A wonderful children's book with terrific illustrations.

A look into the indigenous fables that have been told orally for hundreds of years. Now it has been recorded for everyone to be able to read and share.

5 out of 5 stars are richly deserved. 🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆

This is the true story of Nokomis (Grandmother) Josephine Mandamin who began Mother Earth Water Walkers, a movement of women (and men), who walk to raise awareness of how precious water is to us.

Nokomis loved nibi (water) in all its iterations. Then an important elder asker what she was doing to protect it.

Nokomis gathered her friends around her, and in 2003, they set out walking around the Great Lakes. A movement was begun. She herself has worn out three knees and eleven pairs of sneakers. In 2005 she walked almost 4,500,000 steps for water!

The story is told using Ojibwe vocabulary. At first this was disconcerting but I was mostly able to figure out the story without peeking into the glossary at the end of the book. The illustrations help to make the new vocabulary clear. I still went back and reread it a few times to check my interpretations.

The illustrations are bright and bold with stylized people and lots of colour. I love how Nokomis' love of nibi is captured in the first pages.

Later on the images reveal all the ways water is threatened; from individuals letting water run while brushing their teeth, to corporations spilling oil and dumping toxins into oceans.

My only wish is that the text was formatted differently. It is small and some pages are almost overwhelmed by it.

This is an important book to use during a unit on the hydrosphere with all ages of students. It pushes beyond basic understanding of the water cycle into its importance for our survival. At the same time as it introduces readers to cultural awareness of nibi, it directs students of all ages to think politically about water. Perhaps they can come up with their own powerful ways to answer the Ogimaa's question, What are you going to do about it?

Josephine Mandamin is an indigenous woman from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island. She now lives in Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada. Click here to find out more about Mother Earth Water Walkers.

4 stars for this account for children of Josephine Mandamin and the Mother Earth Water Walkers.

This lovely children's book tells the story of grandmother/nokomis Josephine Mandamin's decision to draw attention to how precious water (nibi) is and how endangered by pollution. Nokomis began walking around Turtle Island - North America - with a staff in one hand and a pail of nibi in the other. Over time, she and fellow Mother Earth Water Walkers walked around all the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence river, and later to more distant shores. The story has a glossary and pronunciation guide for the Ojibwe words that appear in the text, and there is a page containing facts about Nokomis Josephine Mandamin as well as a photograph of her with the author.

This is an important book about stewarding the earth which asks of us all 'What are you going to do about it?' It is also a necessary story in highlighting the indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States, through an Ojibwe woman's campaign. As well as this, the picture book is an engaging story with appealing illustrations: I am particularly fond of the bunny slippers Nokomis wears when she is at home.

I received this ebook free from NetGalley and Second Story Press.

What would happen if the water on earth became so contaminated that it was scarce and expensive? This is what Josephine Mandamin and the Mother Earth Water Walkers want to bring to everyone's attention. Since 2003 Nokomis, (Grandmother in Ojibwe), has walked around the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence river and other parts of North America to make people aware of the plight of our limited water supply. What incredible commitment to an important cause! The colorful illustrations and beautiful text are a great way to get children thinking- "What are you going to do about it?"

Such a meaningful children's story! Glad to see Indigenous women bringing such a literary gift to readers. This book allows young ones to understand the importance of respecting the earth.

Having just gone through five years of drought, in California, I am well aware of how precious water and the lack of it can be.

And yet, I have never heard of Josephine Mandamin and her efforts to make people aware, on Turtle Island (North American), how precious water (Nibi) is. What a great introduction to the importance of water, and to the indigenous Ojibwe people's words.

Hightly recommend this book both for the story, and the introduction to this important water warrior that we should be hearing more about.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.