grandmother tells her that as soon as her weaving is finished, she will return to the the earth. Annie tries to find many ways to avoid the completion of the weaving; however, she realizes at the conclusion of the story that fate and life cycles are inevitable.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, death, family, feelings, goal setting, grandparents, love, multicultural, native american, progress, protection, sadness, sewing, stress management, verbal communication, weaving

Seven brave women

Hearne, Betsy

A young girl tells the story of her family's history. She explains how each of her female ancestors played a very important role in the shaping of this family's history.

Tags

aging, airplane, anger, animals, art, author's note, basketball, boat, careers, coping, farm, feelings, flowers, german, god, grandparents, history, horse, hospital, instruments, loneliness, loss, medicine, multicultural, music, native american, parents, school, science, sports, storytelling, transportation, war

Indian summer

Monjo, F.N.

During the American Revolution, a father fights under General George Washington. This leaves the mother and children to fend off some Indians by themselves.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, coping, critical thinking, decision making, family, history, native american, nonverbal communication, parents, safety, stress management, verbal communication, war

Fox song

Bruchac, Joseph

Jamie remembers her grandmother and all the things that they did together. These memories help Jamie deal with the loss of her grandmother.

Tags

change, coping, critical thinking, death, family, grandparents, loss, love, memories, multicultural, native american, traditions

The land of gray wolf

Locker, Thomas

Running Deer, a young Native American boy, helps fight the white settlers from taking over their native land. The white men kill many members of the tribe and take Running Deer and others to a reservation.

Tags

assertiveness, community, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, growing up, history, multicultural, native american, settlers, verbal communication

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