Monday, March 12, 2018

Nimoshom and His Bus by Penny M. Thomas - OPTIONAL

Thomas, Penny M. Nimoshom and His Bus, illustrated by Karen Hibbard. PICTURE BOOK. Highwater Press, 2017. $19.

Nimoshom means "grandfather" in the Cree language. Nimoshom drove a school bus and in detailing a drive to and from school, the narrator introduces a variety of Cree words to the reader--Api means "sit down," Cheskwa means "wait," Mots means "No," etc. There is a glossary of Cree words at the back of the book.

This is the sort of picture book that might be useful in teaching a culture unit, but does not stand up well on its own as a story. Assuming the author is telling a story about her actual grandfather, she obviously respects him but the main point of the story is just to introduce Cree words. Libraries that are in search of such books will find this one a good fit, but otherwise you can definitely pass on it.

EL(K-3), EL - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: TC

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