Missing Nimama

A young mother, one of the many missing indigenous women, watches over her small daughter as she grows up without her nimama, experiencing important milestones - her first day of school, first dance, first date, wedding, first child - from afar.

A free verse story of love, loss, and acceptance told in alternating voices. Missing Nimama shows the human side of a tragic set of circumstances.

An afterword by the author provides a simple, age-appropriate context for young readers. Includes a glossary of Cree terms.

Melanie Florence is an Aboriginal writer based in Toronto. Her nonfiction books for young people include Jordin Tootoo: The highs and lows in the journey of the first Inuit to play in the NHL and, most recently, Native Residential Schools for the series Righting Canada's Wrongs. Finding Nimama is Melanie's first picture book.

Francois Thisdale is the award-winning illustrator of several picture books including the highly acclaimed The Stamp Collector, Bird Child, and Nini, which he also authored.