June is Indigenous History Month! This list features Indigenous books for all ages that explore the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada.
Picture Books
Canada: We Are the Story
Written by Richard Wagamese
Illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Swift Water Books, 2026
IL: Ages 3-7 RL: Grades p-2
An Indigenous child struggles with a school assignment that asks, "What makes you proud to be Canadian?" To find the answer, they call on the strength of their ancestors. The ancestors' warm presence reminds them that we are in this together and we always have been — "every soul that has fallen head over heels in love with the spell of this country."
This powerful and timeless poem written by Richard Wagamese is seen through the eyes of an Indigenous child in the captivating illustrations by Anishinaabe artist Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. As the poem speaks to a new generation of Indigenous children, it welcomes everyone to honor the past, find belonging here and now, and look toward the future in this place now called Canada.
Charlotte’s New Moccasins
Written by Jenn Moudahi
Illustrated by Rhael McGregor
Charlesbridge, 2025
IL: Ages 3-7 RL: Grades p-2
Charlotte has outgrown her moccasins, so she and her Mom head to Grandma's for new ones. Grandma teaches Charlotte how to make her new mocs step-by-step, and she learns a valuable skill from her beloved elder in this heartwarming multigenerational story.
A contemporary celebration of Native culture, tradition, and family. A highly-relatable story for Indigenous kids and any kid that has ever outgrown their favorite thing to wear.
Back matter includes details about moccasins then and now, some additional facts about them, and information about how they have been made over time.
Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes
Written by Wab Kinew
Illustrated by Joe Morse
Tundra Books, 2026
IL: Ages 5-9 RL: Grades k-4
Honoring the stories of Indigenous people across time, award-winning author Wab Kinew’s celebrated picture book is now available in paperback. Featuring figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington, NHL goalie Carey price and many others, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people from the United States and Canada. Individually, their stories — though briefly touched on — are inspiring; collectively, they empower us to “show the world what people who matter can do.
With breathtaking illustrations by internationally lauded artist Joe Morse, this beautiful book celebrates the potential within readers when they recognize how much they matter, and how far they can go.
The Great Gathering Place
Written by Naomi McIlwraith
Illustrated by Onedove
Kids Can Press, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
This stirring and lyrical story by Métis author Naomi McIlwraith, based on her poem of the same name, is a moving tribute to Indigenous values and the meeting places that are special to each of us. Luminous illustrations by Cree and Métis artist Onedove evoke a sense of the sacred with each colorful spread. This is a beautiful picture book that honors the importance of gratitude, generosity, kindness and love for both nature and people, and could serve as a gentle discussion starter on these topics. It's also a reminder that the places where we gather are special and deserve our protection. It provides an excellent introduction to Indigenous concepts and teachings. Cree words and phrases are featured in the text and are supported by a glossary and pronunciation guide.
If You Make a Mosom Tea
Written by Tonya Simpson
Illustrated by Emily Côté
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 3-5 RL: Grades p-k
If you spend the afternoon with Mosom, you might make him tea and listen to stories.
If you make him tea, chances are that he will want some bannock to go with it. He will tell you his stories, show you pictures from when he was young and share his Knowledge. Although Mosom may move a little slower and sometimes forget things, you can help him find his glasses and go for walks together. It’s okay to go slow. Along the way, Mosom will teach you new Cree words and the best places to find delicious saskatoon berries. And when you're back home again, Mosom might just ask you to make him another cup of tea.
With warm, engaging illustrations, this story celebrates the joy and importance of spending time with Elders, passing down Traditions, and the lasting bond between a child and his mosom. A gentle story that highlights meaningful connection between generations.
Kohkom’s First Drum
Written by Monique Gray Smith
Illustrated by Karlene Harvey
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 1-3
When Charlie’s Kohkom asks him what the best part of his school day was, he knows right away: Indigenous drum circle!
Kohkom tells him that not very long ago she was gifted her very first drum at a ceremony for children who never returned home from residential schools. But Charlie doesn’t understand. How could she only have gotten her first drum so recently?
