(Awarded biennially. The following are the recipients of the 2022 awards.)

American Indian Youth Literature Awards are announced in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026) and were established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives. Selected titles present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts. This year’s winners include: Picture Book: “Herizon,” written by Daniel W. Vandever [Diné], illustrated by Corey Begay [Diné] and published by South of Sunrise Creative; Middle Grade Book: “Healer of the Water Monster,” written by Brian Young [Diné], cover art by Shonto Begay [Diné] and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and Young Adult Book: “Apple (Skin to the Core),” written by Eric Gansworth [Onondaga], cover art by Filip Peraić and published by Levine Querido.

2022 American Indian Youth Literature Awards Honor titles include: 

Picture Honor Books: "Diné Bich’eekę Yishłeeh [Diné Bizaad]/Becoming Miss Navajo [English]," by Jolyana Begay-Kroupa [Diné], designed by Corey Begay [Diné] and published by Salina Bookshelf, Inc.; "Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Gold Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer," by Traci Sorell [Cherokee], illustrated by Natasha Donovan [Métis] and published by Millbrook Press; "Learning My Rights with Mousewoman," written and illustrated by Morgan Asoyuf [Ts’msyen] and published by Native Northwest; "I Sang You Down from the Stars," by Tasha Spillet-Sumner [Cree and Trinidadian], illustrated by Michaela Goade [Tlingit & Haida] and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group; and "We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know," by Traci Sorell [Cherokee], illustrated by Frané Lessac and published by Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. / Live Oak Media.

Middle Grade Honor Books: "Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector," by Diane Wilson [Dakota], illustrated by Tashia Hart [Red Lake Anishinaabe] and published by Minnesota Humanities Center; "Indigenous Peoples’ Day," by Katrina M. Phillips [Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe], illustrated by Tashia Hart [Red Lake Anishinaabe] and published by Pebble, an imprint of Capstone; "Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend," by Dawn Quigley [Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe], illustrated by Tara Audibert [Wolastoqey] and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; "Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor," by Jessica Engelking [White Earth Band of Ojibwe], illustrated by Tashia Hart [Red Lake Anishinaabe] and published by Minnesota Humanities Center; and “The Sea in Winter,” by Christine Day [Upper Skagit], cover art by Michaela Goade [Tlingit and Haida] and published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Young Adult Honor Books: "Elatsoe," by Darcie Little Badger [Lipan Apache Tribe], cover art and illustrations by Rovina Cai and published by Levine Querido; "Firekeeper’s Daughter," by Angeline Boulley [Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians], cover art by Moses Lunham [Ojibway and Chippewa] and published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; "Hunting by Stars," by Cherie Dimaline [Métis Nation of Ontario], cover art by Stephen Gladue [Fishing Lake Métis Settlement] and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS; "Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present," by Adrienne Keene [Cherokee Nation], illustrated by Ciara Sana [Chamoru] and published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House; "Soldiers Unknown," by Chag Lowry [Yurok, Maidu and Achumawi], illustrated by Rahsan Ekedal and published by Great Oak Press.