The Animals Speak: the Lakota Way (Wamákashkaŋ’iya: Lakhól Wichóh’aŋ Kiŋ)

This award-winning picture book by S. D. Nelson introduces young readers to the Lakota Way—an ancient Indigenous philosophy of virtues and values—by observing the natural world. Each animal serves as a teacher: Mother Bear embodies strength and protection, Otter represents the importance of play and laughter, and Tadpole/Frog symbolizes life’s inevitable changes. Through simple text and energetic illustrations, the book connects children to these universal principles and features animal names in both English and Lakota, encouraging readers to integrate these wisdom teachings into their own lives.