Indigenous Reads Rising - a New Resource Celebrating Indigenous Children’s and Teen Literature from We Need Diverse Books

Indigenous Reads Rising is a excellent new hub of book lists (spanning picture books, middle grade, and young adult readers), resources (for teachers/librarians/readers and writers), and even includes a state-by-state list of resources! The website is “a celebration of Indigenous children’s literature of Native Nations, centering those within the United States and Canada.”

As they explain on the Indigenous Reads Rising's about page:

Less than 2 percent of children’s books published in the United States depict characters from Native, First Nations, and Indigenous communities, according to the 2019 statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin. But the needle is moving. Every year, more stories are published by Native writers and illustrators, reflecting their cultures, Nations, and lived experiences, which is why we created Indigenous Reads Rising—to provide a resource where teachers, librarians, and readers can embrace these books.

While this site was founded with teachers and librarians in mind, every reader is welcome to explore our resources and book lists. Indigenous Reads Rising includes a variety of best practices articles and where to find more books by Native authors and illustrators, as well as extensive book lists organized by age category and topic. We also provide resources for Native writers and illustrators interested in honing their craft and applying for grants and mentorships.

Thanks to the team at We Need Diverse Books for creating Indigenous Reads Rising and maintaining it -- this is one to bookmark!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee