Christine Day (author)


Christine Day is an Indigenous American author of children's books. She is a member of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Her novel We Still Belong won the American Indian Youth Literature Award for middle school book, and three of her books have received American Indian Youth Literature Award honors.
Day grew up in Seattle. Her mother was adopted prior to the Indian Child Welfare Act, which inspired her debut novel, I Can Make This Promise.
As a child, she attended a ballet program with Pacific Northwest Ballet School, where she learned about Maria Tallchief. Later, when approached about adapting Clinton and Boiger's picture book about Tallchief, she was thrilled at the opportunity.
Day received a master's degree from the University of Washington. For her thesis, she studied Coast Salish weaving traditions.

Awards and honors

In 2019, the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, NPR included I Can Make This Promise on their list of the best books of the year.
The Sea in Winter is a Junior Library Guild book. Kirkus Reviews also included it on their list of the best children's books of 2021.
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
2020I Can Make This PromiseALSC Notable Children's BooksSelection
2020I Can Make This PromiseAmerican Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle School BookHonor
2020I Can Make This PromiseCharlotte Huck AwardHonor
2021I Can Make This PromiseRise: A Feminist Book ProjectSelection
2022I Can Make This PromiseRebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book AwardNominee
2022ALSC Notable Children's BooksSelection
2022American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle School BookHonor
2022Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association AwardShortlist
2024We Still BelongAmerican Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle School BookWinner
2024She Persisted: Maria TallchiefAmerican Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle School BookHonor

Publications

Books

I Can Make This Promise, HarperCollins, The Sea in Winter, Heartdrum, She Persisted: Maria Tallchief, adapted from the picture book by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger and illustrated by Gillian Flint, Philomel Books, .We Still Belong, Heartdrum, .

Contributions