Selected and annotated by Kyla Waltermire
Chafetz, Henry. Thunderbird and Other Stories. Illus. by Ronni Solbert. Pantheon, 1964. Gr. 4-8.
The title story of this collection explains why Indian children are not afraid of thunder and lightning. The two other stories explain why Bat only comes out at night and why the Peace Pipe is so important.
Courlander, Harold. People of the Short Blue Corn: Tales and Legends of the Hopi Indians. Illus. by Enrico Arno. Harcourt Brace, 1970. Gr. 5-8.
This collection of stories includes creation stories and trickster stories, as well as notes on the stories and a pronunciation guide for the traditional names.
De Armond, Dale. Berry Woman's Children. Greenwillow, 1985. All ages.
This collection of Pacific Northwestern tales introduce the reader to different animals found in traditional storytelling. The stories are short with large illustrations of each animal, so read a story a day or read them all at once!
De Armond, Dale.The Seal Oil Lamp. Adapted from an Eskimo folktale and illus. with wood engravings by Dale De Armond. Little, Brown and Co., 1988. Gr. 2-4.
Allugua, a small blind boy, is left behind by his village. Mouse Woman and her family help him survive and teach him to be a great whale hunter.
Duncan, Lois. The Magic of Spider Woman. Illus. by Shonto Begay. Scholastic, 1996. Ages 5-8.
Weaving Woman learns to make beautiful blankets from Spider Woman, but what happens when she weaves her spirit into a blanket?
Duval, Deborah L.How Rabbit Lost His Tail: A Traditional Cherokee Legend. Illus. by Murv Jacob. University of New Mexico, 2003. Gr. 2-4.
Rabbit's vanity and greed make him lose the thing he loves most about himself: his tail.
Duval, Deborah L. Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting: A Traditional Cherokee Legend. Illus. by Murv Jacob. University of New Mexico, 2004. Gr. 2-4.
When Rabbit tries to show off to his friend Otter, he ends up on a wild flight of fancy…literally!
Goble, Paul. Buffalo Woman. Story and illus. by Paul Goble. Bradbury, 1984. Ages 5 and up.
The title of this story is misleading, for the story centers around a young hunter and his devotion and love for his wife and son. The man follows her back to her people, the Buffalo People, and becomes one of them after his people told Buffalo Woman to leave.
Goble, Paul. Iktomi and the Buzzard: A Plains Indian Story. Told and illus. by Paul Goble. Orchard, 1994. Ages 4-7.
One in a series about Iktomi the trickster, Iktomi learns the hard way not to make fun of others.
Goble, Paul. Iktomi and the Coyote: A Plains Indian Story. Told and illus. by Paul Goble. Orchard, 1998. Ages 4-7.
Iktomi the greedy trickster is fooled by Coyote!
Goble, Paul. Iktomi and the Ducks: A Plains Indian Story. Retold and illus. by Paul Goble. Orchard, 1990. Ages 3-6.
Iktomi is tricked again by Coyote. When will Iktomi learn not to be greedy?
Goble, Paul. Mystic Horse. Harper Collins, 2003. Gr. 3-5.
Illustrated beautifully with Goble's signature style, this story tells of a poor boy who loves his broken horse, and how their love for each other survives everything, even death.
Goble, Paul. Storm Maker's Tipi. Story and illus. by Paul Goble. Atheneum, 2001. Ages 5-8.
In this informative and entertaining story, Goble explains why tipis are shaped the way they are and how one man's tipi decorations change his people's lives.
Goldin, Barbara Diamond. Coyote and the Fire Stick: A Pacific Northwest Indian Tale. Illus. by Will Hillenbrand. Harcourt Brace, 1996. Gr. 3-6.
Coyote brings fire to the People by tricking three evil spirits. The illustrations of Coyote and his friends are whimsical, adding to the character of this fun story.
Goldin, Barbara Diamond. The Girl Who Lived with the Bears. Retold by Barbara Diamond Goldin. Illus. by Andrew Plewes. Harcourt Brace, 1997. Ages 5-9.
A chief's lives with the Bear People after insulting them one afternoon. A good story about respect and love.
Martin, Rafe. The Rough-Faced Girl. Illus. by David Shannon. G.P. Putnam, 1992. Ages 6 and up.
This story, filled with wonderful illustrations, teaches what it means to be truly, genuinely beautiful.
Mayo, Gretchen Will. Meet Tricky Coyote! Retold and illus. by Gretchen Will Mayo. Walker, 1993. Ages 6-10.
The stories in this collection introduce children to Coyote, a trickster character in many tribes' tales.
Mayo, Gretchen Will. That Tricky Coyote! Retold and illus. by Gretchen Will Mayo. Walker, 1993. Ages 6-10.
Coyote returns in the second collection of tales by Gretchen Will Mayo.
Medicine Story. The Children of the Morning Light: Wampanoag Tales as told by Manitonquat (Medicine Story). Illus. by Mary F. Arquette. Macmillian, 1994. Ages 6 and up.
This collection of tales includes simple stories and colorful illustrations. They cover the creation of the world and of the first people as well as stories of Maushop, the Creator's helper.
Ross, Gayle. How Rabbit Tricked Otter and Other Cherokee Trickster Stories. Illus. by Murv Jacob. Foreword by Chief Wilma Mankiller. Harper Collins, 1994. All ages.
These 15 short trickster stories will make you laugh and learn.
Ross, Gayle. How Turtle's Back Was Cracked: A Traditional Cherokee Tale. Retold by Gayle Ross. Paintings by Murv Jacob. Dial, 1995. Ages 4-8.
In this tale, Turtle finds out that pride can get you into trouble.
