S. D. Nelson

S. D. Nelson is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas. He is the award-winning author and illustrator of a number of books, including Crazy Horse and Custer, Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Black Elk’s Vision (winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Storyteller Award and named a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best), and many more. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.

S. D. Nelson's Titles

Grandma's Tipi A Present-Day Lakota Story

Grandma's Tipi

A young girl spends the summer at her grandmother's home on the Standing Rock Reservation in this illustrated, heartwarming family story from...


Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School

Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky

Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky is an exceptional poetry collection written by Lakota students in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth...


Crazy Horse and Custer Born Enemies

Crazy Horse and Custer

With photographs and stunning illustrations from acclaimed author/artist S.D. Nelson, this thrilling double biography juxtaposes the lives of...


Red Cloud A Lakota Story of War and Surrender

Red Cloud

An illuminating picture book biography of the Lakota warrior and chief Red Cloud, from award-winning author and illustrator S. D. Nelson. Red...


Sitting Bull Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People

Sitting Bull

An inspiring picture book biography of the Lakota/Sioux warrior and chief Sitting Bull, from award-winning author and illustrator S. D. Nelson...


Digging a Hole to Heaven Coal Miner Boys

Digging a Hole to Heaven

Award-winning author and illustrator S. D. Nelson reveals the grim realities of child labor in the coal mining industry in this unique picture...


Star People A Lakota Story

The Star People

A grandmother's love is forever in Star People, a picture book about remembrance and tradition from S. D. Nelson, award-winning author and member...


Buffalo Bird Girl A Hidatsa Story

Buffalo Bird Girl

A stunning picture book biography of a 19th-century Hidatsa woman, from award-winning author and illustrator S. D. Nelson, that "is a lovely...


Black Elk's Vision A Lakota Story

Black Elk's Vision

Black Elk's Vision is a stunning picture book biography of the celebrated Lakota-Oglala medicine man from award-winning author and illustrator...


Coyote Christmas A Lakota Story

Coyote Christmas

A traditional American Indian folklore character gets a modern update in Coyote Christmas, a charming holiday picture book from award-winning...


Gift Horse A Lakota Story

Gift Horse

A Lakota boy comes of age and finds his courage in Gift Horse, a picture book from award-winning author and illustrator S. D. Nelson. When Flying...