2020 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, selected by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children's Book Council

2019 Best-Of Lists: Best YA Nonfiction of 2019 (Kirkus Reviews) - Best Nonfiction of 2019 (School Library Journal) - Best Books for Teens (New York Public Library) - Best Informational Books for Older Readers (Chicago Public Library)
Spanning more than 400 years, this classic bottom-up history examines the legacy of Indigenous peoples' resistance, resilience, and steadfast fight against imperialism.

Going beyond the story of America as a country discovered by a few brave men in the New World, Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity.

The original academic text is fully adapted by renowned curriculum experts Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza, for middle-grade and young adult readers to include discussion topics, archival images, original maps, recommendations for further reading, and other materials to encourage students, teachers, and general readers to think critically about their own place in history.

From master Hopi woodcarver Mavasta Honyouti, the story of his grandfather's experience at a residential boarding school and how he returned home to pass their traditions down to future generations.

When Mavasta Honyouti was a boy he would go with his grandfather to their cornfield, watching him nurture every plant. During breaks, his grandfather would take out a piece of paako root and use his pocketknife to whittle away. He made beautiful carvings that Mavasta would later learn to do himself.

But Mavasta would often wonder: what was his kwa'a like when he was a boy? And one day, he heard the story.

Mavasta's grandfather, like many Native American children across the country in the late 19th and early 20th century, was forced to leave his Hopi reservation as a child and go to a residential boarding school far away. There, the government cut his hair, punished him for speaking his native language, and gave him a new name. But Mavasta's grandfather never forgot who he was - or where he came from - and he tried to escape again and again. Finally, he made it back to their reservation.

In later years, Mavasta's kwa'a chose a simple life, taking great care of his family just like he took great care of his plants. His son and later his grandson became acclaimed Hopi katsina woodcarvers, just like him. Coming Home: A Hopi Resistance Story is a deeply personal book - written in both English and Hopi - that features sixteen stunning original painted wood carvings. It is an unforgettable testament to one man rising above a painful piece of history to keep the light of his family and culture alive.

The buffalo was the center of Sioux life. After hunting buffalo on horseback, the Sioux people would use every piece of the animal, making food, beds, clothing, storage boxes, and even sleds from the ribs! Discover how the Sioux people lived on the Great Plains with this accessible introduction. Learn about the Sioux creation story, life in the village as a kid, the importance of their feathered headdresses, and more.

This updated edition provides the most up to date and accurate information on the Sioux people of past and present. The back of the book includes a section on Sioux life today, proper names for all of the Sioux tribes, and an excerpt from the Lakota pipe ceremony.

Author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation and for over 40 years has brought the richness of Native American culture and heritage to thousands of children for over 40 years as teacher and children's book author. Her First Americans books introduce young readers to the many diverse and unique Native American nations that first called this land home.

The Seminoles are known as the people who never surrendered. As White settlers continued to encroach on their land, the Seminoles moved farther and farther into the Florida Everglades and adapted to their new environment with their hard work and ingenuity. And after defending their land in three Seminole wars, they never signed a formal peace treaty with the United States.

This accessible nonfiction picture book introduces the Seminoles' early history, daily way of life, ceremonies, and more. Learn how they adapted to the Florida Everglades and their unique cultural practices, like their flat roll hairstyle and the role of an ever-burning fire in the annual Green Corn Dance. This updated edition provides the most up to date and accurate information on the Seminole people of past and present. The back of the book includes a section on Seminole life today.

Author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation and for over 40 years has brought the richness of Native American culture and heritage to thousands of children for over 40 years as teacher and children's book author. Her First Americans books introduce young readers to the many diverse and unique Native American nations that first called this land home.

For young readers, an inspiring story about a river, a successful Native-led movement for environmental justice, and the making of a scientist.

