Indigenous Peoples Day

Are you a member of the American Indian community and want your children to see themselves reflected in the books they read? Do you want to learn more about the American Indian experience with your kids, but don't know where to find books that are reliable and culturally appropriate? The American Indian Library Association has developed the American Indian Youth Literature Awards to "identif[y] and honor.. the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity." (from the AILA website).  What better way to celebrate Indigenous People's Day than by reading books created by people from the vastly diverse and beautiful communities of indigenous people in this county:

Take a look at the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Awards and Honorees list.  These books are on the shelves at a B&ECPL library near you..  Check them out!

2020 Award Winners:

Picture Book
Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child
"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.

Middle Grade Book
Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis
When Regina's Umpqua tribe is legally terminated and her family must relocate from Oregon to Los Angeles, she goes on a quest to understand her identity as an Indian despite being so far from home. 

YA Book
Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith 
When Louise Wolfe's boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. She'd rather spend her senior year with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, an ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper's staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director's inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. As tensions mount at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey. But 'dating while Native' can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey's? -- adapted from jacket