Native Americans

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving story written by Danielle Greendeer

Wampanoag children listen as their grandmother tells them the story about how Weeâchumun (the wise Corn) asked local Native Americans to show the Pilgrims how to grow food to yield a good harvest–Keepunumuk–in 1621.

Powwow Day written by Traci Sorell

Because she has been very ill and weak, River cannot join in the dancing at this year’s tribal powwow, she can only watch from the sidelines as her sisters and cousins dance the celebration–but as the drum beats she finds the faith to believe that she will recover and dance again.

Forever Cousins written by Laurel Goodluck

Amanda and Kara are cousins and best friends in an intertribal Native American family; but Kara’s family leaves the city and moves back to the Rez, making both girls sad–but the summer reunion reminds them that they will always be cousins.

Yossel’s Journey written by Kathryn Lasky

Yossel, along with his family, flees anti-Jewish Russian pogroms in the late nineteenth century and settles in the American Southwest where he forges a friendship with Thomas, a Native American Navajo boy.

Nibi’s Water Song written by Sunshine Tenasco

Nibi, a Native American girl, cannot get clean water from her tap or the river, so she goes on a journey to connect with fellow water protectors and get clean water for all.

Herizon written by Daniel W. Vandever

Herizon follows the journey of a Diné girl as she helps her grandmother retrieve a flock of sheep. Join in her venture across land and water with the help of a magical scarf that will expand your imagination and transform what you thought possible. The inspiring story celebrates creativity and bravery, while promoting an inclusive future made possible through intergenerational strength and knowledge.

On the Trapline written by David Robertson

A picture book celebrating Indigenous culture and traditions. The Governor General Award-winning team behind When We Were Alone shares a story that honors our connections to our past and our grandfathers and fathers. A boy and Moshom, his grandpa, take a trip together to visit a place of great meaning to Moshom. A trapline is where people hunt and live off the land, and it was where Moshom grew up. As they embark on their northern journey, the child repeatedly asks his grandfather, “Is this your trapline?” Along the way, the boy finds himself imagining what life was like two generations ago — a life that appears to be both different from and similar to his life now.

The Range Eternal written by Louise Erdrich

At the heart of a home in the Turtle Mountains sits a woodstove. It is where Mama makes her good soup, where she cooks a potato for warming hands on icy mornings, where she heats a stone for warming cold toes at night. It warms the winter nights and keeps Windigo, the ice monster, at bay. On the stove’s blue enamel door are raised letters, The Range Eternal, and in the dancing flames through the window below a child can see pictures: the range of the buffalo, the wolf and the bear, the eagles and herons and cranes: truly, the Range Eternal.

The Train written by Jodie Callaghan

A fiction picture book about residential schools. Author Jodie Callaghan worked as a journalist at the time of the Canadian government’s apology for the residential school system. She took inspiration for this book from her conversations with survivors–including her own grandmother’s experience at Indian day school, and memories shared with her by a man she interviewed by the train tracks that transported children to residential school in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia.

Johnny’s Pheasant written by Cheryl Minnema

“Pull over, Grandma! Hurry!” Johnny says. Grandma does, and Johnny runs to show her what he spotted near the ditch: a sleeping pheasant. What Grandma sees is a small feathery hump. When Johnny wants to take it home, Grandma tries to tell him that the pheasant might have been hit by a car. But maybe she could use the feathers for her craftwork?

Nonfiction

Encyclopedia of American Indian history & culture: stories, time lines, maps, and more written by Cynthia O’Brien

More than 160 tribes are featured in this outstanding new encyclopedia, which presents a comprehensive overview of the history of North America’s Native peoples. From the Apache to the Zuni, readers will learn about each tribe’s history, traditions, and culture, including the impact of European expansion across the land and how tribes live today. Features include maps of ancestral lands; timelines of important dates and events; fact boxes for each tribe; bios of influential American Indians such as Sitting Bull; sidebars on daily life, homes, food, clothing, jewelry, and games; Did You Know facts with photographs; and traditional Native stories.

Native American craft ideas: https://littlecooksreadingbooks.com/crafts-for-native-american-heritage-month/

Native American Brown Paper Buffalo Hides: https://vsymtm.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/native-american-buffalo-hides/

Where are the Wombats?

Wombat Said Come In written by Carmen Agra Deedy

Safe in his burrow deep below the ground as Australian bushfires rage above, Wombat opens his home to five animal friends seeking shelter, in this heartwarming story about help in the time of trouble.

Wombat Underground: a wildfire survival story written by Sarah L. Thomson

During the fire season in Australia, a wombat allows its underground shelter to become a place of refuge for other vulnerable animals in need. Discusses Australia’s devastating 2019-2020 fire season, in which many animals lost their lives or their habitats.

Wombat Walkabout written by Carol Diggory Shields

Rhyming text follows six little wombats on walkabout and a hungry dingo following, envisioning them as his lunch until the wombats turn the tables on him.

Batter Up Wombat written by Lester, Helen.

An Australian wombat joins the Champs baseball team, and even though he is disastrously ignorant about the game, his innate talents save everyone when a tornado suddenly strikes.

