Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

An anthology in honor of identity and discovery.

This is such an adorable and meaningful book! Thank you to my lovely coworker for letting me borrow it, borrowed books are the best 🤎🤎

Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids is a collection of short stories & poetry geared for kids (did you guess that from the title?) All the stories are connected to a powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan that brings the characters together, either in passing or in a meaningful way.

This collection is equally cute and impactful. There is a child who forms a loving connection with a new (step) dad, there is a dog who helps sell t-shirts at a powwow and there are foster parents doing their best to support a culture that is new to them. There is also some gentle commentary on cultural appropriation, representation of different family relationships, and the various nations that exist within the borders of the U.S.

Many of the kids are attending their first powwow, or are nervous about culture related things. I can’t speak to the experiences of identity or cultural discovery, but the way that the authors write about courage, relationships, and belonging is peaceful and inclusive and loving.

With some incredible authors included (such as Rebecca Roanhorse & David A. Robertson who have written some of my favourite books) this is a collection that would be great for all kids to read some fun stories and learn about Indigenous culture.

Stories & poems included by authors:

• Joseph Bruchac

• Art Coulson

• Christine Day

• Eric Gansworth

• Carole Lindstrom

• Dawn Quigley

• Rebecca Roanhorse

• David A. Robertson

• Andrea L. Rogers

• Kim Rogers

• Cynthia Leitich Smith

• Monique Gray Smith

• Traci Sorell

• Tim Tingle

• Erika T. Wurth

• Brian Young