Growing up in the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, Brook Thompson learned to care for the fish that nurtured her and her family. She knew that along the Klamath River in Northern California, salmon and lampreys are a needed part of life. But she also saw how these fish were in danger. People had built dams along the Klamath River, making it very hard for salmon and lampreys to live. Tribal people and their friends organized to have four of the dams removed, and they won. In I Love Salmon and Lampreys, Thompson tells this inspiring tale, and she shares how it motivated her to become a scientist. Featuring adorable illustrations by Anastasia Khmelevska, as well as fun facts about salmon and lampreys, this is a stirring story about stewarding nature for the generations to come.

Choctaw author Leslie Stall and Navajo illustrator Johnson Yazzie come together to share the importance of empathy and kindness.

1845. The Potato Famine devastated Ireland. An ocean away, Choctaw people heard and were moved by the similarities to the injustice they had suffered on the Trail of Tears. Though they had little, they gathered money to donate.

2017. Irish people built a statue to remember their connection to the Choctaw Nation--twenty-foot high feathers in the shape of a bowl.

2020. COVID-19 disproportionately ravished the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe. Irish people remembered the Choctaws' kindness and paid it forward by donating.

Empathy creates kindness that lives well beyond a single act and includes more people the bigger it grows.

♦ A richly detailed, phenomenally told true story about paying it forward through history.
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Includes educational back matter to enhance the reader's experience.

Toypurina grew up in the village of Japchivit, where everyone had a role to play. She loved to gather elderberries from the woods, weave baskets, and listen to her grandmother tells stories. But all that changed when the Spanish came.

As Toypurina grew and became medicine woman of her tribe, she learned about the harsh conditions of the San Gabriel mission. Tongva people who lived there were renamed and no longer allowed to speak their native tongue. They were forbidden to perform their dances and ceremonies. They were whipped and mistreated.

Toypurina knew she had to act, so she organized an uprising against the Spanish rule to fight for her people and their way of life. This book, lushly illustrated by Tongva artist Katie Dorame, marks an important event in Indigenous people's resistance to European colonization and is a testament to Toypurina's bravery.

This award-winning seasonal picture book is for 3-7-year-olds interested in contemporary Indigenous stories that are both accessible and universal for all kid readers.

The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.

Written by best-selling and award-winning Cherokee author Traci Sorell, this look into the Cherokee community is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.

2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book
2019 Sibert Honor Book
2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Book
2019 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book
2019 Reading the West Picture Book Award
NPR's Guide To 2018's Great Reads
2018 Book Launch Award (SCBWI)
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018
School Library Journal Best Books of 2018
2018 JLG selection

A gracious, warm, and loving celebration of community and gratitude--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

The book underscores the importance of traditions and carrying on a Cherokee way of life--Horn Book Magazine, STARRED REVIEW

This informative and authentic introduction to a thriving ancestral and ceremonial way of life is perfect for holiday and family sharing--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

An elegant representation--Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW

What began as a quiet act of resistance soon captured the world's attention. This is the story of Aslan's unforgettable journey to the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock-a camp that became the epicenter of a movement for environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and the protection of sacred lands.

Through Aslan's eyes, readers will witness the courage and determination of the young water protectors who rose up to defend their future. This inspiring narrative offers a firsthand look at life at Standing Rock, from the daily struggles to the powerful moments of unity and strength.

Aslan's story is a call to action and an invitation to reflect on the resilience of Indigenous communities and the importance of standing up for what is right. Be inspired by the unwavering spirit of Standing Rock and the young warriors who made their voices heard.

Mni Wiconi ... Water is Life.

The powerful sequel Young Native Activist is available here: https: //www.amazon.com/dp/1074524748

The best way to learn about plants is through observing and interacting with living examples. Join Held by the Land author Leigh Joseph and her children in The Land Knows Me, an educational, hands-on journey to discover all the wonderful uses and gifts of the plants around us. Through the Indigenous traditions of Squamish culture you'll learn how to ground yourself on the land, how to introduce yourself in the Squamish language to your plant relatives, and the many teachings about plants, cultural stories, and learnings related to the flora seen on your walk.

