Review by Booklist Review
Young Nibi is thirsty, but her tap water is brown, as is her neighbor's and the water in the nearby river. She travels to a town of big houses, where a woman offers her one small bottle of water, refusing subsequent requests. Finally, Nibi and her friends begin a protest, which leads to government petitions and, eventually, clean water for their community. Tenasco, who hails from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, a reservation near Ottawa, Ontario, depicts the plight of at least 39 Canadian First Nations communities that are currently living under long-term water advisories, some since 1995. In Nibi's case, clean-water efforts are successful, although appended author and illustrator notes point out that this is not always the case. Chief Lady Bird's full-color digital artwork includes many Woodlands-style fish and floral motifs, making it clear this is an Indigenous community, although the text does not identify it as such. Particularly effective are the floral elements, depicted with stems that connect all the living things. A good introduction to this under-reported injustice.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"So thirsty her mouth was clucking," an Indigenous child called Nibi (which means "water" in Anishinaabemowin) seeks to make drinkable water more abundant for her community via a story that is also a call to action. In a contextualizing author's note, Tenasco (who is Anishinaabe) writes that 40% of her Ontario reservation doesn't have access to "this basic human right." After getting undrinkable water from her home tap, her neighbor's home, and a river, Nibi visits a nearby town with "big, shiny houses" where the people largely ignore her request. But she continues singing "I am thirsty, thirsty Nibi and I need water," taking up a series of signs ("Water Is Life") and dancing until a group of people with various skin tones join her in trying to find a solution. "Together they danced their way to the shiniest building, and showed all the rule-makers how to heal the water." Nibi's arc educates readers about the lack of potable water in many Indigenous communities while encouraging children to speak out about conservation issues. In saturated digital illustrations by Bird (who is Chippewa/Potawatomi), cool-toned backgrounds are laced with Native designs of woodland-style fish and florals that communicate the interconnectedness of all living beings alongside a story about an urgent issue. Ages 3--6. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Nibi is a thirsty, thirsty girl, so thirsty her mouth is clucking, thus begins her search for clean water. The water from her tap is brown, the water in the river is dirty, so Nibi goes to the next town with "…big, shiny houses." One of the residents give her small amount of water, but when she needs more water, her pleas are ignored. She sings and dances asking for clean water and is joined by her friends. More and more people from different communities participate in her protest and they "showed all the rule-makers how to heal the water," resulting in clean water for everyone. The story is similar to Carole Lindstrom's We Are Water Protectors, but on a local level, as in The Water Lady by Alice B. McGinty. Brightly colored, crisp drawings depict Nibi accompanied by her dog on their search and protest for clean water, with woodland animals and flowers appearing as accents. A variety of people make up those who are protesting, representing different groups coming together. In the notes, both the author and illustrator discuss the lack of clean water on Canadian reservations. VERDICT The compelling narrative with its accompanying illustrations explains the fight for clean water in simple and relatable terms, making this a great first purchase.--Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Lib., WA
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Review by Horn Book Review
"I am thirsty, thirsty Nibi and I need water!" declares the main character as she bursts through the door with her French bulldog in tow, but the kitchen sink only yields filthy brown liquid. She tries the river but is warned away by a fish. She tries the next town, knocking on doors until a woman gives her bottled water. Her need for water is temporarily satiated, but not her thirst for environmental justice. The budding activist marshals her community to confront the politicians. "Together they danced their way to the shiniest building, and showed all the rule-makers how to heal the water." Their success finally brings Nibi happiness and contentment. The digitally created illustrations, flat and colorful, recalling elements of folk art, incorporate aspects of contemporary and traditional First Nations life; an appended note describes specific motifs such as beaded pendants, fish, and flowers. Astute readers will easily draw connections to the news headlines about the Dakota Access Pipeline protests by the Standing Rock Sioux and to the 2021 Caldecott Medal winner, We Are Water Protectors (rev. 7/20). In separate notes, both the author and illustrator discuss how shamefully prevalent the problem of access to clean water is among First Nations communities in Canada. Jonathan Hunt November/December 2021 p.85(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An enthusiastic but thirsty Anishinabe girl and her French bulldog search everywhere looking for clean water to drink. After playing outside, Nibi and her dog go inside for a nice, cool drink of water. Brown, sludgy water pours from the tap. They run to the river, but even the fish says, "You can't drink this dirty water!" Nibi and the dog go to the next town and run along a street with "big, shiny houses." She knocks on doors until a lady hands Nibi a small bottle of water. But the water's gone too quickly! She tries again, at that house and the others. "KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!" But no one answers. She paints a sign: "Water Is Life / I Am Thirsty." Soon, her friends join her. They make their own signs, and Nibi's quest becomes a peaceful protest. (Even her dog carries a sign: "Woof!") They march in the town with the big, shiny houses, and its people join in, and finally, lawmakers listen. Before long, the river is clear, and clean water runs from the taps. Water activist Tenasco (Anishinabe) effectively uses Nibi's dilemma to illustrate a larger point. Nibi's song--"I am thirsty, thirsty Nibi / and I need water!"--acts as an urgent refrain. Lively, colorful illustrations from Chief Lady Bird (Chippewa and Potawatomi) add to the energy of the story, incorporating stylized fish and flower motifs into the clean-lined illustrations of the brown-skinned, pigtailed girl. One gutsy girl leads the way. (author's note, illustrator's note) (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
