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American Indian Youth Literature Award

The first AILA American Indian Youth Literature Awards were presented during the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color in 2006. Awarded biennially, the AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity. In odd-numbered years, nominations are encouraged in fiction or nonfiction and may include graphic novels; for picture books, the award is for both author and illustrator. Awards are granted in even-numbered years. Authors/illustrators may win the American Indian Youth Literature Award in the categories Best Picture Book, Best Middle Grade Book, and Best Young Adult Book. In addition, up to five awards may be selected as Honors books in each category.

Press Release: 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Awards Announced

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Winners
Picture Book Forever Cousins

Picture Book, Winner, 2024

2024 A Letter from Bob

Picture Book, Winner, 2024

Middle School We Still Belong

Middle School, Winner, 2024

Young Adult Rez Ball

Young Adult, Winner, 2024

Honor Books
Young Adult Running with Changing Woman

Written by Lorinda Martinez (Diné) Cover design by Brittany Gene (Navajo) Publisher Salina Bookshelf Inc. 2023

Young Adult Man Made Monsters

Written by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation) Illustrations by Jeff Edwards (Cherokee Nation) Published by Levine Querido, distributed by Chronicle Books 2022

Young Adult Funeral Songs for Dying Girls

Written by Cherie Dimaline (Métis) Publisher Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited 2023

Middle School She Persisted: Maria Tallchief

Written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit) Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint Publisher Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House 2021

Middle School She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller

Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint Publisher Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House 2022

Middle School She Persisted: Deb Haaland

Written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian) Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint Publisher Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House 2023

Picture Book Remember

Written by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation) Illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) Publisher Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House 2023

Picture Book Berry Song

Written and Illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) Publisher Little, Brown and Compan, a division of Hachette Book Group 2022

Picture Book Contenders

Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) Illustrated by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo Tribe) Publisher Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House 2023

Picture Book Celebration

Written by Lily Hope (Tlingit) Illustrated by Kelsey Mata Foote (Tlingit) Publisher Sealaska Heritage Institute

Young Adult Warrior Girl Unearthed

Written by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) Jacket illustrations by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) Published by Henry Holt and Company, a trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group 2023

Middle School Eagle Drums

Written and illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (Iñupiaq) Publisher by Roaring Brook Press 2023

Picture Book Rock Your Mocs

Written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian) Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation) Publisher Heartdrum, an imprint of HaperCollins Publishers 2023

Middle School Mascot

Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and Charles Waters Jacket Illustration by Nicole Neidhardt (Navajo) Publisher by Charlesbridge 2023

Middle School Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day

By Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) Illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey) Publisher Heartdrum, An Imprint of HaperCollins Publishers 2023

Middle School Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy Pants

By Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) Illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey) Publisher by Heartdrum, An Imprint of HaperCollins Publishers 2022

Young Adult Heroes of the Water Monster

Written by Brian Young (Navajo Nation) Jacket art by Shonto Begay (Diné) Publisher Heartdrum, an imprint of HaperCollins Publishers 2023

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Winners
Picture Book Herizon

Winners, Picture Book, 2022

Middle School Healer of the Water Monster

Winners, Middle School, 2022

Young Adult Apple Skin to the Core

Winners, Young Adult, 2022

Honor Books
Picture Book Learning My Rights with Mousewoman

Honor Book, Picture Book, 2022

Picture Book Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer

Honor Book, Picture Book, 2022

Picture Book Becoming Miss Navajo

Honor Book, Picture Book, 2022

Picture Book I Sang You Down From the Stars

Honor Book, Picture Book, 2022

Picture Book We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know

Honor Book, Picture Book, 2022

Middle School Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Honor Book, Middle Grade, 2022

Middle School Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector

Honor Book, Middle School, 2022

Middle School Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor

Honor Book, Middle School, 2022

Middle School The Sea in Winter

Honor Book, Middle School, 2022

Middle School Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend

Honor Book, Middle School, 2022

Young Adult Firekeeper’s Daughter

Honor Book, Young Adult, 2022

Young Adult Elatsoe

Honor Book, Young Adult, 2022

Young Adult Hunting by Stars

Honor Book, Young Adult, 2022

Young Adult Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present

Honor Book, Young Adult, 2022

Young Adult Soldiers Unknown

Honor Book, Young Adult, 2022

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Winners
Picture Book Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim

Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim Written by Brenda J. Child (Red Lake Ojibwe) Translated into Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain (Lac La Croix First Nation) Illustrated by Jonathan Thunder (Red Lake Ojibwe) Published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2018 http://www.mnhs.org/mnhspress/books/bowwow-powwow

Middle School Indian No More

Indian No More Written by Charlene Willing McManis (Umpqua/Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde) with Traci Sorell (Cherokee) cover art by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota, Mohegan, Muscogee Creek) Published by Tu Books / Lee & Low, 2019

Young Adult Hearts Unbroken

written by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) Published by Candlewick Press, 2018

Honor Books
Picture Book Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

Written by Kevin Noble Maillard (Seminole Nation, Mekusukey Band) Illustrated by Juana Martínez-Neal (Peruvian-American) Published by Roaring Brook Press / Macmillan, 2019

Picture Book Birdsong

Written and illustrated by Julie Flett (Cree-Métis) Published by Greystone Kids, 2019

Picture Book At the Mountain’s Base

Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee) Illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva/Scots-Gaelic) Published by Kokila / Penguin Random House, 2019.