This essential and colorful introduction to Indigenous plant knowledge includes informative sidebars, reflection questions, and plant names in both Squamish and English so children can learn a new language.

The Land Knows Me concludes with a 15 plant profile directory featuring detailed plant illustrations and kid-friendly botanical drawings to aid in learning about the many great uses for plants and the native history behind them. You'll meet plants like:

• Ḵwiĺayus (kw-ill-eye-os), Red-Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum
• Ḵ'emeláý (k-em-ill-eye), Bigleaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum
• Séliýaý (s-elle-ee-eye), Oregon Grape, Mahonia nervosa
• Xápaýay (hey-pie-eye), Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata
• Ḵwe7úpaý (kw-oh-pa-eye), Pacific Crabapple, Malus fusca
• And more!

Follow the stream, cross the field, and step into a forest full of rich, botanical diversity rooted in history and tradition.

At four years old, Ria Thundercloud was brought into the powwow circle, ready to dance in the special jingle dress her mother made for her. As she grew up, she danced with her brothers all over Indian country. Then Ria learned more styles--tap, jazz, ballet--but still loved the expressiveness of Indigenous dance. And despite feeling different as one of the only Native American kids in her school, she always knew she could turn to dance to cheer herself up.

Follow along as Ria shares her dance journey--from dreaming of her future to performing as a professional--accompanied by striking illustrations that depict it while bringing her graceful movements to life.

Celebrate Indigenous thinkers and inventions with this beautifully designed, award-winning interactive nonfiction book--perfect for fans of Braiding Sweetgrass.

★ This book will amaze readers and teachers. Completely unique and important. --SLJ, starred review

★ Engaging and informative. --Booklist, starred review Essential for kids and adults. We need this book. --Candace Fleming, award-winning author of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal - Shelf Awareness - National Education Society - American Association of Geography - Canadian Children's Book Centre - Nerdy Book Club - NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Awards - The Green Earth Book Award

This innovative picture book introduces readers to the concept of Etuaptmumk--or Two-Eyed Seeing, the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi'kmaw language--as we follow a group of young children connecting to nature as their teacher.

A poetic, joyful celebration of the Lands and Waters as spring unfolds: we watch for Robin's return, listen for Frog's croaking, and wonder at maple tree's gift of sap. Grounded in Etuaptmumk, also known as Two-Eyed Seeing--which braids together the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing--and the Mi'kmaq concept of Netukulimk--meaning to protect Mother Earth for the ancestors, present, and future generations--Walking Together nurtures respectful, reciprocal, responsible relationships with the Land and Water, plant-life, animals and other-than-human beings for the benefit of all.

By the time the United States joined the Second World War in 1941, the fight against Nazi and Axis powers had already been under way for two years. In order to win the war and protect its soldiers, the US Marines recruited twenty-nine Navajo men to create a secret code that could be used to send military messages quickly and safely across battlefields. In this new book within the #1 New York Times bestelling series, author James Buckley Jr. explains how these brave and intelligent men developed their amazing code, recounts some of their riskiest missions, and discusses how the country treated them before, during, and after the war.

Now a board book for 0-3-year-olds interested in contemporary Indigenous stories that are both accessible and universal for the littlest readers. Based on the award-winning picture book.

The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.

Written by best-selling and award-winning Cherokee author Traci Sorell, this board book edition includes the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.

Celebrate Indigenous thinkers and inventions with this beautifully designed, award-winning interactive nonfiction book--perfect for fans of Braiding Sweetgrass.

★ This book will amaze readers and teachers. Completely unique and important. --SLJ, starred review

★ Engaging and informative. --Booklist, starred review Essential for kids and adults. We need this book. --Candace Fleming, award-winning author of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal - Shelf Awareness - National Education Society - American Association of Geography - Canadian Children's Book Centre - Nerdy Book Club - NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Awards - The Green Earth Book Award