Traci Sorell Books in Order

Following a Cherokee community through the seasons, this picture book explores gratitude for everyday blessings and difficult experiences alike. Celebrations, family traditions and shared responsibilities introduce young readers to contemporary Cherokee life and the meaning of otsaliheliga.

A Cherokee family waits in a cabin at a mountain’s base while a loved one serves as a wartime pilot. Cooking, weaving and song sustain their connection across the distance, celebrating the traditions and relationships that hold them together.

When the federal government terminates her tribe’s recognition, Regina Petit’s family leaves their Umpqua community for Los Angeles. Facing racism and unfamiliar surroundings in 1957, she struggles to understand her identity and preserve the family’s connection to home.

Cherokee aerospace engineer Mary Golda Ross follows her love of mathematics from the classroom to Lockheed's secretive aircraft and spacecraft programs. Her life connects scientific achievement with Cherokee values, cooperation, and efforts to expand opportunities for Native Americans and women.

Traci Sorell and Lee Francis IV introduce young readers to the Cherokee Nation and Laguna Pueblo. Histories, traditional stories, notable citizens and present-day government, education and commerce show how sovereign Native nations continue to thrive within the United States.

Twelve Native children present the laws, struggles, and achievements that shape their communities' past and present. Their reports explore subjects including forced assimilation, civil rights, language revival, and self-determination, showing Native nations as living communities with continuing histories and futures.

River looks forward to dancing in her jingle dress at the powwow, but a recent illness has left her weaker than usual. As her family gathers, she must find her own way to participate and draw strength from her community.

John Meyers and Charles Bender became the first two baseball players from Native nations to oppose one another in a World Series. Their experiences reveal determination and mutual respect amid racism, manufactured rivalry and the struggle for representation.

A classroom debate over a Virginia school’s Native-themed mascot draws six middle-schoolers into a divisive community argument. Their different backgrounds and changing perspectives challenge assumptions about identity, tradition and what it means to stand up for change.

A young Cherokee girl leaves her familiar city home and travels with her mother toward family and ancestral connections. Drawing the changing scenery along the way, she anticipates cousins, a welcoming meal, and the new rhythms of a place where she belongs.

Vann loves Cherokee stickball but struggles to keep up with his more skilled teammates. As mistakes threaten his confidence during a lively game, he must discover how effort, cooperation, and sportsmanship can matter as much as scoring the winning point.

A powwow becomes a place for young readers to practice counting and recognizing colors, from drums and shawls to moccasins and jingle cones. This board book introduces the sights of the gathering through familiar objects, movement, and family celebration.