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We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade (2020)

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We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

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We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

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This book can foster vocabulary development by introducing children to rich, descriptive words that expand their language beyond everyday classroom talk. The text uses lyrical phrases such as “water is the first medicine” and “we stand with our songs and our drums” these are words that invite children to explore new ways of expressing ideas and feelings.

It also introduces important terms connected to Indigenous culture and environmental stewardship, such as protector, sacred, respect, and earth. Teachers can pause to discuss these words in context, encouraging students to connect them with prior knowledge, illustrations, or real-world examples (like protecting rivers or recycling). By offering repeated readings provide opportunities to revisit these words, and activities such as creating a class word wall of “power words,” drawing illustrations to match key vocabulary, or using the new words in oral storytelling can help children internalize them. The poetic style also helps children notice how words can carry rhythm and emotion, strengthening both comprehension and expressive vocabulary.

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The story of Fry bread goes through many different things about fry bread, like its shape, color, sound, flavor, that it takes time, it is an art, it has history, and that it is food. The story goes through and explains each thing. and always begins with a simple sentence like fry bread is food I think. Starting off with the simple sentence really fosters that vocabulary development. I think starting with something simple and then going into more depth helps foster that understanding of the bigger words. I think also describing so many different things to do with fry bread makes for more words to develop an understanding of.

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The story of Fry bread goes through many different things about fry bread, like its shape, color, sound, flavor, that it takes time, it is an art, it has history, and that it is food. The story goes through and explains each thing. and always begins with a simple sentence like fry bread is food I think. Starting off with the simple sentence really fosters that vocabulary development. I think starting with something simple and then going into more depth helps foster that understanding of the bigger words. I think also describing so many different things to do with fry bread makes for more words to develop an understanding of.

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The First Strawberries (1998) Joseph Bruchac

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Joseph, a Native American storyteller, captivates us with this retelling of a Cherokee folklore that tells the origin story of strawberries. The first man and woman fought long ago. The Sun dropped enticing berries to Earth to halt the wife's retreat, but the woman left in rage. By putting delicious blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries along her route, the sun chooses to assist the man. When the sun finally brings strawberries, the woman pauses to enjoy them, giving the man a chance to catch up and ask for her forgiveness.

In this book, children are presented with new terms and ideas in a cultural context, frequently with the help of vivid imagery and narrative that promotes understanding and memory. Children can be exposed to a variety of viewpoints through the use of language associated with Indigenous cultures, which helps broaden their vocabulary and increase their awareness of the world. Additionally, the books' repetition, narrative structure, and images all serve to contextualize the meaning of the words.

I personally love books that tell old folk tales and speak of other cultural heritages. Also, I love this book as my children's Great-Grandmother is a Cherokee Native herself, and we enjoyed hearing about her life on the reserve as well as stories much like this one that she was told growing up.

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I was first attracted to this book because of its fun-to-say title. Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child tells the story of Windy Girl and her dog named Itchy Boy. They both attend Windy Girl’s uncle to a powwow and then have a dream version of a dog powwow where the dogs are the ones that are involved in the dancing, drumming and overall ceremony. The book does a great job of introducing culturally specific vocabulary words that many children might not have been exposed to such as powwow, grass dancers, drum group. There also are a lot of more general but still rich words such as request, veterans, and celebrations. The bright images in the book help support the visual meaning of these new words to help better link the word to the meaning. Overall, it is a great book to foster new word development in a meaningful, and culturally appropriate context. The more meaningful the vocabulary the more likely for children to grasp the meaning and remember it.

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At The Mountains Base by Traci Sorell (2019)

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This book is about a family that waits for a loved one to return home. This picture book celebrates the bonds of a Cherokee family and the bravery of history-making women. It explains the traditions of a family that loves weaving, cooking, and singing. Their strength comes from their songs. The author pays homage to the true history of Native Americans and their dreams and traditions. This book can help with vocabulary by introducing them to descriptive words that expand beyond their everyday classroom words. The phrases in this book are lyrical and encourage the children to explore new words in diversity by connecting vocabulary and important terms connected to Indigenous culture.

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This is a book about an indigenous family who lived in the city, but move away from the city to be closer to nature and their ancestors. This book has incredible pictures that can be used to foster many different discussions about what is seen in the images. There are a good bit of words in this book with some more specific (possibly level two and three) words such as ancestors, rhythm, etc. These are words that children may not have been previously exposed to and would be expanding the child's vocabulary. There are also many high frequency, level one words, that are wonderful for children to continuously hear because it allows them to create a better understanding of the words.

