Special Collections
STEMIE: Native American Innovators
Description: The STEMIE team has selected these titles that celebrate Native American or First Nations heritage and STEM innovators, featuring engaging illustrations and photos to provide young readers with valuable insights and experiences.
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Corn Is Maize
by AlikiPopcorn, corn on the cob, cornbread, tacos, tamales, and tortillas—all of these and many other good things come from one amazing plant. With simple prose and beautiful illustrations, award-winning author-illustrator Aliki tells the story of how Native American farmers thousands of years ago found and nourished a wild grass plant and made corn an important part of their lives. This is a Stage 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. Let's-Read-And-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series. Supports the Common Core Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards
Go Show the World
by Wab KinewCelebrating the stories of Indigenous people throughout time, Wab Kinew has created a powerful rap song, the lyrics of which are the basis for the text in this beautiful picture book, illustrated by the acclaimed Joe Morse. Including figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not- so-widely recognized. Individually, their stories, though briefly touched on, are inspiring; collectively, they empower the reader with this message: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do."
Go Show the World
by Wab Kinew"We are a people who matter." Inspired by President Barack Obama's Of Thee I Sing, Go Show the World is a tribute to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes, featuring important figures such as Tecumseh, Sacagawea and former NASA astronaut John Herrington.Celebrating the stories of Indigenous people throughout time, Wab Kinew has created a powerful rap song, the lyrics of which are the basis for the text in this beautiful picture book, illustrated by the acclaimed Joe Morse. Including figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not- so-widely recognized. Individually, their stories, though briefly touched on, are inspiring; collectively, they empower the reader with this message: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do."
Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!
by Art CoulsonCelebrate diversity, math, and the power of storytelling!Bo wants to find the perfect container to show off his traditional marbles for the Cherokee national Holiday. It needs to be just the right size: big enough to fit all the marbles, but not too big to fit in his family's booth at the festival for the Cherokee National Holiday. And it needs to look good! With his grandmother's help, Bo tries many containers until he finds just the right one. A playful exploration of volume and capacity featuring Native characters and a glossary of Cherokee words.Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation.
Molly of Denali: A-maze-ing Snow
by Wgbh KidsA blizzard blows through Qyah, Alaska, and the school roof caves in! Luckily, Molly knows just how to raise the money to fix it . . . a winter carnival! When Molly wants to build the most amazing maze for the carnival, she discovers she needs a little help from her friends—and a LOT of help from a map!
Produced by WGBH Boston, Molly of Denali is an action-adventure comedy that follows the adventures of feisty and resourceful 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl. Molly helps her mom and dad run the Denali Trading Post, a general store, bunkhouse, and transport hub in the fictional village of Qyah, Alaska. Each episode follows Molly, her dog Suki, and her friends Tooey and Trini on their daily adventures in Alaska, from fishing for salmon to delivering a camera to friends on a volcano—via dog sled
Powwow Counting in Cree
by Penny M. ThomasThis unique counting book introduces Cree numbers, from one to ten. Featuring powwow imagery that reflects the rich culture and tradition of the Cree people, rhyme, rhythm, and glowing illustration combine to make language learning a joyful experience for young readers. A pronunciation guide is included in the back of the book. Winner of McNally Robinson Book for Young People AwardSelected for The Canadian Children&’s Book Centre&’s Best Books for Kids & TeensApproved resource for Manitoba classrooms
Sea Otter Pup
by Victoria Miles and Elizabeth GattFollow along as Pup learns how to eat spiky sea urchins, somersault beneath the waves and groom himself. He still needs lots of help from Mother, but one day Pup will be old enough to dive down below the waves and search for food on his own. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations and set in the North Pacific, this heartwarming tale is perfect for little ones who still have lots to learn themselves.