This is a young children’s story that highlights Anishinaabe people and the Ojibwe language. It’s a Mitig! is a journey through nature, highlighting Ojibwe words as the reader travels through the forest. We see amik (beaver) swimming in the river while gaag (porcupine) sits deep in the bush nibbling on logs. We also see ajidamoo (squirrel) climbing the tree with an acorn in hand. There are great visuals, which guide children through life in the forest. This book uses a rhyming combination of Ojibwe and English to share this journey with the reader. Vibrant and colourful art help tell the story. There is an illustrated Ojibwe-to-English glossary with a pronunciation guide at the end of the book. It’s a Mitig! was created to encourage young children and their families to become new language learners.

32 pp., 10.25 × 9.25", colour illustrations

Bridget George (Anishinaabe, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, bear clan)

Source: Association of Book Publishers of BC - Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools (2021-2022)

Bridget George is an Anishinaabe author-illustrator and graphic designer. She was raised on the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and now lives in London, Ontario. George is the author of the 2020 book It’s a Mitig!, an acclaimed introduction to the Ojibway language for young readers.

Bridget George's profile page

• TD Summer Reading Club
• Winner, Winner First Nation Communities READ / PMC Indigenous Literature Award

“It’s a Mitig! is a beautiful and unique book. Children, as the instinctively curious beings that they are, will surely enjoy predicting what the Ojibwe words translate to in English and then verifying their predictions through the cartoon style illustrations. The vibrant and colourful illustrations filling every inch of each page, in combination the fun and playful language, will keep any young audience gripped from giizis to dibiki-giizis. Highly Recommended.”

Andrea Boyd, <i>Canadian Materials</i>

“This is more than a treasure, It's a Mitig! is a song and a dance for the world in how fun it is to learn Anishinaabe from mentor and visionary Bridget George.
I am completely charmed hoping this is the first in a series we can all enjoy together. Written with such love and tenderness, this is a gift for the world. Bravo and mahsi cho, Bridget George.”

Richard Van Camp, author of <i>Welcome Song for Baby</i> and <i>Little You</i>

“...This is a creative feast of language, learning, and playful illustrations. Children will love trying to pronounce the tricky, authentic words, and they’ll thrive on the challenge of guessing what the descriptions represent before viewing the pictures that accompany them. Words are thoughtfully chosen, with just a few scattered here and there, making it a perfect bedtime story…. It’s a Mitig! will likely become a favorite in the households of many. It’s unique and offers youth an adventurous read.”

Jennifer Padgett, SeattleBookReview.com

“Whether connecting with one's Ojibwe ancestry or simply opening children's eyes and ears to the cornucopia of North American dialects, It's a Mitig! is a useful tool for exploring language—and an especially prized and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Native American /Canadian Aboriginal picture book collections.”

<i>Midwest Book Review<i>