Where to Little Wombat? Written by Charles Fuge

Little Wombat wishes he could live someplace more exciting, so he visits his friends in search of a better home.

Diary of a Wombat written by Jackie French

In his diary, a wombat describes his life of eating, sleeping, and getting to know some new human neighbors.

Nonfiction:

How to Scratch a Wombat: where to find it … what to feed it … why it sleeps all day written by Jackie French

A Wombat’s World written by Caroline Arnold

After spending seven months in his mother’s pouch, a baby wombat is finally ready to face the world. He cautiously takes his first steps. His mother uses her strong claws to dig up grasses and roots for him to eat. Follow this mammal as he grows and prepares to dig a tunnel for his own home.

Printable wombat mask: https://mothernatured.com/2013/01/22/wombat-play-in-a-five-learning-ways/

Wombat Printable Craft: http://learncreatelove.com/wombat-printable-craft/

Wombats Facts for Kids: https://animalstime.com/wombat-facts-kids/

Wombat science: https://nhpbs.org/kn/vs/scilab6fa4hadiprotodontia11.asp

Night Time for Nocturnal Animals

After the Moonrise written and illustrated by Rich Lo

A raccoon and skunk pass other nocturnal animals as they head to a corn field to forage for food until a surprise causes them to scurry home.

Hello Moon written and illustrated by Julie Downing

Illustrations and easy-to-read, rhyming text reveal the nighttime activities of forest animals that awake when Sun sets and Moon rises.

Full Moon written and illustrated by Camilla Pintonato

As the sun sets, the little gray rabbits are busy in their secret workshop, but what could they be making? Follow along as the rabbits prepare for the big event, inviting all of their forest friends to the celebration. The mice, foxes, porcupines, and other forest creatures gather as the full moon rises, and finally the big surprise is revealed. The little rabbits release beautiful paper lanterns into the sky, where they sparkle like stars in the light of the full moon.

Little Bat in Night School written and illustrated by Brian Lies

Little Bat is excited about his first night in school! He is excited about everything: his new school supplies, learning amazing things, and making new friends. But when he finally arrives, his world turns upside down. Join Little Bat and his new opossum pal Ophelia as they discover that spreading your wings isn’t so hard– when you take the time to listen, act with kindness, and simply do your best.

Night Animals Need Sleep Too written and illustrated by Gianna Marino

It’s daytime and night animals are all sleeping soundly. Well, all except for Possum. Skunk tries to be helpful, pointing out a cave, then a tree, then a den. But the more places Possum tries to sleep, the more night animals he wakes up. Will Bear, Wolf, Skunk, and Possum ever find a good day’s rest? The stars of Gianna Marino’s Night Animals know what makes kids laugh in this hilarious spin on the bedtime book.

Night animals written and illustrated by Gianna Marino

Possum is hiding from the sounds in the night, and his fear sets off a chain reaction in the other night animals.

Nonfiction

In the Dark: the science of what happens at night written by Lisa Deresti Betik

Do you know why humans snore? Or how a cat sees in the dark? Have you ever heard of a flower that blooms only at night? The answers to these nighttime mysteries and more are revealed in this entertaining non-fiction introduction to the science of night. There’s a whole world of activity going on in the world in the dark, and even inside us, when our bodies and brains seem to be quiet and still. In the Dark investigates the big questions about what happens at night, from why we dream to why night exists at all. With each chapter tackling a different topic, young readers will uncover everything there is to know about human sleep, nocturnal creatures, all kinds of plants and the objects in the night sky.

Nocturnal Animals Foldable Fact Finder Activity: https://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/5201

Nocturnal animals printable words: https://www.kidsparkz.com/uploads/5/2/3/4/52340669/nocturnal_animals_vocabulary_page.pdf

Shine A Light On Night Animals!: http://www.homeboundbuthopeful.com/2017/05/25/camping-storytime-night-animals-inspired-craft/

Nocturnal Animal Crafts: https://www.greenkidcrafts.com/nocturnal-animal-crafts/

All Kinds of Magic

The Flower Garden written and illustrated by Renée Kurilla

After planting a seed packet in the backyard, things don’t go as expected for best friends Anna and Tess. They fall asleep in the sun and wake up to blooms as tall as buildings! Did the seeds really grow that fast? All is explained when Anna and Tess meet May, a little garden gnome whose magic is responsible for the transformation. The girls are May’s size now, and they follow her through the flower garden and into May’s underground gnome home–discovering new things about their world and themselves along the way.

Magic Candies written by Heena Baek

Tong Tong could never have imagined what everyone around him was thinking. But when he gets hold of some magic candies, suddenly there are voices everywhere–from his sofa, his dog, and even his dead grandmother.

The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess written and illustrated by Tom Gauld

When a wooden robot prince forgets to say the magic words that turn his sister from a log into a princess she is thrown away, so he goes on an epic journey to find her and bring her back.

Once Upon a Unicorn’s Horn written and illustrated by Beatrice Blue

A little girl befriends a sad, tiny horse, and, with a little magic (and an ice cream cone), helps him fly.

