"With beautiful, thickly brushed paintings by an award-winning Cree artist, this bilingual picture book breaks with the formula of the wise elder teaching the contemporary kid to respect the old ways. Here, a boy asks Nokum (Grandma) why he has to leave the reservation to go to school and learn to read. The art, including close-ups and panoramic scenes of Cree life through seasons and generations, shows the heartfelt bond between the boy and his beloved mentor as well as the richness of Cree life, past and present." -- Booklist "David Bouchard is firmly established as one of Canada's finest storytellers, and he further enhances his reputation with this book. Bouchard skillfully captures the sense of disillusionment and irrelevance that many children attach to the task of learning to read. Allen Sapp's oil on canvas illustrations are richly textured and lend much to the lyrical text. Sapp is a Cree Elder, and his exterior winter scenes are especially powerful in capturing the harshness of the northern winter and in reflecting the hardiness required of a People who for centuries have survived in such challenging surroundings. The textual pages are divided into two columns, with the text in one column presented in English and, in the other column, in the Cree language.

Even for English-only readers such as me, the presence of the Cree text adds to the appeal, authenticity and educative potential of the book. A bilingual English and Cree audio recording is enclosed. The Compact Disc contains a reading of the story in English, then Cree, to the accompaniment of the aboriginal drumming group, Northern Cree. Their participation in this collaboration caps off what represents the fruit of some of Canada's finest creative talent." Recommended. -- CM Magazine "The universal themes of validating education and receiving guidance from elder family members will resonate with elementary school-age children. The authentic Cree voice, artwork, and music, provide a taste of the native culture in a context that unites the concerns of children across time and place. This book will be well-received for the value of its story as well its celebration of the identity of one of North America's First Nations.

" -- Foreword Magazine "Illustrated with Cree artist Allen Sapp's very fine paintings, which beautifully animate an old way of life. The dialogue between the grandson and his Nokum is an interestingly enigmatic one, in part because it is unclear whether the boy is summoning up the spirit of his departed Nokum. Does she exist in the flesh or is she a treasured memory? Nokum's responses to her grandson's questions are enigmatic as well; she offers not answers so much as more questions for him to consider." -- The Globe and Mail "David Bouchard's Nokum is My Teacher is a stunning picture book." -- The Star Phoenix (Saskatoon) " Classroom Connections: There is lots of opportunity to use this book in several curriculum areas. Certainly, the text can introduce young and reluctant readers to the importance of books and the messages that can be learned through reading; but also, a teacher might want to use the exquisite pictures to teach concepts of Indigenous culture throughout history. The pictures in the book contrast the traditional and modern lifestyles of the Cree. The CD includes music and text in English and Cree.

This can add to the understanding of syntax and cadence in language. The drumming alone can be used to describe the roles that music and drumming play in culture. I can hardly wait to experiment with this book in my own classes as I expose my students to the rich heritage of Cree culture." -- Canadian Teacher Magazine.