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Rebecca Lee Kunz

@treeoflife.studio

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Painter . Printmaker . Illustrator . Collagist
2025 Caldecott medalist
Represented by @morgangaynin
Cherokee Nation Citizen

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

“..this book wouldn’t really be a traditional biography or a traditional picture book. It’s something different.” Today I interview two creators, @jenlorenofficial and @treeoflife.studio about their new book featuring their kickass aunt. Link in bio.

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💚 Picture Book Love 💚

If I can influence you to add one book to your reading list this year...let it be this book.

Huge thank you to @angelabookspr and @levinequerido for sending me a gifted copy of Ruth Muskrat and the So-Called Indian Problem...written by Jen Loren and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz.

This is hands down one of the most beautiful picture books I have ever laid my eyes on. The artwork is warm, expressive, so multi-layered, and full of traditional Cherokee symbols. My eyes spent so much time wandering all over the pages just taking in the different colors, textures, patterns, and designs. And the story...this book is written with so much love, research, care, and dedication to sharing Ruth Muskrat's story. It is a true celebration of Ruth!

Author Jen Loren and illustrator Rebecca Lee Kunz (both of the Cherokee Nation) are not only sisters, but are also the Great Nieces of Ruth Muskrat. Together they crafted not only a beautiful tribute to Ruth and her legacy...but also they are sharing the wider story of Native American civil rights in the 20th century.
What an incredible woman Ruth must have been. A poet, educator, and activist...Ruth knew that Native Americans should retain their tribal identity and fight for their civil rights...and she dedicated her life to the fight for justice and protection of tribal sovereignty.

One of the most powerful, impactful, and stunning picthre books I have ever read. I learned so much through the story and the back matter. I am so happy to have learned about Ruth...💚
#ruthmuskratandthesocalledindianproblem

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New Mexico area~ we hope you can join us for our book launch celebrating the release of Ruth Muskrat and the So-Called Indian Problem November 14th from 3:00-5:00 at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts @iaiamocna in downtown Santa Fe. A conversation between Jen and Becca will be moderataed by Dr Kay Holmes @_frank_kay, Department Chair of the Indigenous Liberal Studies Department at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Our conversation will be followed by a Q and A and book signing. Books will be available for purchase.
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The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is located at 108 Cathedral Place, across from Cathedral Park, one block from the Santa Fe plaza.
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Meet the author Jen Loren @jenlorenofficial and artist Rebecca Lee Kunz @treeoflife.studio!
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#howtosantafe
#booklaunch
#localevents
#newmexicolife
#ruthmuskrat

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Celebrate #IndigenousPeoplesDay today and everyday by reading Indigenous authors (including me!).

What's your favorite Native-authored book that you've read this year?

#NativeAuthors #Kidlit #BookRecommendations #NativeBooks #ReadNative

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It’s #indigenouspeoplesday and I’m thrilled that we are seeing more books celebrating indigenous people and cultures. This group of books leans slightly older; although a picture book is included here it is very text heavy and would be better for slightly older kids. (A truly fantastic introduction to a woman whose legacy lives on, Ruth Muskrat.) The early chapter books are perfect for independent readers who still enjoy occasional black and white illustrations and the graphic novels are aimed at even older readers, 12+. I’ve included inside pictures to give a sense of each - thanks to the publishers for sharing them with us!
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#readindigenous #annickpress #highwaterpress #levinequerido

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today is indigenous peoples’ day, a day where we celebrate and honor the history and culture of indigenous communities!

these are just a few of our top picks out of many amazing books by and about indigenous people! which one would you choose to read? 📚

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Christopher Columbus could never…Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day

SAVE this post for your next library or bookstore visit or SHARE it with a friend.

Books featured here:

My Powerful Hair
Indigenous From A to Z
Ruth Muskrat and the So-Called Indian Problem
The Water Lady
You Are the Land
Too Much
Gathering the Light
Finding My Dance
We Are Water Protectors
The Gift of the Great Buffalo
The First Blade of Sweetgrass
Powwow Day
Rock Your Mocs
Nibi’s Water Song
Of the Sun: A Poem for the Land’s First Peoples

Which ones would you add to this list? 👇🏾#indigenouspeoplesday #indigenouskidlit #bookstacks #kidlit

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Sisters Jen Loren and Rebecca Lee Kunz have written and illustrated a book about their aunt, Ruth Muskrat Bronson, a poet, educator and Native American rights activist.

