In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting children’s and YA books that celebrate the vital contributions of Native American innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math. These stories of resilience and ingenuity showcase how Native leaders in STEM have shaped the past and continue to tackle today’s challenges, inspiring young readers to explore the enduring impact of their work. Indigenous knowledge is a living, dynamic force that continues to shape innovation and sustainability, and children play a key role in carrying this legacy forward for generations to come.
We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
This Caldecott Medal-winning book celebrates the spirit of Indigenous water protectors who fight to safeguard water resources. With poetic language and stunning illustrations, it conveys the importance of environmental stewardship and the sacred relationship between people and the planet.
Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Bridget George
In this companion book to We Are Water Protectors, Lindstrom introduces Autumn Peltier, a young Anishinaabe advocate for clean water rights. Her activism demonstrates how young voices can create inspire action in the larger community and create meaningful change for the future.
Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew, illustrated by Joe Morse
Kinew’s empowering rap song serves as the foundation for this illustrated book celebrating influential Native leaders who have made significant impacts on their communities and beyond. Notable figures in STEM include Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree, and Evan Adams, a Coast Salish actor turned physician.
Indigenous Ingenuity by Deirdre Havrelock and Edward Kay
This book explores a wide range of STEM topics, including transportation, civil engineering, hunting technologies, astronomy, brain surgery, architecture, agriculture, and sustainable resource management, showcasing the innovative spirit of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous innovations have always and will continue to influence modern science and technology.
Freddie the Flyer by Danielle Metcalf-Chenail and Fred Carmichael, illustrated by Audrea Loreen-Wulf
This beautifully illustrated book chronicles the life story of Fred Carmichael, a Gwich’in man who was the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic. From his beginnings as a child with a love for planes and a dream for flying to his later achievements of delivering supplies and chartering rescue missions, Carmichael made important advancements to the field of aviation and used his experience to connect and empower communities.
The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter, illustrated by Julia Miner
Through the fictional story of a young Navajo boy and his grandfather, this book shares the history of the Navajo Code Talkers in World War II. The Code Talkers played a crucial role in advancing cryptography and communication by developing an “unbreakable code” based on the Navajo language.
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes
This biography tells the story of Chester Nez, a Navajo Marine who helped create the unbreakable code that played a pivotal role in WWII. The book explores Chester’s real-life journey from growing up on a Navajo reservation to using his native language and heritage to develop a code that changed the course of history.
This illustrated biography introduces readers to Mary Golda Ross, the first known Native American female engineer and a proud member of the Cherokee Nation. Her groundbreaking work in aerospace engineering, including developing designs for space exploration, was shaped by her Cherokee values of humility, resilience, and a dedication to collaborative problem-solving.
Mission to Space by John Herrington
Sharing his Chickasaw heritage alongside his passion for space travel, Herrington offers a firsthand look at NASA training and his mission aboard the International Space Station. With photos from Herrington’s space travels and an English-to-Chickasaw vocabulary list, this book inspires children to dream big and explore the wonders of both space and their cultural roots.
Adapted for younger readers, this version of botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer’s bestseller empowers young adults to care for the world around them and look to plants as sources of profound scientific wisdom. The book offers lessons in ecology, sustainability, and reciprocal relationships, encouraging readers to think deeply about their place in the natural world.
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