Best Picture Books for Native American Heritage Month: 5 Compared

November brings Native American Heritage Month, and the best picture books for native american heritage month bring Indigenous stories, languages and traditions into the classroom or living room. We compared five picture books by stated reading age, grade level, page count and cultural themes. Every figure below comes from the Amazon listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	We Are Grateful by Sorell	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Powwow Day by Sorell	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Thirteen Moons by Bruchac	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Grandmother's Dreamcatcher by McCain	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Stolen Words by Florence	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

We Are Grateful by Sorell

Traci Sorell·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A seasonal picture book about a modern Cherokee family, for a reading age of 1 to 7 years marked as from customers.

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Pros

• Follows a full Cherokee year of celebrations, from fall to summer
• Appends a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary
• The listing states it won the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award honor

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers only
• 2018 edition; the Powwow Day listing is a newer 2022 edition
• The listing states no series or companion volume to continue with

2

Powwow Day by Sorell

Traci Sorell·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A contemporary picture book about a girl who misses dancing at the powwow while recovering from illness, for ages 4 to 8.

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Pros

• Modern Indigenous story written and illustrated by Indigenous creators
• Additional information explains the history and functions of powwows
• 2022 edition, the newest publication date among the five picks

Cons

• The story centers on a child's serious illness; parents may want to preview it
• The spec table repeats the illustrator and About text of We Are Grateful, contradicting the description's Madelyn Goodnight credit
• No glossary or pronunciation guide is stated

3

Thirteen Moons by Bruchac

Joseph Bruchac·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Lyrical poems and paintings celebrating the thirteen moons of the Native American year, with a reading age of 3 to 10 years.

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Pros

• Thirteen poems, one for each moon of the year
• The listing calls it a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts
• Poems and paintings from two listed authors, Bruchac and London

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers only
• 1997 reprint edition, the oldest publication date among the five picks
• No glossary of the moon names is stated

4

Grandmother's Dreamcatcher by McCain

Becky Ray McCain·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Chippewa grandmother helps her granddaughter Kimmy make a dreamcatcher, for a reading age of 3 to 7 years.

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Pros

• Chippewa family story centered on a grandmother and granddaughter
• 32 pages from Albert Whitman and Company
• Reading age 3 - 7 years and grade Preschool - 3 stated

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers only
• 1998 reprint edition
• The story involves a child's bad dreams; parents may want to preview it

5

Stolen Words by Florence

Melanie Florence·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A sensitive picture book about a girl helping her grandfather find his stolen Cree language, for ages 6 to 9.

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Pros

• Addresses the Cree language and the residential school system with care
• Reading age of 6 to 9 and grade level 1 to 3 are both stated plainly
• 2017 edition from Second Story Press

Cons

• The description covers the residential school system and its painful legacy; parents may want to preview it
• 24 pages, the shortest book among the five picks
• No glossary or language guide is stated

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More picks to compare

• How the Stars Fell by OughtonSuits ages 4 to 7 wanting a Navajo trickster tale about Coyote.Check on Amazon
• My Powerful Hair by LindstromSuits readers wanting a story about hair, identity and family history.Check on Amazon
• Remember by HarjoSuits readers wanting a poem about nature and heritage with vivid illustrations.Check on Amazon
• Berry Song by GoadeSuits readers wanting a grandmother-granddaughter story of land and seasons.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. All five picks list both a reading age and a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best picture books for native american heritage month

Match the reading age to the reader

Each listing states a reading age and a grade level. We Are Grateful lists a reading age of 1 to 7 years marked as from customers, while Stolen Words lists 6 to 9 years for older picture-book readers. Use the stated ages as a starting point, not a rule for any particular child. Our picture books for interactive read-alouds list compares more books built for reading together.

Contemporary stories and traditional tales

Two of these picks tell modern stories: Powwow Day follows a girl missing the powwow while she recovers from illness, and We Are Grateful follows a Cherokee family through a year of gratitude. The other three draw on legend and memory, from the thirteen moons of the year to a Chippewa grandmother teaching her granddaughter about dreamcatchers. For more historical ground, see our children’s books about Native American history.

Before you buy

• Confirm the reading age and grade level on the listing against the reader; three of these five mark the reading age as from customers.
• Check the edition and print length; Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher and Thirteen Moons are reprint editions from 1998 and 1997.
• Preview books that cover illness, grief or the residential school system; the descriptions flag these themes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should we start with for Native American Heritage Month?

Start with We Are Grateful: a seasonal Cherokee story for a reading age of 1 to 7 years, with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary appended.

Are these books suitable for a classroom read-aloud?

The listings state reading ages of 1 to 7, 3 to 7, 3 to 10, 4 to 8 and 6 to 9 years. Stolen Words and Powwow Day suit the older end, but check the themes: Stolen Words covers the residential school system.

Do any of these books include extras for learning?

We Are Grateful appends a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, and Powwow Day adds information on the history and functions of powwows.

Still deciding? Our top pickWe Are Grateful by Sorell

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens books lists.

More lists: picture book lists, Native American history books and interactive read-alouds.