“I believe this is the perfect time for Americans to get to know Ruth,” says Loren. “She was a brave and dynamic changemaker who never gave up against all odds and had a real impact on our history. I believe her story could inspire everyone who reads it in one way or another.”

As of today, “Ruth Muskrat and the So-Called Indian Problem” is available for purchase. Read more in our October issue.

📷: Jen Loren and Rebecca Lee Kunz. Photo by Cody Hammer

#tulsakids

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Ruth Muskrat’s story is an inspiring demonstration of effective advocacy, beautifully told and illustrated by two of her great-great-nieces.

The book also includes a timeline of Ruth’s life and a glossary full of additional information, and a study guide for extended learning.

#nonfictionforkids #readthisbook #biographiesforchildren #readaloud #greatfamilyreads

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We are on Native Ways of Knowing Book Club TONIGHT, Thursday Oct 1!
We look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming Native Ways of Knowing Virtual Book Club on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 3:30–5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, featuring sisters Jen Loren and Rebecca Lee Kunz, both citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Together, they will lead a conversation centered on Ruth Muskrat and the So-Called Indian Problem while exploring the importance of Native people telling, interpreting, creating, and preserving their own stories. Through their respective work in film, television, journalism, literature, and visual art, Jen and Rebecca offer powerful examples of the many ways Native people are reclaiming narrative space and ensuring that Native histories, cultures, communities, and contemporary experiences are represented through Native voices and perspectives.
Join us! Registration is free: https://bit.ly/NWOK-Learn (link in bio) #Cherokee #kidlit #NativeVoices #books #author

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Since 2013 September 30th has been known as Orange Shirt Day and in 2021 Canada also named it as a federal holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Inspired by survivor Phyllis Webstad’s personal experience, it is a day dedicated to witnessing survivors of residential schools, honoring individual and community healing and building pathways towards reconciliation. While this day originated in Canada, it also holds significance for Indigenous people in the United States where there is a similar history of residential schools.

In honor of this day, we - Lisa of @lisa.brighteyes and Kristin of @readingwithredandthemagpie - are grateful to be able to provide a collection of Indigenous-created resources designed to support learning alongside young people on Orange Shirt Day and beyond.

In our stories and bios, you can FIND A PDF VERSION OF THIS RESOURCE GUIDE WITH CLICKABLE LINKS to learning guides, as well as links to purchase the books in this collection from Indigenous-owned bookshops such as @birchbark_books.

A few words from Lisa about why Orange Shirt Day is significant to her -

“I grew up learning about the Carlisle Indian School and “kill the Indian, save the man.” When Orange Shirt Day was first observed, I lived in Arizona. The Heard Museum in Phoenix had an exhibit about residential schools like Carlisle. The first thing you experience is the sound of scissors cutting hair all around you and quotes from survivors describing the extreme cleansing children endured. It was awful to think of kids being treated as numbers, having their identity, braids, & traditional clothes stripped from them.

🧡 As a Rappahannock mother, I am compelled to use my voice to protect every child. Observing Orange Shirt Day is one small way I can re-build our community from the harms of colonization. By wearing an orange shirt, reading books to my children about residential schools, and sharing some of our family’s stories of education, I can deepen my children’s understanding of our community, and widen the lens of others’ understanding of our Indigenous community.”

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In California and Nevada, the fourth Friday of September (September 25, 2026) is recognized as Native American Day. The day was established to dismantle misconceptions about indigenous communities, educate the public on local tribal history, and recognize the cultural contributions and resilience of Native Americans.

To celebrate this day and to help honor the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of indigenous peoples, I’ve curated this collection of picture books featuring Native American representation.

‼️Comment RUTH for this book title plus more Native American Picture Books. Check your DMs for the links‼️

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