by John Freeman
Step aside, New York, the center of the American literary universe has moved West
“In California Rewritten, Freeman writes with singular precision and intelligence about new California literature, animating that mysterious relationship that unfolds when a writer’s imagination engages with place. In Freeman’s hands, California is a literary mecca, and each essay a revelation.” —INGRID ROJAS CONTRERAS
by Krystle Hickman
National Geographic Explorer profiles California's native bees from A to Z in this image-rich guide
“When Krystle Hickman talks bees, I listen. This book is a stunning portrait of the landscape around us, and then Krystle draws us in closer to a macro look at the overlooked, diverse, gorgeous, fascinating bees that deserve our attention and awe. As readers, we are so lucky to experience these creatures’ stories through her eyes and words.” —ALIE WARD, host of the Ologies podcast
by Liam O'Brien
Self-taught butterfly obsessive shares his passion for these storied insects in surprisingly personal illustrated guide
“I can think of no other butterfly book that matches this one in sheer beauty, passion, and depth of local knowledge. Confiding, charming, and witty, Liam’s reliable text is a grand gift to butterfly lovers, and his art is original among butterfly painters. A thing of wonder and joy.” —ROBERT MICHAEL PYLE, author of The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies and Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest
by Satsuki Ina
An urgent memoir reveals the life of a Japanese American family inside WWII-era American concentration camps
“The Poet and the Silk Girl is a memoir of moving from internalized fear to collective power.” —FIONA BELL, Full Stop
“Beautifully woven together by her mother’s diary and her father’s haiku—through which they are both still speaking—this is memoir as healing, as self- and soul-determination, and as vigilance” —BRANDON SHIMODA, author of The Afterlife is Letting Go
by Laura Atkins & Stan Yogi, Illustrated by Yutaka Houlette
The award-winning story of Fred Korematsu’s fight for justice
Winner of the Social Justice Literature Award • Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honoree • A Kirkus Best Book of the Year • An Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California Outstanding Title
The first book in Heyday’s Fighting for Justice series now in paperback, the story of Fred Korematsu’s fight against discrimination explores the life of one courageous person who made the United States a fairer place for all Americans.
The Latest in News from Native California
This special fall issue is dedicated to California Native foodways. Featuring recipes, art, and an interview with Chef Crystal Wahpepah, this foodways issue celebrates ancestral ingredients, centering seasonality in cuisine, and elevating food sovereignty for Indigenous communities and all communities. New subscribers to the magazine also receive 20% off their subscription at any tier, and new 3-year subscribers receive a bonus gift with their subscription: a copy of Sara Calvosa Olson’s delectable cookbook Chími Nu’am: Native California Foodways for the Contemporary Kitchen.
Recommended Reads
A Spotlight on Native Voices
Since its origins Heyday has kept California Indian peoples at the center of its work, beginning with the publication of The Ohlone Way by founder Malcolm Margolin in 1978 and the debut of the serial magazine News from Native California in 1987. The California Indian publishing program at Heyday, the Roundhouse, brings books by and about Native Californians to press. These award-winning and critically acclaimed publications amplify the traditions, artwork, and insights of the West Coast’s first peoples. From tribal memoirs to children’s stories to cookbooks, these books preserve cherished knowledge and offer eye-opening perspective with integrity and deep respect.

Heyday is an independent publisher founded in 1974, headquartered in California. Over the last five decades, Heyday has dedicated itself to publishing books that delight in the Golden State’s natural splendor, explore its rich cultural history, amplify the voices of its first peoples, and advance social justice throughout the state and beyond. Since 1987, Heyday has also published the quarterly magazine News from Native California—celebrating Indigenous storytelling and culture-keeping. At Heyday, we believe that ideas matter, stories count, diversity of voices is crucial, and the book is still our best repository of knowledge and beauty.
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Heyday books promote civic engagement and social justice, celebrate nature’s beauty, center California Indian perspectives, and explore the state’s rich history, culture, and influence.
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Informing and inspiring readers since 1987, this first-of-its-kind publication celebrates and honors the culture, heritage, and social justice work of Native Californians—past, present, and future.
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