Spotted Tail

Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2020

Spur Western Writers of America Award Juvenile Nonfiction 2020

AICL (American Indians in Children's Literature)Best Books Award 2019

Colorado Book Awards for Juvenile Literature Finalist 2019

Named as one of the best books of 2019 by American Indians in Children's Literature, this biography of Spotted Tail traces the life of the famous Lakota leader who expertly guided his people through a pivotal and tumultuous time in their nation’s history as they fought and then negotiated with the U.S. government. Spotted Tail is remembered for his unique leadership style and deep love for his people. Today a university is named in his honor.

David Heska Wanbli Weiden lives in Denver, Colorado and is the father of two amazing sons, David and Sasha. He's a citizen of the Sicangu Lakota nation and teaches Native American Studies classes at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His spirit name, Heska Wanbli, means "mountain eagle." He writes books for children and for adults, and reading is his favorite thing in the world, except for spending time with his kids.

Jim Yellowhawk, tribally affiliated with the Itazipco Lakota, grew up on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. He is an enrolled member of the Itazipco Band of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Onondaga/Iroquois on his mother's side. Yellowhawk was immersed in the arts of his ancestors since he was a young boy. His grandmother, Annie Yellowhawk, was a traditional bead worker and role model for traditional ways, and his father, Jerry Yellowhawk, is a passionate artist in various mediums.

Pat Kinsella is a Brooklyn-based illustrator by way of Texas and Pennsylvania. He originally studied printmaking at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and printing processes and techniques have shaped his illustration work ever since. He has a masters in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York and now works for himself as a freelance illustrator.