Books are always a great idea for a gift for a child. Selecting Native American children’s books is a way to encourage an interest in history along with acceptance of different cultures in the world around us. Children are often fascinated to learn about the First Peoples who lived on the North American continent before the European explorers and settlers arrived and most grade levels in the America’s have at least one unit of study that covers the history and culture of Native Americans.
Here is a compilation of books for a variety of age levels that would make excellent Christmas gifts for children although, they would also make an awesome Birthday gift, too.
While teaching a child to count from 1 to 10, this book also celebrates Native American traditions such as weaving, fishing, and storytelling. Each number introduces a facet of Native American culture. It might be the weaving of the Navajo or the corn dances of the Pueblo. The brilliant illustrations that accompany each number have incredible detail and the simple rhyming text makes this book a joy to read at story time or bedtime.
Awarded “Best Book Of The Year” by Parents Magazine when it was first published this book is truly a cut above most counting books. Sylvia Long’s illustrations are just delightful.
Appropriate for ages Baby to 2 years of age.
A simply delightful book that teaches both traditions and skills of the Native American cultures to children in an easy to follow method. The children learn the methods used by the First Peoples who inhabited the North American continent in ways of gardening, making pottery, and even communicating with Navajo codes.
Reviewers of this book comment on the excellent activities and crafts that are included in the book and that is makes for a terrific resource for a unit study on Native American history. Perfect for the classroom teacher and home schooling parent. Also a wonderful book to have for a Cub Scout Den to create projects!
Recommended for ages 3 to 5 although 6 and 7 year old children can also do a lot with this book
If You Lived With The Cherokees
This book is one in a series of books that tells children about different Native American tribal traditions. The topic for this book teaches children what it would have been like to have grown up in the Cherokee tradition of long ago.
Full color illustrations compliment the information about the Cherokee language, their games, dwellings, names, medicine and so much more. Illustrated by Kevin Smith who is a Cherokee artist.
Recommended reading for children in the third grade and up or ages 7 years and older
Geronimo: Young Warrior (Childhood of Famous Americans)
Historical fiction for children is a good way to describe this book. Based on the famous Native American figure, Geronimo, the story tells what his childhood was most probably like in a way that will capture a child’s interest. Sprinkled with historical facts and well written.
Geronimo was an Apache and led one of the last uprisings in the United States. This book should not be looked at as an actual biography of the man, but rather a way for a child to gain some insight and interest in the history of the United States.
Recommended reading level for children 8 years old and older.
A chapter book for children to enjoy that takes to the Pacific Northwest before the fur traders and missionaries arrived to change the lives of the Native Americans who lived there. River-Song is a young girl who happens to be the daughter of the Chief. The story tells of the lifestyle of her people along with changes that are taking place. Will she become the leader of her people as her father hopes?
A great book for children 10 years of age or older or Grade 5 and higher grades
These look like great children’s book choices, Katinka. I like the fact that you’ve covered a variety of age groups.