All US lands have a history and legacy before they were US lands. It is important to acknowledge this ourselves and to convey this to our students. One fantastic source I have found to educate myself and to help pass that information along to students is Tribal Nations Maps. For more information and resources, the National Museum of the American Indian offers amazing resources, educational programming, and webinars. If you are looking at a children's book that includes or is about Native Americans, you can check American Indians in Children's Literature for a professional review of that portrayal as well as advice and book lists.
Picture Books- Nonfiction
The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca by Amanda Abler, Illustrated by Levi Hastings
A wonderful book for your STEAM selection. This also pairs well with Song for a Whale. Both are on the Bluestem for 2023, so I made sure to book talk Song for a Whale when we read Springer.
This book is from a really interesting series. My students love most that it has a graphic that compares the sizes of the place featured compared to other buildings, monuments, and a school bus. It really helps them visualize what we're studying.
Bruce Lee by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Illustrated by Kim Hyeon Ju
The Little People, Big Dreams website has great supplements for many of their books.
Courageous People from Washington by Heidi Poelman, Illustrated by Kyle Kerschner
I use this with any age because although it is a board book, it also has a lot of people who we can use as a starting point for research.
Jumbo by Chris Gall
This book includes the largest building in volume, which is located in Everett, Washington.
Olympic by Heather Kissock
Picture Book- Fiction
For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco
I struggled with where to put this. It's based on a true story, but we keep it in the Everyone books at my library. Feel free to disagree with me on its placement in fiction.
Middle Grade and Middle School Books
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, graphic novel (Bluestem book, 2023)
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate-- the original Ivan was in Tacoma, WA
Our Only Amelia May by Jennifer L Holm
I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day (Rebecca Caudill, 2022)