This beautiful board book tells the story of water and its uses in our lives. The author and translators worked together to create a rich text for young students from Kindergarten to Grade 2 to explore and discover water in their own community and in the world around them.

Nibi is Water is a bilingual book, in both English and Annishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), and includes a pronunciation guide to ensure readers are pronouncing the Annishinaabe words correctly. Author Joanne Robertson is Anishinaabekwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. Translator Elder Shirley Ida Williams is a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. Translator Isadore Toulouse is a speaker and teacher of the Ojibwe and Odawa languages.

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 2 can use this book to relate to their treaty promises as well as their responsibility to be stewards of the Land. The book can also be accompanied by outdoor learning, as a Minds On to inspire students to make connections and to be curious when learning and exploring outdoors. Nibi is Water can be used to complement the Science curriculum: In Grade 1, students can explore this story through the lens of seasonal change while in Grade 2, they can explore the uses of water.

Educators can use the book to further conversations about language loss and language revitalization in Indigenous communities and make connections to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Nibi is Water is also a great introduction to exploring other books about water and Indigenous activism, such as The Water Walker and We are Water Protectors. Students can use this book as a catalyst to explore the importance of Water Protectors and learn about the late Josephine Mandamin and Autumn Peltier.

This is an excellent book to build classroom libraries intentionally, to highlight Indigenous voices, to introduce students to Anishinaabemowin, and to the importance of protecting water and upholding treaty promises.

Asha Nagpal is a member of Peel Teacher Local.