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Books by Joseph Bruchac | Wonderlit

Books by Joseph Bruchac

45 books · Ages 3–18

Known for the Native American Legends and Native American Chiefs series, Joseph Bruchac writes picture books and middle grade and young adult for ages 3–18, alongside 37 standalone books, exploring themes of indigenous cultures, celebrating heritage, nature & outdoors.

Series

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story

Native American Legends

1 book · Ages 4–8

Geronimo

Native American Chiefs

1 book · Ages 10–14

Skeleton Man

Skeleton Man

1 book · Ages 9–13

The Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy

My Name Is America

1 book · Ages 9–14

Keepers of the Earth

Keepers of the Animals

Keepers of the Night

Keepers of the Earth

3 books · Ages 5–12

The Trail of Tears

Step into Reading

1 book · Ages 6–9

Standalone Books

Cover of Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons

Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons

Joseph Bruchac, Jonathan London

For the child curious about the rhythms of nature and the stories behind the changing seasons, as told through the indig

Cover of The Great Ball Game

The Great Ball Game

Bat has teeth like the Animals and wings like the Birds, making him the surprising hero in a legendary competition to se

Cover of A Boy Called Slow

A Boy Called Slow

For the child who feels overlooked for being quiet or deliberate, this story shows how patience and careful observation

Cover of The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet

The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet

Look down at the world through the eyes of the Big Dipper in these twelve traditional stories from various North America

Cover of Eagle Song

Eight-year-old Danny Bigtree faces a difficult transition when he moves from a Mohawk reservation to Brooklyn and encoun

Cover of Pushing Up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children

Pushing Up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children

For children ready to take the stage, these seven short plays celebrate Native American heritage through storytelling, p

Cover of The Story of the Milky Way

The Story of the Milky Way

Joseph Bruchac, Gayle Ross

For children curious about how the world works, this Cherokee legend beautifully explains the origin of the Milky Way th

Cover of The Heart of a Chief

The Heart of a Chief

An eleven-year-old Penacook boy navigates family struggles and school insensitivity while facing a community conflict ov

Cover of The Arrow Over the Door

The Arrow Over the Door

For the child grappling with the idea of 'us versus them,' this gentle historical tale shows how peace is a courageous c

Cover of Turtle's Race with Beaver

Turtle's Race with Beaver

Joseph Bruchac, James Bruchac

For the child encountering a neighborhood braggart or learning that using your head is often better than using your musc

Cover of How Chipmunk Got His Stripes

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes

Joseph Bruchac, James Bruchac

A boastful bear and a teasing squirrel face off in this lively Native American folktale that explains how one little ani

Cover of Hidden Roots

Sonny knows he doesn't fit in with his classmates, but the truth lies in the heavy silence of his father's anger and his

Cover of Code Talker

Ned Begay turns a forbidden language into a secret weapon when he joins the Marines to send unbreakable codes during Wor

Cover of March Toward the Thunder

March Toward the Thunder

Fifteen-year-old Louis Nolette, an Abenaki Indian, joins the Union's Irish Brigade to fight for freedom and discovers th

Cover of Dragon Castle

Prince Rashko must harness ancient magic and a dragon's power to save his kingdom after his parents vanish and an evil B

Cover of My Father Is Taller Than a Tree

My Father Is Taller Than a Tree

Celebrate the powerful and varied bonds between fathers and sons with this rhythmic collection of shared moments, from o

Cover of The Powwow Thief

The Powwow Thief

Twin siblings Marie and Jamie turn into detectives at the powwow when their grandmother’s precious beaded necklace goes

Cover of Jim Thorpe's Bright Path

Jim Thorpe's Bright Path

Vivid acrylic paintings illustrate the journey of a Native American boy whose childhood education paved the way for his

Cover of The Winter People

The Winter People

After a British attack on his Abenaki village in 1759, Saxso must rely on his courage and skills to track down and rescu

Cover of Voices of the People

Voices of the People

For children seeking to understand their roots or explore the impact of Indigenous leaders, this collection uses poetry

Cover of Sacajawea

Sacajawea and William Clark share their own perspectives on a legendary expedition in this story told directly to Sacaja

Cover of Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back

Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back

Jonathan London, Joseph Bruchac

The shell of a turtle holds the secrets of the seasons in these traditional legends that follow the thirteen moons of th

Cover of Two Roads

Twelve-year-old Cal navigates the hardships of the Great Depression as a hobo before arriving at an Indian boarding scho

Cover of Between Earth and Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places

Between Earth and Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places

Native American legends told in free-verse reveal how every living thing across the mountains and plains holds a sacred

Cover of Bearwalker

Baron loves his Mohawk Bear Clan heritage, but a class camping trip in the Adirondacks brings him face-to-face with the

Cover of Rez Dogs

While staying on the reservation during a pandemic, Malian finds connection and comfort through her grandparents' tradit

Cover of The Warriors

After leaving his Iroquois reservation for a new community, Jake uses his incredible lacrosse skills to find his place a

Cover of Between Earth & Sky

Between Earth & Sky

A young boy listens to his uncle's ancient stories to understand how every living creature and stone in the natural worl

Cover of Squanto's Journey

Squanto's Journey

Lyrical prose and rich illustrations tell the true story of Tisquantum, the courageous Native American who guided the fi

Cover of Lasting Echoes

The history of Native American life unfolds through the powerful, firsthand testimonies of people who lived through cent

Cover of Walking Two Worlds

Walking Two Worlds

Follow the early life of Ely Parker as he grows from a young Seneca boy into the powerful leader of the Iroquois nation

Cover of One Real American: The Life of Ely S. Parker, Seneca Sachem and Civil War General

One Real American: The Life of Ely S. Parker, Seneca Sachem and Civil War General

Born a Seneca Sachem, Ely S. Parker became a bilingual engineer, a Civil War general, and a key bridge between the U.S.

Cover of Of All Tribes: American Indians and Alcatraz

Of All Tribes: American Indians and Alcatraz

Seventy-eight protesters changed history when they occupied an abandoned prison island. Learn the true story of the Nati

Cover of Trickster

For the child who loves clever mischief and needs to see that wisdom often comes in unexpected, funny, or even rule-brea

Cover of Navajo Long Walk: The Tragic Story of a Proud People's Forced March from Their Homeland

Navajo Long Walk: The Tragic Story of a Proud People's Forced March from Their Homeland

Deeply moving paintings and first-hand perspectives chronicle the 470-mile forced march of thousands of Navajos to a des

Cover of Wabi: A Hero's Tale

Wabi: A Hero's Tale

Witness an owl transform into a brave warrior in this Abenaki legend about a hero named Wabi and the courage he finds to

Cover of Crazy Horse's Vision

Crazy Horse's Vision

Experience the beautifully illustrated journey of a young Lakota boy who looks for spiritual guidance to lead his people

By Age Range

My Father Is Taller Than a Tree

Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons

The Great Ball Game

A Boy Called Slow

Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons

The Great Ball Game

A Boy Called Slow

Eagle Song

The Heart of a Chief

The Arrow Over the Door

Common Themes

Indigenous Cultures Celebrating Heritage Nature & Outdoors Cultural Identity History Self-Confidence & Identity Resilience & Perseverance Justice & Fairness

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Rewards and Fairies

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George Washington

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Casey's New Hat

Tricia Gardella

Casey's New Hat