Title: Nibi’s Water Song
Author: Sunshine Tenasco
Illustrator: Chief Lady Bird
Grade Range: JK-3 Picture book
Publisher: North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
NIBI’S WATER SONG BOOK SUMMARY
Determination, teamwork and perseverance together bring clean water for Nibi and all her friends.
Nibi is the Anishinaabemowin word for water. In Nibi’s Water Song , an Indigenous girl on the search for clean water to drink. Though she is faced with repeated obstacles, Nibi’s joyful and determined energy becomes a catalyst for change and action as her community, and then in widening circles the country and government, rally around her to make clean drinking water available for all. In a story perfectly levelled for young readers, there is a strong underlying message that even when a problem seems too large to face, every bit that everyone does helps. And inaction in the face of a wrong is not an option.
Sunshine Tenasco, an Anishinabeg activist for clean water, has an amazing optimistic spirit that shines through her writing. The hopeful tone and lyrical read-aloud quality of this gentle allegorical tale open the door to conversations and action aimed at young children, whether they are on a reserve that does not have clean water or they are living with access to clean water. Chief Lady Bird’s stunning, original artwork carries through the themes of strength, hope, and resilience in an incredible collaboration of talent.
THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK NIBI’S WATER SONG
Imagine for a minute….you’re thirsty. Really thirsty. But you turn on the tap, and brown water comes out. What would you do? Call someone to fix it? Ask a neighbour if you can have some of their water? Call a friend? Reach for your emergency supply? But what if…this was your reality, day after day. You turn on the tap and brown water comes out. What would you do then?
Sadly, this is a reality for some Indigenous communities in Canada. It’s a great, terrible injustice that having clean tap water is not equally available for all Canadians.
Nibi’s Water Song is a new picture book that brings awareness to this great injustice that happens in Indigenous communities in Canada. It is written and illustrated by Sunshine Tenasco and Chief Lady Bird who are both Indigenous women. The words are told simply, yet profoundly and with hope. The pictures help illustrate the reality of the situation told through the lens of a young girl, Nibi. Nibi’s Water Song serves to bring awareness to the very important topic about the lack of clean water available in many Indigenous communities.
The book also shows what happens when people get involved and work as a team to solve a problem. Nibi and her community work together to provide clean water for Nibi and her friends!
Although the topic of the book is one that is unfair and unjust, the author does an excellent job explaining the problem. The text is simple, the artwork engaging, and a page at the back of the book explains the problem further. The book is filled with hope that by working together, there can be solutions to the social injustice that occurs in homes like Nibi’s across Canada.
This book would be a great way to introduce this important topic to your children and explore themes such as Indigenous communities, inequality and social justice.
Although this book was given to me by Scholastic for the purpose of review, opinions are my own.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WATER CRISIS IN CANADA’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
You can learn more at the website: The Water Crisis in Canada’s First Nations Communities. This site includes information on different kinds of water advisories and a map showing different Indigenous communities with water advisories and for how long they’ve been under advisory.
Love Learning Through Historical Fiction?
Check out our Canadian History Through Living Books List! Over 100 pages of books to choose from… all about Canadian history – picture books, chapter books, to books for high school. Includes books with diverse perspectives and experiences all organized into time periods or historical events. Available in the store!
- How to Keep a Toddler Busy While Homeschooling - March 21, 2024
- 25+ Things Your Kids Learn From Video Games - March 20, 2024
- 10 Words For New Homeschoolers - March 20, 2024