Creating and Using Culturally Relevant Squishy Books for Indigenous Preschoolers

Culturally relevant picture books may be engaging for Indigenous children, which can be made more engaging by creating squishy books that allow for multi-sensory or concrete interactions rather than passive listening. Using culturally relevant books in the classroom is a way to integrate the child’s home culture into the classroom for Indigenous children. In addition, using culturally relevant books may help support Indigenous children’s social identity and educate non-Indigenous peers about Indigenous life and/or history. This article provides ideas for how to create culturally relevant squishy books for use in the classroom and at home.