The Girl and the Dinosaur written by Hollie Hughes

Marianne has no friends until she unearths an entire dinosaur skeleton on the beach and wishes that it would come to life.

Hat Tricks written and illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura

Abracadabra, katakurico! Oh, goodness! Out pops a cat from Hattie’s magic hat. Can you guess what creature will appear from the magic hat next?

Follow along as Hattie the rabbit conjures up a parade of animals from her magic hat in this highly interactive story that’s perfect for toddler and preschool story times.

The Tempest written by Georghia Ellinas

Ariel is a spirit of the air who can fly, ride on clouds, and glow bright as fire. When his master, the magician Prospero, is overthrown by his brother as the Duke of Milan, Ariel joins Prospero and his baby daughter on a journey that will bring them to a beautiful island ruled by the monstrous Caliban–and to a series of events that lead to a vengeful storm, confounding spells, true romance, and a master who is persuaded to give his transgressors a second chance.

Gladys the magic chicken written by Adam Rubin

In Ancient Times, Gladys the dancing chicken goes on an epic adventure when she is mistaken for a magical chicken who grants wishes to those she encounters.

Welcome Flower Child: the magic of your birth flower written by Brigette Barrager

Illustrations and rhyming text describe the birth month flowers, including March’s daffodils, June’s roses, and September’s asters, as well as how each represents children born in that month.

Magic potion experiment: https://www.messylittlemonster.com/2018/09/baking-soda-magic-potion-science-experiment-kids.html?m=1

Kitchen chemistry potions: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/mixing-potions-science-activity-kitchen-chemistry/?epik=dj0yJnU9Nl9iMjlJNVZ6a1FoN3lURmlLREtEWU44ZE1QQ1lyNTgmcD0wJm49Q19GVzBHQXpOZUd0eXoyd1U2SFAydyZ0PUFBQUFBR05qMzhv

Magic paper drawing: https://www.learningandexploringthroughplay.com/2020/03/kitchen-roll-magic-drawing-science.html?m=1

Color-Changing Invisible Ink Activity: https://researchparent.com/color-changing-invisible-ink/

All About Birds!

The Winter Bird written by Kate Banks

Forest animals help an injured nightingale survive the winter in a comforting story of friendship and resilience, lyrically told and gorgeously illustrated. As the days grow shorter and the air becomes colder, the spring birds fly south for winter–all except for a nightingale with a broken wing. Unable to fly, the nightingale worries about how to prepare for weather it’s never had to experience before. Luckily, the forest animals who are used to frosty conditions help the nightingale navigate the cold as its wing heals.

A House for Every Bird written by Megan Maynor

A young artist has drawn birds and bird houses in corresponding colors. Now it’s time to match them up. The blue bird goes in the blue house, the orange bird in the orange house, and so on. But wait! The birds don’t agree with the narrator’s choices and, much to her distress, are rebelling by swapping houses. Can the narrator make the birds see sense? Or is it possible that you just can’t tell a bird by its feathers?

Bird house written and illustrated by Blanca Gómez

A little girl and her abuela tend to an injured bird they find in the snow, allowing it to fly around the living room until it is ready to be released.

Bird Boy written by Matthew Burgess

A new boy nicknamed Bird Boy by teasing classmates enjoys imaginative flights as various birds, gaining self-confidence and new friends.

Ivy Bird written by Tania McCartney

Ivy Bird is a celebration of the natural world and the joy found in imaginative play. Perfect for reading aloud, this book will delight children with its search-and-find elements, bright illustrations, and exuberant story. A nonfiction element, two pages bursting with colorful bird illustrations, encourages readers to seek out birds in their own neighborhoods.

Two Many Birds written and illustrated by Cindy Derby

Want to sit on the tree? Get in line! This Bird Monitor has a few rules. But what happens when he goes a little too far?

The Most Amazing Bird written by Michael Kusugak

A young girl discovers nature’s surprising beauty in this tale from a renowned Inuit storyteller. When Aggataa goes for a cold winter walk with her grandmother, she’s surprised by a sudden CRAH! All the birds have flown south for the winter except one kind–the tulugarguat, the ravens. They’re the ugliest birds that Aggaataa has ever seen. They look like they slept in their coats–coats that don’t even fit! However, as the winter slowly moves towards spring, Aggataa connects with one small raven in particular. As the seasons change in full, the ravens leave and are replaced by seagulls, cranes, geese, ducks, and swans–all of them far more elegant than the “Ugly Bird.”

Nonfiction

Birds written by Tracy Abell

This field guide highlights 100 birds found throughout the world. Readers will gain a greater understanding about the behaviors and appearance of each bird and will be able to identify these creatures after seeing the vivid photographs and useful labels within the book. Features include a helpful introduction to the topic, a glossary, additional resources, and an index.

Discover why bird beaks are different shapes: https://www.science-sparks.com/birds-and-beaks/

How to make a flying bird decoration: https://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2012/03/how-to-make-a-flying-bird-decoration/

Learning All About Birds Roundup: https://buggyandbuddy.com/learning-all-about-birds-roundup/