Book Description
for Nibi's Water Song by Sunshine Tenasco and Chief Lady Bird
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
“Nibi was a thirsty, thirsty girl, so thirsty her mouth was clucking.” But when Nibi turns on the tap, the water is brown. Her neighbor’s water is brown, too. A girl on a mission, Nibi heads to the next town, “the town with the big, shiny houses,” and asks for some water. She’s given a small plastic bottle before the door is firmly closed: No more clean water for Nibi. Nibi makes a sign, “Water Is Life.” She dances and sings. Friends join her. Soon even the people in the big, shiny houses join her. “She is thirsty, thirsty Nibi and we want to help her have water.” The people share ideas and show “all the rule-makers how to heal the water.” Finally, Nibi is a happy girl. The author, from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg reserve in Ontario, writes that hers is one of many First Nations communities struggling to access the basic human right of clean water. This allegory illuminating a critical issue of environmental justice is paired with digital illustrations incorporating decorative Woodland Indian fish and floral patterns. (Ages 4-8)
CCBC Choices 2022. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022. Used with permission.