Booklists

The list of books below focuses on the traditional stories that survive from the first inhabitants of these New World continents. There are, of course, many hot potatoes in selecting stories such as these. Stories always have a way of becoming hostage to political or cultural agendas. Can a native story be properly told by someone not of that ethnic group? Are stories the "property" of one people over another? Who is the arbiter as to which stories are authentic? These are chosen, not on some putative measure of authenticity or the ethnicity of the author or some of the other criteria that have become popular. Rather they are chosen on the basis of whether the story is written (and illustrated) in a fashion likely to engage a child and to encourage him to start that journey of walking in another's moccasins. Do you have favorites you would like to have added to the list? Please use the comments section to suggest them. I am especially interested in any suggestions members might have for stories south of the border. We have many wonderful renditions of Native American stories from the US and Canada but where are the stories from the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas and others?

Between Earth & Sky by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Thomas Locker

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Jose Aruego

The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Anna Vojtech

Brave Wolf and the Thunderbird by Medicine Crow and illustrated by Linda R. Martin & Joseph Medicine Crow

They Dance in the Sky by Jean Guard and illustrated by Edgar Stewart

Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble

Dream Wolf by Paul Goble

Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

Song of Creation by Paul Goble

The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble

The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote by Tony Johnson and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Fire Race by Jonathan London & Lanny Pinola and illustrated by Sylvia Long

Arrow to the Son by Gerald McDermott

Coyote by Gerald McDermott

Jabuti the Tortoise by Gerald McDermott

Papagayo by Gerald McDermott

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest by Gerald McDermott

Legend of Michigan by Trinka Hakes Noble and illustrated by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen

The Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe

The Gift Of The Inuksuk by Michael Ulmer and illustrated by Melanie Rose

The Legend of Leelanau by Kathy-Jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen

The Legend of Mackinac Island by Kathy-Jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen

The Legend of the Lady's Slipper by Kathy-Jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen

The Legend of Sleeping Bear by Kathy-Jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen

How Raven Stole the Sun by Maria Williams and illustrated by Felix Vigil

Native American Animal Stories by Joseph Bruchac & Michael J. Caduto and illustrated by John Kahionhes Fadden

Our Stories Remember by Joseph Bruchac

Return of the Sun by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Gary Carpenter

Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest by Ella E. Clark and illustrated by Robert B. Inverarity