Nibi is water, nibi is life. This vital message is shared by Robertson, through her perspective as an Anishinaabe water protector. The author connects children to familiar experiences with water – swimming, drinking, washing, rain, and snow – to support their understanding of its importance. Each page portrays an activity related to water with text in Anishinaabemowin and English, accompanied by a colourfully appealing illustration. The pronunciation guide at the back supports learning of Anishinaabemowin vocabulary. Parents and teachers may also choose to use this resource to teach the importance of water, to respect and protect this essential resource, as well as to simply enjoy the message and bright illustrations. | Robertson advocates for water protection and equitable access to clean water. She is the founder of the Empty Glass for Water campaign, has produced a film about the water crisis, and supports water walks by providing GPS data about water safety. Anishinaabemowin translation by Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse.

28 pp., 7 × 7", colour illustrations

Joanne Robertson (AnishinaabeKwe, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek)

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

Joanne Robertson is AnishinaabeKwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She received her Fine Arts degree from Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. She founded the Empty Glass for Water campaign to bring attention to the drinking water crisis in Indigenous communities. She works as a research assistant at the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre and continues to support the water walks. Joanne lives near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Joanne Robertson's profile page

• Commended, TD Summer Reading Club - Top Recommended Reads
• Commended, CCBC - Best Books for Kids and Teens - Fall
• Commended, The Educator’s Playbook list of Best Books for Young Readers of 2020
• Commended, American Indians in Children's Literature's Best Books of the Year

"Like many board books, Nibi is Water = nibi aawon nbiish will assist youngsters in increasing their vocabulary, but this time, not in one but two languages. Perhaps more importantly, the board book provides an early introduction to the concept of caring for one of the world’s most important resources."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Robertson's book is about water and the many ways that a child experiences it. You can swim or bathe in it, you can drink it, you can use it to wash your clothes... But Robertson reminds us that we need to care for it, that we have to respect, love, and protect it because, as the final page tells us, water is life."

Debbie Reese