5 Beautiful Indigenous and Native American Picture Books to Add to Your Child’s Library

Welcome Song for Baby, by Richard Van Camp
Author Richard Van Camp is a member of the Dogrib nation from Canada’s Northwest Territories and a renowned storyteller. The beautiful poetry in Welcome Song for Baby emphasizes how important the baby is and the wonderful impact the baby will have on family and the world. Accompanied by engaging photographs of Native families and babies that capture the eye, this book makes a wonderful gift for families welcoming a new addition.

D Is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet Book, by Michael Shoulders,‎ Debbie Shoulders,‎ and Irving Toddy
D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet Book gives an A-Z introduction to various indigenous and Native American cultures throughout America. Vibrant illustrations bring different stories and facts to life (did you know that native people of the Northwest often used dried sharkskin to sand totem poles?)  and is guaranteed to captivate readers of all ages.

Sweetest Kulu, by Celina Kalluk and Alexandria Neonakis
This lovely picture book is about all the gifts bestowed upon a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Written by Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, Sweetest Kulu blends lullaby with traditional Inuit beliefs to create a warm, delightful story.

Cradle Me, by Debby Slier
There is nothing babies love more than looking at other babies, and this bright, photo book fulfills that wish perfectly. Featuring gorgeous photos of various Native babies wrapped in traditional cradling boards, this picture book showcases cradle boards (and babies!) from Paiute, Shoshone, Pueblo and other tribes.

Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story, by Donald Uluadluak and Qin Leng 
What happens when you combine a rambunctious and headstrong puppy, a determined little boy, and an entrancing glimpse into Inuit history? You get the wonderfully engaging tale of Kamik: An Inuit Puppy story by Donald Uluadluak. This funny and engagingly illustrated tale follows Jake as he tries to get his new puppy, Kamik, to be an obedient sled dog, when Kamik is determined to just have fun.  Bonus for the book’s careful and nuanced explanation of the importance and history of sled dogs to the Inuit people.