This is the story of a kind, friendly school bus driver named Nimoshom who has something to say to the children every day on the way to and from school. Nimoshom means grandfather in Cree. Sometimes Nimoshom teaches the kids a new word in Cree. He greets the students with tansi (hello), wishes them mino kisikaw (have a good day), asks them to api (sit down) if they bounce around in their seats, and smiles and says ekosani (thank you) when the kids bring him gifts.
Author Penny Thomas is of Cree-Ojibwa descent and believes in approaching healing from all directions, with storytelling key to this purpose. She is an advocate for First Nations peoples and this book promotes teaching for change by mirroring Native children and providing a universal setting in riding a school bus. Artist Karen Hibbard's illustrations are in watercolor and pastels and provide a peaceful and sweet autumn background with happy children and woodland animals.
A short glossary of Cree words is included at the back of the book.
Take the Read Native 2021 reading challenge provided by the American Indian Library Association, and enjoy these and other books by Indigenous authors and illustrators.