Kohkom explains that she was taken from her family when she was very little because of something called the Sixties Scoop. She was raised by an adoptive white family and only later learned what being Cree meant. It’s taken her a long time to feel like she belongs. Kohkom's story gives Charlie the idea to teach her a song so they can play their drums together.
The Legend of the Disappearing Dogs
Written by Lisi Kavik-Mickiyuk
Illustrated by Margaret Lawrence
Inhabit Media, 2026
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 1-3
This Inuit legend, shared by Sanikiluaq Elder Lisi Kavik-Mickiyuk as a bilingual story, explains the origins of a unique location outside of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut.
On a hill outside the community, it is said that ghostly dog growls can be heard. The Inuttitut name for the hill, Qalinguluk, means “a place where you can sometimes hear dogs growling.” In this book, readers will learn about the origin of these mysterious dogs and how they came to be associated with this hill.
Watercolour illustrations by long-time Sanikiluaq resident Margaret Lawrence give the book an authentic feeling of this distinctive place.
Little Brown Girl
Written by Leona Prince
Illustrated by Paige Pettibon
Strong Nations Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
Little beautiful brown girl ...
From the best-selling author of Be a Good Ancestor, this heartfelt book is a celebration of skin colour and self-confidence. Stunning illustrations reflect the diversity of Indigenous Peoples as girls honour their Ancestors, cherish their communities, and stand up for what is right. A tender poem of love and resilience, Little Brown Girl will inspire young readers to be proud of who they are, inside and out.
My Street Remembers
Written by Karen Krossing
Illustrated by Cathie Jamieson
Groundwood Books, 2025
IL: Ages 3-6 RL: Grades p-1
How many footsteps have walked your street in the past? My Street Remembers peels back the history of one city street in North America to reveal the greater story of the land on which we live.
The story begins 14,000 years ago, when mammoths roamed the icefields, and the First Peoples followed their trail. Historically accurate illustrations show the lives of their descendants over thousands of years as they hunted and gathered food, built homes and celebrated together, until the 1600s, when Europeans arrived with settlers in their wake.
In lyrical text, the street remembers agreements to live in peace, the efforts of the British to take the land with unfair treaties, and the conflict and suffering that followed. The street recalls its naming, paving and the waves of immigrants who called it home. Illustrations of recent times depict Canada’s apology to Indigenous Peoples and efforts toward Truth and Reconciliation, including a march that brings the community of the street together.
This rich collaboration between author Karen Krossing, of White settler descent, and Anishinaabe artist Cathie Jamieson ends with a question that readers anywhere can ask—what does your street remember?
Ribbon Rescue (Revised Edition)
Written by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Shaikara David
Scholastic Canada, 2026
IL: Ages 3-8 RL: Grades p-3
Everyone is late for a wedding and nothing is going right. But Jillian and her wonderful ribbon dress can fix almost anything—from the groom’ s shoelaces to the bride’ s unruly hair. But now Jillian’ s dress is a mess. Who is going to fix it for her?
Robert Munsch wrote this story for Jillian, a Mohawk girl from Kahnawake, who came to a storytelling wearing her new ribbon dress.
Shaikara David is an Indigenous artist from Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. She studied at Algonquin College and worked in animation before starting to illustrate picture books. For this book she was inspired by her own childhood ribbon dress and the generous and giving culture of her family and Mohawk people.
Skate On, Shirley! A Hockey Story
Written by Victoria Bach & Ryan Francis
Illustrated by Brandon Mitchell
Nimbus Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
What if I'm older than everyone else? What if I don't have any hockey gear? I don't even know how to skate!
All of these worries run through eight-year-old Shirley's mind when she joins a local hockey program for Indigenous girls. She loves watching hockey on TV with her brother and dad, but she's not sure if she has what it takes to play. With the help of those around her, determination, and a whole lot of heart, Shirley finds her footing and makes new friends. Every time she falls, she gets back up again, proving that anyone can have fun on the ice if they just try.
