STORIES ARE THE HEART OF THE WORLD, by Laurel Goodluck and Nicole Neidhardt, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, May 5, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Award-winning Indigenous author Laurel Goodluck weaves an intertribal celebration of stories and traditions that root children to the world in Stories Are the Heart of the World.
When we begin our lives, stories help us understand who we are.
Drawing on tribal Nations’ traditions including Mandan-Hidatsa and Navajo/Diné, this lyrical picture book carries us through the milestones of a beloved child’s life, from birth and their first laugh to entering young adulthood and understanding their place in the community and the world.
Each ceremony that marks a special moment comes with a story—and each story reminds us of the beauty and responsibility to the land we call home, the powerful ancestors who came before us, and the amazing people we can grow up to be. —Synopsis provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Stories Are the Heart of the World is a tender picture book that features Indigenous traditions but will speak to all children. Central to the book is love. The focus on how children will draw from their experiences as they grow and move “off in the world.”
Laurel Goodluck’s prose is warm and confident. Her writing — in two parts — focusing on the present and the future. Artist Nicole Neidhardt utilizes space and color in her eye-catching illustrations. Backmatter includes prompts for readers to consider their own cultural or community rituals that may include storytelling.
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