The Ultimate List of Children’s Books about Arizona
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Arizona Children’s Books – Picture books about Arizona
Serving Others, Serving Our Country
Mule Train Mail, by Craig Brown.
Every day in Arizona, mail gets delivered to a village inside the Grand Canyon, for those living on the Supai Reservation. To learn more about the Havasupai tribe, or the trek done into Havasu Canyon where the village, click here.
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story, by Joseph Bruchac and Liz Amini-Holmes
This book about Navajo Code talkers highlights their contribution to the U.S. Military during World War 2. The Navajo language was used to communicate safely in a way that could not be broken by the Japanese or other Americans.
The Unbreakable Code, by Sarah Hoagland Hunter, illustrated by Julia Miner
This children’s book tells about the contributions of Navajo soldiers to the war effort in World War 2. The Navajo language was used as a code over the radios, since neither the Japanese (nor the Americans speaking English) could understand the words being communicated. Because of the secret nature of their communications work, the Navajo Code Talkers were not recognized until the project was declassified.
Quiet Hero: The Ira Hayes Story, by S.D. Nelson
This book tells the story of brave isoldier and Pima tribe member Ira Hayes, who is one of the few Marines featured in the photo of Iwo Jima where the flag is being raised over the island. Ira Hayes is on the leftmost-side, his arms in the air.
Arizona Children’s Books: Connections to Many Cultures
When Cesar Chavez Climbed the Umbrella Tree, by Rachael Teresa Hamel, illustrated by Alex Herrerias
Cesar Chavez organized California grape workers, but he grew up in Arizona with his parents and himself migrant farming. This tells his origin story.
Harvesting Hope, by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Yuli Morales
This book about Cesar Chavez highlights growing up in Arizona, and becoming the leader of the movement for fair wages in farm workers in California and the American West.
Big Moon Tortilla, by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Dyanne Strongbow
Write to Me, by Cynthia Grady and Amiko Hirao.
This book is about Miss Breed, a librarian who wrote with children sent to internment camps in Arizona and California.
My Diary from Here To There, by Perez Armada Irma and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
This Arizona children’s book is in both English and Spanish, a story about travel to Arizona.
When We Are Kind / Nihá’ádaahwiinít’íigo (English and Navaho Edition), by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt, translated by Mildred Walters
This book about Arizona is in Dine language and English, a bilingual book about Navajo nation and its cultural values.
Arizona Children’s Books: Chapter Books for Young Readers
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling
For grades 3 to 6, this Arizona children’s book features a lead character who was born without arms. She makes friendships, travels across Arizona, and comes to understandings about her disability. This chapter book about Arizona is a top book of the past decade.
Arizona languages: Diné language
Arizona’s 3rd most spoken language is Diné, spoken in over 1% of Arizonan households. You can begin learning Diné (the language of the Navajo people) for free, using Duolingo online or on a phone or tablet app.
Did You Know: If Navajo Nation and Navajo lands were a U.S. state, they would be the 40th largest state? Navajo Nation is roughly the size of the state of West Virginia.
Arizona landmarks: The Grand Canyon
Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon and the Grand Canyon National Park that spans it. The Canyon is a mile deep, and runs 18 miles long. There are Arizona children’s books about the Grand Canyon and its majesty in nature.
The Grand Canyon, by Jason Chin
This children’s book about the Grand Canyon shows the change that has happened over time in this ecological area. It explains Arizona’s national park to children, and is a perfect book for children around 2nd to 3rd grade.
Arizona Vocabulary to Highlight:
Navajo Nation – Diné Bikéyah
Diné language
Navajo Code Talkers
Ira Hayes and Iwo Jima
Cesar Chavez
Arizona Geography Sites:
Grand Canyon
London Bridge
San Xavier del Bac
Oak Creek Canyon
Sedona
Sculpture ‘standing on the corner’ of Winslow, Arizona (from the song “Take it Easy“, by the Eagles), along Route 66
Children’s books about Arizona and all 50 states. Which state will you read about next!
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Here you will find books about Arizona and all 50 states.
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