• Age: 7 to 11
• Grade: 2 to 6
• Reading age: 10 to 13

Set in the community of Listuguj, Gespe'gewa'gi, Nipugtug follows the journey of A'le's (Mi'gmaw for Alice), a young Mi'gmaw woman, snowshoeing through the forest. There, she meets animals, Wapus (Rabbit), Wowgwis (Fox), Tia'm (Moose), Ga'qaquj (Crow) and trees, Masgwi (Birch), Qasgusi (Cedar) who guide her through both challenging and nourishing emotions of learning her Mi'gmaw language. Grounded in her relationship with the territory, A'le's navigates memories of her language that cling to realities within and beyond her life.

Emma Metallic (she/her) is from the Mi'gmaq community, Listuguj, Quebec, located in the seventh district Gespe'gewa'gi, Mi'gma'gi. Emma holds a BA in Contemporary studies and Law, Justice, & Society with a minor in Indigenous Studies from the University of King's College. Emma is passionate about writing stories that reflect her community's knowledge, needs, and desires. While a learner of the Mi'gmaw language, Emma strives to use the language as much as she can in her day-to-day life. Nipugtug is her debut book.

Emma Metallic's profile page

Natalie Laurin (she/her) is a Métis andsettler illustrator and interdisciplinary designer, with family roots in theGeorgian Bay Métis community. She holds a Bachelor of Design from NSCADUniversity, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Design and minored inIllustration. A central goal of her work is to create with an informed,collaborative approach. She hopes that by illustrating books for Indigenousyouth, more people will be inspired to engage with themes of community andrelationship-building to further our collective revitalization journey.

Natalie Laurin's profile page

• Long-listed, First Nation Communities READ

https://booksforschools.49thshelf.com/Books/N/Nipugtug