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Starfish: A Novel (2010) James Crowley

This book is a thoughtful and emotional story that explores themes of identity, connection, and healing. What I found most powerful was how the book reflects values often seen in Indigenous storytelling. It emphasizes the idea that everything in nature is connected and deserves respect. Ther author uses vivid language and symbolism, like the starfish, to help readers consider growth, balance, and belonging in a meaningful way.

This book also provides great chances for building vocabulary. The rich descriptions and cultural terms let students learn new words in context while connecting them to the story’s deeper themes. Teachers could encourage students to keep vocabulary journals, highlight descriptive passages, and discuss how certain words reflect cultural values and emotions. These activities not only strengthen vocabulary but also increase appreciation for the beauty of Indigenous perspectives and storytelling traditions.

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Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard can foster vocabulary development by introducing children to descriptive language and culturally meaningful words. During the story when new vocabulary arises, the teacher can pause to discuss the meaning of the word and connect vocabulary to students' own cultural experiences when possible. The descriptive language in this book, such as words that describe how fry bread looks, smells, and feels, encourages children to expand and use expressive vocabulary in their own writing or language.

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This is one of my favorite books! The Fry Bread book can be used to foster vocabulary development through its rich and descriptive language that introduces children to new words in a meaningful way story. The author uses a wide range of words and cultural terms that helps students expand both their everyday language and academic as well. As I read aloud this story, I can pause to talk about unfamiliar words, by also using the illustrations and story context to support the children's understanding of the word. The repeating phrase "Fry Bread is" helps reinforce language patterns and helps encourage students to explore the descriptive words and relate them to their own life experiences. This book helps provide an engaging and culturally rich way for students to learn new vocabulary while also developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for language and culture.

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Just Like Grandma (2023) written by Kim Rogers and illustrated by Julie Flett

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Just Like Grandma is a story that explores the relationship between Grandma and Becca. To Becca, Grandma is an excellent beader, renowned dancer, talented painter, and a winner. The book describes how much Becca adores and understands her Grandma as a role model, something she aspires to be like and someone who invites her to share interests, hobbies, and skills with! In comparison, Grandma also sees Becca as something she aspires to be: fearless, trying, skilled basketball player, etc. Just Like Grandma explores the symbiotic relationship, respect, and reverence the two have for each other! When Becca and Grandma spend time together they often share the activity, "until the sun dips below the tree line" and Grandpa calls them in for dinner. I love this book and there is so much to appreciate about it! First, I love the inclusion the books' illustration details in racial and ethnic diversity, culture, food, and dress. However, I also believe this book is important to show children what loving and nurturing relationships look like. I often hear from adults the idea that children should "Be seen and not heard", or the general misunderstanding and misrepresentation of all that young children are: empathetic, kind, talented, worthy of love and respect. I feel that this book could be also used to demonstrate to children how valuable they are and that they can be role models for adults! The vocabulary I see in this book pertains to native American culture and foods. Words like needles, thread, canvas, paintbrush, palette, moccasins are all words that can be introduced to young children and used in context to this book and in the classroom! Additionally, Grandpa calls the two in for dinners of native dishes like corn soup, fried chicken, fry bread, that can help children learn about various foods from different cultures!

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This board book is a gentle way to show babies and the bond with people. The books go through loving words. it also lets babies feel cherished and they can do anything. This book makes a real point to tell them to enjoy every moment in everyday. I really like the book because it was easy for pre-k students to take a few moments about the book that they love.

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This book could be used to foster vocabulary development by first picking out words that children may know already. They could build from these words and branch off to see what what words could be a synonym for the vocabulary words that were picked out. In the book they use seasons as well, which they could use words that are typically related to that particular season.

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This is an informational book that teaches children about plants through Indigenous culture. Explaining human relationships with plants and how we are all connected to nature through food, medicine, and materials. This book can be used to foster vocabulary development because of the unexplored language used in nature. Children can learn the names of different plant species and how to identify them. I think this is a great resource and could even be used after reading as a guide to explore nature.

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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. Published October 22, 2019.

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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story 

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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story 

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Fry Bread can be used to build vocabulary because it introduces many words connected to culture, food, family, and history. Each page focuses on a different idea like “Fry Bread is Food,” “Fry Bread is History,” or “Fry Bread is Time”. Each idea gives lots of opportunities to teach new words in meaningful ways. You can pause on each section to explain words like culture, tradition, or recipe. By using the illustrations to help children understand what the words mean, you help them make connections. The detailed author’s notes at the end also include more advanced vocabulary, giving chances to introduce words like heritage, identity, and ancestors at a child-friendly level if age appropriate. Students can talk about what the words mean, act them out, or connect them to their own lives to deepen their understanding. And since the story ties vocabulary to real experiences, it helps children remember and use new words more confidently.

