Here Come the Aunties!

Joyful and warmhearted, this delightful book honors the blessings of every auntie in a childs life, by distinguished author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) and illustrator Aphelandra (Oneida).

Hesci! Here come the aunties!

Aunts by kinship as well as family friends, neighbors, and community members all step up to fill the important role of auntie. They are there for lifes joys, sorrows, and celebrations, bringing their own special love.

A wonderful gift from or for a treasured auntie!

Cynthia Leitich Smithis the bestselling, acclaimed author of books for all ages, includingFirefly Season,Jingle Dancer,Indian Shoes,On a Wing and a Tear,Sisters of the Neversea, the Blue Stars series,Rain Is Not My Indian Name, Harvest House, andHearts Unbroken, which won the American Indian Youth Literature Award. Cynthia is also the anthologist ofAncestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for KidsandLegendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories.She has been honored with the American Library Associations Childrens Literature Lecture Award and has been named the NSK Neustadt Laureate. She is the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperCollins Children’s Books, and served as the Katherine Paterson Endowed Chair on the faculty of the MFA program in writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Cynthia is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and lives in Denton, Texas.

Aphelandrais an award-winning designer and illustrator. As a descendent of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Aphelandra enjoys working on stories that elevate Indigenous voices and reach children of all backgrounds. Her illustrated childrens books includeThe Heartbeat Drum,Shaped by Her Hands, andThe First Woman Cherokee Chief. Find her at aphelandraw.com.

• Publisher:Heartdrum
• Publish Date: February 10, 2026
• Pages: 32
• Language: English
• Type: Hardback
• EAN/UPC: 9780063374690
• Dimensions:11 in H | 8.5 in W | 1.4 lb Wt
• BISAC Categories: Kids