Did you know that men with daughters are more likely to read to and with their children?

Men who read to their daughters also read to their sons.

My dad had two daughters and one son, but I don’t remember him reading anything other than the newspaper or a few magazines.

My son reads to his son every night, even though his dad travelled and was seldom home for bedtime stories. That was my department. I’ll take a quick bow and thank his teachers for helping to instill a love of reading in many of their students.

Moms, dads, grandparents, relatives, caregivers, librarians, teachers, and volunteers who read to children even after the children can read on their own send a powerful message about the importance of reading. Making up voices to go along with different characters makes it fun. It helps kids use their imaginations while they read.

Whether you end up reading the same stories over and over again, let your kids be part of this experience. Reading to my sons (and now my grandson) will always be one of my most cherished activities.

This month we have an eclectic mix of reading recommendations for kids and YA that include several books by Indigenous authors. Enjoy!

I Sang You Down From the Stars by Tasha Spillett – Spillett is of Nehiyaw and Trinidadian descent. As the mother waits for the arrival of her child, she creates a special bundle of objects that reflect her child’s family, heritage, and community. The objects help signify the bond between parent and child. For ages birth to four

Llama Llama Gives Thanks  by Anna Dewdney – This book is one of Dewdney’s final books before she passed away in 2016. In it, the Llama family finds many things to be thankful for - family, friendship, delicious food, the beautiful changing of the seasons, and the crisp cool fall weather. For ages 1-3

We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger – Join three friends as they hunt for the most interesting leaves and enjoy playing together on a beautiful autumn day. For ages 2-4

We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom – Lindstrom is Anishinabe/Métis and a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians. This book illustrates the importance of protecting our Earth and precious resources in a story easy for young children to understand. A black snake threatens to poison the water supply and bring an end to Earth. Who will step up and protect this life-giving water? For ages 3-7

Sweep by Louise Greig – This is a book about handling big feelings. How do you teach children to redirect their anger or frustrations when things don’t go their way? Sometimes physical activity or concentrating on another task can help them calm down and put their emotions in perspective. This book can help start a dialogue about positive and negative emotions. For ages 4-8

Native American Stories for Kids: Twelve Traditional Stories from Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso – Weso is an enrolled Menominee Nation citizen. He has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social science from The University of Kansas. Weso took the stories passed down from his family and added other stories from Native American culture to make this book. For ages 5-10

Thanksgiving Sabotage: Blackthorn Stables November Mystery by Elaine Heney – Can a trio of kid detectives solve the mysterious events at the old barn that’s being turned into a wedding venue before the wedding and Thanksgiving are ruined? For ages 6-11

We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell – Sorell is a Cherokee Nation citizen and former federal Indigenous law attorney, and policy advocate  She and her family live within her tribe’s reservation in northeastern Oklahoma. In this book, twelve Native American kids present historical and contemporary laws, policies, struggles, and victories in Native life. For ages 7-10

A River of Words: The Story of  William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant – Williams loved writing poetry as a child. Despite growing up in New Jersey, Spanish was the primary language spoken in his home. He learned to write poetry in both languages though he preferred the rhythm of the Spanish language. Williams did not believe he could make a living as a poet, so he set his sights on medicine. He became a successful doctor and poet, which proves how much you can achieve if you don’t give up. For ages 7-18

Turtle Island: The Story of North America’s First People by Eldon Yellowhorn- Yellowhorn is a member of the Piikani Nation. He’s an archaeologist and professor of Indigenous studies. Yellowhorn does not begin the history of Indigenous Americans with their first contact with Europeans. He goes back to the Ice Age and the Turtle Island Native myth that explains how North and Central America were formed on a turtle’s back. Learn how early Indigenous people survived; what they ate, where they lived, how they created art, and the importance of storytelling to Indigenous cultures before first contact. For ages 12 and up