Co-written by two-time hockey world champion Victoria Bach and Indigenous Girls Hockey Program co-founder Ryan Francis, and featuring artwork by illustrator Brandon Mitchell, Skate On, Shirley! is a heartwarming story about the power of community.
When I’m a Moshom
Written by David A. Robertson
Illustrated by Corrie Hill
Tundra Books, 2026
IL: Ages 3-7 RL: Grades p-2
This companion to the Governor General's Award–winning picture book On the Trapline is a loving and inspiring ode to grandparents.
When I’m a moshom, a long, long time from now, I will watch my grandchildren dance and play hockey, and I will be the loudest one cheering. I will take them on the trapline and teach them how to fish. I will feed them Bannock and share stories about our community. I will tell them I love them, just like my moshom did.
This heartwarming story thoughtfully explores the legacy of love, traditions and heritage passed down from generation to generation. Through the eyes of three siblings and their moshom (grandfather), readers are taken on a journey filled with cherished moments, from cheering at sports events to sharing traditional Cree knowledge and language. This picture book beautifully captures the bonds between grandparents and grandchildren, making it perfect for shared reading and an ideal gift for special occasions like birthdays, holidays or family celebrations.
Juvenile Fiction & Non-Fiction
The Case of the Movie Mayhem
Written by Michael Hutchinson
Second Story Press, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-7
The Mighty Muskrats’ new case is a real showstopper!
School’s out for the four Cree cousins, but this is no ordinary summer—a movie is being filmed in Windy Lake First Nation. With superheroes in their backyard, the cousins can’t wait to show the actors and stunt doubles all that Windy Lake has to offer—as soon as they actually meet them, that is. On a film set, everyone has a job. Even the Muskrats, who are helping Mavis, owner of Windy Lake’s well-loved House-taurant, with the film’s catering.
As Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee take care of the cast and crew, a truck filled with specialty props and equipment disappears. Filming is halted—a disaster for everyone, including Mavis—and Windy Lake’s reputation is suddenly at stake. It’s up to the Mighty Muskrats to find the culprits and get the filmmaking back on track!
Charlie the Matachewan Moose
Written by Shawna Lee Corbould
Illustrated by Jessica Somers
Strong Nations Publishing, 2025
IL: Ages 6-9 RL: Grades 1-4
When a young moose calf gets lost in a storm, he is found by Nana and Papa, a kind couple who offer him shelter and a name: Charlie. They bring him home to Matachewan First Nation, where two dogs, Spike and Molly, happily welcome him into their pack. Together, Charlie and his friends spend their days digging holes on the beach, playing fetch, and having fun. But Charlie is growing fast, and soon it will be time for him to return to the forest. With Spike and Molly by his side, Charlie sets off on an adventure to learn more about himself—and what it means to be a moose.
If This Buffalo Coat Could Talk
Written by Wilfrid Burton
Red Deer Press, 2025
IL: Ages 10-14 RL: Grades 6-9
Ten-year-old Charlie goes with his grandmother and aunties to clean out the house of his beloved Tante Sarah and Nook James, after their passing.
What begins as a time of sadness and loss turns into a time of comfort when they begin reminiscing about all the wonderful memories they have of their beloved aunt and uncle. Then Charlie spies an old grub box and in it is Mooshoom. Charles's old buffalo coat. Maybe a family reunion where everyone shares their memories of the coat will help in this time of mourning… As the stories are shared, Charlie feels a strong pride in his family while learning some important pieces of family history as well as the history of the Métis Nation.
The Search for Gluscap
Written by Brandon Mitchell
Illustrated by Veronika Barinova & Kielamel Sibal
HighWater Press, 2026
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 1-3
It’s time to fish salmon from the river, but Mali and her family are dismayed by the lack of fish. It’s not just them; there just aren’t that many fish this year. Why?
