Native American Children’s Author Laurel Goodluck sits in an audio recording booth with copies of her children’s book. Courtesy/New Mexico State Library

NMDCA News:

SANTA FE — Award-winning Native American children’s author Laurel Goodluck, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations, and an Alaska Native Citizen of the Tsimshian Tribe, is completing her project with the New Mexico Library for the Blind and Print Disabled by recording four books to be added to the National Library Service’s audio collection to reach more people with visual impairments.

Goodluck worked closely with New Mexico Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (NM LBPD) Library Technician, Yavar Moradi, in writing new culturally informed image descriptions for two of the books, which accurately reflect Native American heritage and experiences for readers. The detailed descriptions in Goodluck’s narration will help young readers with little or no vision. Moradi says that this is the first time an author has been involved in original image narration for illustrations.

The newly recorded books include:

• Rock Your Mocs
• Too Much
• Fierce Aunties!
• Yáadilá! Good Grief!

“We are immeasurably grateful for the time that Goodluck has given to make these books accessible to patrons of the National Library Service,” said Outreach Librarian for the New Mexico State Library, Jennifer McGill.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Library of Congress will feature these new audiobooks along with two previously recorded titles by Goodluck. Earlier this year, Goodluck’s book, She Persisted: Deb Haaland, was chosen as one of the 2025 New Mexico Great Reads titles by the New Mexico Center for the Book, representing the state’s literary landscape at the National Book Festival.

The NM LBPD is a network library of the National Library Service, which provides audiobooks, magazines, and items in braille for people with low vision, blindness, handicaps, and print disabilities. For more information about their services, visit the website at nmstatelibrary.org/lbpd/ or call 505.476.9770.

About New Mexico State Library 

The New Mexico State Library, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, provides services that support public libraries, as well as direct library services to rural populations, state agencies, the visually impaired and physically disabled, and students and citizens conducting research. For more information about New Mexico State Library visit nmstatelibrary.org.