Picture Book Raven Makes the Aleutians

Adapted from a traditional Tlingit story Illustrated by Janine Gibbons (Haida, Raven of the Double-Finned Killer Whale clan, Brown Bear House) Published by Sealaska Heritage, 2018

Picture Book We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee) Illustrated by Frané Lessac Published by Charlesbridge, 2018

Middle School I Can Make This Promise

Written by Christine Day (Upper Skagit) Cover art by Michaela Goade (Tlingit, Kiks.ádi clan, Steel House) Published by Harper Collins, 2019.

Middle School The Grizzley Mother

The Grizzly Mother, written by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (“Bret D. Huson,” Gitxsan), illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Métis Nation of British Columbia), and published by Highwater Press.

Young Adult Surviving the City

Written by Tasha Spillet (Nehiyaw-Trinidadian) Illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Métis Nation of British Columbia) Published by Highwater Press, 2018

Young Adult Apple In The Middle

Written by Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe, Turtle Mountain Band) Published by North Dakota State University Press, 2018

Young Adult An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People

Written by Debbie Reese (Nambé Owingeh) and Jean Mendoza Adapted from the adult book by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz Published by Beacon Press, 2019.

Young Adult Reawakening Our Ancestors’ Lines: Revitalizing Inuit Traditional Tattooing

Gathered and compiled by Angela Hovak Johnston (Inuk), Photography by Cora De Vos (Inuk) Published by Inhabit Media, 2017

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Winners
Picture Book Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy (2017)

Published by Sealaska Heritage Institute Illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade, and edited by Tlingit speakers

Middle School Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, Volume 1 (2016)

Edited by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo) Various contributors Native Realities

Young Adult #Not Your Princess: Voices of Native American Women (2017)

Edited by Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in) and Mary Beth Leatherdale Annick Press

Honor Books
Picture Book All Around Us (2017)

Written by Xelena González (Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation) Illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia Cinco Puntos Press

Picture Book Black Bear Red Fox (2017)

Written and illustrated by Julie Flett (Cree/Métis) Native Northwest

Picture Book Fall in Line, Holden! (2017)

Written and illustrated by Daniel W. Vandever (Diné) Salina Bookshelf, Inc.

Picture Book I'm Dreaming of...Animals of the Native Northwest (2017)

Written by Melaney Gleeson-Lyall (Musqueam, Coast Salish) Illustrated by First Nations artists Native Northwest

Picture Book Mission to Space (2016)

Written and illustrated by John Herrington (Chickasaw) White Dog Press

Middle School The Wool of Jonesy, Part 1 (2016)

Written and illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Diné) Native Realities

Young Adult Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time: An Indigenous LGBT Sci-Fi Anthology (2016)

Various Authors (Anishinaabe) edited by Hope Nicholson Bedside Press

Young Adult Marrow Thieves (2017)

Written by Cherie Dimaline (Métis) DCB (submitted by Orca Books)

2018 Fire Starters (2016)

Written by Jen Storm (Ojibway) Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson and colorist Donovan Yaciuk HighWater Press

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Winners
Picture Book Little You

Richard Van Camp, author Julie Flett, illustrator Orca Book Publishers, 2013

Middle School In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse

Joseph Marshall III, author Amulet Books, 2015

Young Adult House of Purple Cedar

Tim Tingle, author Cinco Puntos Press, 2013

Honor Books
Picture Book Sitting Bull Lakota Warrior And Defender of his People

S.D. Nelson, author Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015

Middle School Dreaming in Indian Contemporary Native Voices

Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale Annick Press, 2014

Young Adult Her Land, Her Love

Evangeline Parsons Yazzie Salina Bookshelf Inc., 2016

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Winners
Picture Book Caribou Song, Atihko Oonagamoon

by Tomson Highway, John Rombough (illustrator) Fifth House, 2012

Middle School How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story

by Tim Tingle The Roadrunner Press, 2013

Young Adult Killer of Enemies

by Joseph Bruchac Tu Books, 2013

Honor Books
Middle School Danny Blackgoat, Navajo Prisoner

by Tim Tingle 7th Generation, 2013

Young Adult If I Ever Get Out of Here

by Eric Gansworth Arthur A. Levin Books, 2013

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Winners
Picture Book The Christmas Coat

by Virgina Driving Hawk Sneve, Ellen Beier(Illustrator)

Middle School Free Throw and Triple Threat

by Jacqueline Guest

Young Adult Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School

by Adam Fortunate Eagle

Honor Books
Picture Book Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light

by Tim Tingle, Karen Clarkson(Illustrator)

Picture Book Kohala Kuamo’o: Nae’ole’s Race to save a King

by Kekauleleana’ole Kawai’ae’a, Aaron Kawai’ae’a (Illustrator) story by Walter and Luana Kawai’ae’a

Picture Book Mohala Mai ‘O Hau = How Hau Became Hau’ula

by Robert Lono ‘Ikuwa pictures by Matthew Kawika Ortiz

Picture Book I See Me

by Margaret Manuel

Middle School Jordin Tootoo: The Highs and Lows in the Journey of the First Inuit to Play in the NHL

by Melanie Florence

Middle School Awesiinyensag: Dibaajimowinan Ji-Gikinoo’amaageng

by Anton Treuer et al.

Middle School Native Defenders of the Environment

and other titles in the “Native Trailblazers series by Victor Schilling

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Winners
Picture Book Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story

by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes(Illustrator)

Middle School The Birchbark House

by Louise Erdrich

Young Adult Hidden Roots

by Joseph Bruchac

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