📖 The Discovery of the Americas by Betsy and Giulio Maestro. All seven books in Maestro's excellent series deserve a spot in your home library. This first volume, covering the period from Prehistory through the Age of Columbus, begins with the migration of humans from Asia to the Americas during the last Ice Age. An introduction to the European Age of Exploration sets the stage for the later journeys of Columbus and company. The panoramic illustrations are gorgeous and the simply drawn maps are a welcome companion to the text. – Elementary

📖 Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491 by Charles Mann and Rebecca Stefoff. Adapted from Mann’s adult bestseller (1491), this 100-page illustrated book describes the vibrant cultures of the Americas prior to 1492 and dispels many prevalent myths about the Pre-Columbian Americas. This engaging book is the best comprehensive resource available on this topic. – Elementary • Middle

📖 North American Indians by Marie and Douglas Gorsline. This simple book provides a nice introduction to the major Native American tribes. The text is spare and the illustrations are charming. – Preschool • Elementary

📖 Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians by Aliki.  This entry in the “Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science” series highlights the important role of corn in many Native American tribes. The book describes how corn grows, how it evolved from teosinte, and the many ways that it has been used by Native Americans.​ – Preschool • Elementary

📖 Houses of Bark and other Native Dwelling books by Bonnie Shemie.  Although these books are out of print, they are worth finding used or checking out of your library if you want to learn about the different types of traditional shelters built by Native American tribes. Titles in the series include Mounds of Earth and Shell, and Houses of Snow, Skin, and Bones, and Houses of Hide and Earth. – Preschool • Elementary

📖 People of the Breaking Day by Marcia Sewall. “We are Wampanoags, People of the Breaking Day.” This lyrical book describes the way of life of the Wampanoag people of Massachusetts shortly prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims. Without wasting words, People of the Breaking Day conveys a real sense of how the Wampanoag lived: their daily activities, seasonal rhythms, spiritual lives, and culture. An informative and enjoyable read. – Elementary

📖 Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson. “Hiawatha was a strong and articulate Mohawk who was chosen to translate the Peacemaker’s message of unity for the five warring Iroquois nations during the 14th century. This message not only succeeded in uniting the tribes but also forever changed how the Iroquois governed themselves—a blueprint for democracy that would later inspire the authors of the U.S. Constitution.” Told in the first person by Hiawatha himself, this is beautifully illustrated picture book is an excellent addition to an elementary study of the Iroquois nations. Endnotes provide historical details. – Elementary

🖐️ More Than Moccasins: A Kid’s Activity Guide to Traditional North American Indian Life by Laurie Carlson. Here’s a great resource to have on hand if you’d like to incorporate crafts and activities into your elementary study of the First Americans. Projects include making clay beads, playing traditional games, baking fry bread, and learning the Cherokee alphabet. – Elementary

🔗 Content Connection: Ancient Americas. Learn about the ancient civilizations of Central and South America.

🔗 Content Connection: Native Americans. Study Post-Columbian Native American culture and history.

📖 The Legend of the Bluebonnet and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola. Here is a pair of gentle, charmingly illustrated picture book retellings of old folk tales from Texas. The stories, which tell of the origin of the famous Texas bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush flowers, are apparently drawn from Native American legend. – Preschool • Elementary 

📖 Those That Cause Fear by Neil Christopher. Here is a captivating guide to the monsters that haunt the Arctic, according to Inuit folklore. Spooky illustrations and engaging text. The end materials include a pronunciation guide. – Elementary

📖 Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back and others by Joseph Bruchac. Bruchac has written many wonderful retellings of Native American myths and legends. Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back is a beautifully illustrated book of poems to celebrate the passing of the seasons. Also from Bruchac: Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places, The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet: Native American Poems of the Land, Pushing up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children, and The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story. –Preschool • Elementary

📖 The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses and others by Paul Goble. Goble specializes in retelling traditional stories of the Plains Indians (including some set in post-Columbian times). His books are nicely illustrated in a distinctive style. See a full list of Goble's Native American-themed children's books. – Preschool • Elementary

📖 Children of the Longhouse by Joseph Bruchac. “An in-depth look at Native American culture in the late 15th century told through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy and his twin sister. Ohkwa'ri deals with a bully and his fellow tribesman after he tells his Mohawk elders about their plan to attack a neighboring village.” – Elementary • Middle

📖 Morning Girl by Michael Dorris. Set in the Bahamas in 1492 - just prior to the arrival of Columbus—this short novel is narrated by two Taino siblings, Morning Girl and Star Boy. Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. – Middle