Mali and Puug are on the case! The guardian of the river, a giant serpent, has been poisoned. The human lumber mills from long ago have eaten up the forest and choked the river with logs, poisoning the water. Now the serpent attacks anything and everything, unable to tell friend from foe. The only one who can help is Gluscap, the protector of all living things. But Gluscap has been missing for a long, long time. Can Mali and Puug find him before it’s too late? Will the serpent stay sick forever? Will the salmon ever return?
This is the second volume of the Adventures of the Pugulatmu’j series for young readers.
You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young PeopleEdited by Stephanie Sinclair & Sara Sinclair
Tundra Books, 2025
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 3-7
Every young person deserves the chance to feel like they belong, that they are recognized, that they matter. In the spirit of A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader, You Were Made for This World brings together forty Indigenous writers, artists, activists, athletes, scholars and thinkers with a joint purpose: to celebrate the potential of young people, to share a sense of joy and pride in language, traditional and personal stories and teachings, and shared experiences, and to honor young people for who they are and what they dream of.
Including contributions from activist Autumn Peltier, singer/songwriter Tanya Tagaq, hockey player Ethan Bear, Governor General's Award–winning author David A. Robertson, artists Chief Lady Bird and Christi Belcourt, illustrator Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, and dozens of others, this beautifully collaborative collection urges readers to think about who they are, where they come from and where they're going, with a warm familiarity that will inspire you to see yourself and your community with proud eyes.
Young Adult Fiction
Here for a Good Time
Written by Kim Spencer
HarperCollins, 2026
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-12
It is 1990. Morgan has lived all her life in the small fishing town of Prince Rupert in northern British Columbia. Ever since her mom took off when she was ten, Morgan has kept an eye on her dad, a commercial fisherman who works hard and occasionally parties even harder. After struggling to keep up and find a place at a public high school, Morgan's best friend Skye convinces her to attend an alternate school.
There, she meets Nate. Both cute and intelligent, Nate introduces her to a wider worldview, including music, movies and books, and becomes a lifeline after an unimaginable tragedy strikes. In the aftermath, Morgan learns hard truths about her mother's painful past and the resulting intergenerational effects of that trauma, and as she struggles to come to terms with her new reality, an unexpected development offers a chance of a fresh start, with love and forgiveness at its core.
The Moth Dreamer
Written by Amy Lynn Farrell
HighWater Press, 2026
IL: Ages 12-15 RL: Grades 8-10
Sixteen-year-old Aubrey is horrified when a vision about her cousin’s death comes true. Overcome with grief, Aubrey begins to see more troubling visions about the futures of those around her. To make matters worse, a mysterious Trickster keeps visiting her dreams with cryptic messages she doesn’t understand.
As Aubrey’s well-being unravels, a dark creature—one that feeds on suffering—begins stalking her. With the help of her Kokum, a medicine woman, Aubrey learns to tap into her spiritual strength. But when the creature crosses into the real world, Aubrey must find the strength to protect her family, and in doing so, confront her guilt and find peace.
The Moth Dreamer is a gripping tale that blends Anishinaabe traditions with a haunting journey through the physical and spiritual realms. Includes discussion questions written by the author at the back of the book.
Visions From the Fire (Dreams Volume 2)
Written by Wanda John-Kehewin
Illustrated by nicole marie burton, Kielamel Sibal, Rhael McGregor & Ryan Howe
HighWater Press, 2026
IL: Ages 12-18 RL: Grades 7-12
A bear and her cub, a strange silver ring, and an ancestor from long ago… Join Damon as he unravels these mysteries through a vision quest in this graphic novel for young adults.
For Damon Quinn, things have started to look up. He’s graduated high school, saved enough money to buy his first car, his old bully has kind of become a friend, and he and Journey are growing closer. Ready for adventure, Damon, his mom Marnie, and Journey take a road trip out to Kehewin Cree Nation to attend a Sweat Ceremony and a Powwow, as well as reconnect with family.
When Marnie learns of Damon's plan to meet up with his estranged father, the news sends shockwaves through the group. But Damon isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As Damon stumbles into a vision quest, he’ll discover more than he bargained for about his own history and the history his mother would prefer he never found out.
Book list curated by Spencer Miller