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The Sharing Circle: Stories about First Nations Culture, by Theresa Meuse, tells the story of Matthew, a little boy who loves to share with his friends special treasures from his First Nations culture. Some of his most cherished treasures include a medicine pouch, given to him by his grandfather, herbs given to him by his mother, and and eagle feather from his father. Matthew chose to share another treasure, a Dreamcatcher, with his friend to help him not have bad dreams anymore, a kind gesture. The Sharing Circle story is part of a bigger collection about the culture of First Nations culture and spiritual practices. This book is very detailed but also worded simply enough to be appropriate for young children, and has many important themes though out. This book could be used to foster vocabulary development by introducing new cultural vocabulary used in the book, like: elder, tradition, ceremony, Mi'kmaq, etc. This builds up children's knowledge and conceptual understanding greatly. Another way is to build oral language skills through inviting the children to retell the story in the own words, or asking each child to take turns sharing one idea or word that stood out to them in the story. Lastly, you could use this book to connect vocabulary to relevant social concepts or emotions and feelings that the kids are familiar with.

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Forever Our Home (2023) Written by Tonya Simpson, Illustrated by Carla Joseph

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Forever Our Home celebrates the connection between Indigenous children and their ancestral land. Children can build vocabulary and learn the names of different plants and animals when reading this book. The book discussed wild animals like bucks, hawks, foxes, eagles, coyotes, chickadees, and speckled frogs. It discussed diverse plants like tiger lilies, fireweed, tamaracks, sage, sweetgrass, and red willow. Children can connect these words to the pictures in the book. The illustrations in the book are beautiful.

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"We Are Water Protectors" is a great book to help kids learn new words. It's got super cool pictures and uses words that make you think. Teachers can teach important Indigenous words (like Nokomis, Ojibwe) and nature words (sacred, contamination, stewardship) before we read. When we read the book, the pictures help figure out what words like "guzzle" or "slither" mean. After reading, we can make picture dictionaries or word maps, and kids can write pledges to be "Earth Stewards" using their new words!

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Kevin Noble Maillard's Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, honors Indigenous culture via the custom of fry bread making. Children's vocabulary growth is supported by the books lyrical rhythmic writing, which introduces them to culturally unique terminology such as cornmeal, fry bread, and other meal related terms. Illustrations give new words a visual meaning by depicting family interactions, cooking procedures, and community get togethers. In order to reinforce understanding and expressive language, teachers might use the book to highlight descriptive language, ask children to recount culinary procedures, or have conversations about family customs. This book expands children's vocabulary in a relevant and captivating way while fostering cultural knowledge and emergent reading abilities due to the use of visuals and real world events.

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This book fosters vocabulary by using sensory language such as "crisp," "savory," and "warm." It repeats the phrase "Fry bread is..." to help young readers learn new words and concepts like food, family, and history, as each page adds a new layer of meaning. The book also uses figurative language, including metaphors such as "flour dust stars," to connect everyday elements to broader cultural themes.

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The author and illustrator of this book are both Ojibwe, so there is a lot of strong background that comes with it. It could be used with vocabulary development by introducing children to new words through context, visuals, and repetition. The book includes vocabulary related to powwows, such as clothing, music, and movement, which may be unfamiliar to some children. Because the story is told through a playful narrative about dogs attending a powwow, the new words are presented in a way that feels engaging and approachable. While reading, I could pause to talk about unfamiliar words and use the illustrations to help explain their meaning. The detailed pictures provide strong visual clues that support understanding, which is especially helpful for young learners. I could also encourage children to describe what they see in the illustrations using new vocabulary words. I like this book because it naturally supports vocabulary growth while also honoring Indigenous culture. Children are able to learn new words connected to a cultural event through a fun and imaginative story, which helps the vocabulary feel meaningful.

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One can highlight the words that mention emotions, journey, and objects. We can pause and discuss what they words mean and how they are important and have significance to their cultural. This book does a great job introducing us to words that related to nature and relationships.

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The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story (1992)- Joseph Bruchac. This book can help children learn new words about nature, plants, animals, and Cherokee culture. While reading, you can point out words like strawberries, forest, plants, or animals and explain what they mean. You can also ask children to describe what they see in the pictures or tell their own version of the story. This helps children practice talking and using new words in a fun way.I chose this book because it tells a traditional Cherokee story in a way that is easy for children to understand. From my experience, children enjoy looking at the pictures and talking about the story. This book supports vocabulary development by connecting new words to a story and pictures, which helps children remember and use the words themselves.