Reviewed by Debbie Reese
Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature
Author: Dawn Quigley
Today’s Short and Sweet Rec is for Dawn Quigley’s Jo Jo Makoons, The Used-to-Be Best Friend. For starters, here’s the description of the book (from the publisher):
Hello/Boozhoo — meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is.
Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn — about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly.
Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she’s worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore . . .
And now, the Short and Sweet Rec:
First: It is a first! By that, I mean that it is the first Native-authored early chapter book series that I know of! If you have children, you know what these “early” books are about. They’re the ones that kids who are starting to read on their own look for, and then hold close to their hearts because of the sense of accomplishment, confidence, and joy that independent reading delivers. What sets this one apart from all others is that it is about an Ojibwe kid. I’ve seen far too many early reader books with stereotypical words and illustrations of Native people. Books like that hurt a Native reader and they misinform a non-Native reader. They do a lot of harm. But this book . . . it makes my heart soar! We’ve got an Ojibwe girl in the present day, living her life, which leads to my second point. Continue reading on American Indians in Children’s Literature.
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley
Published by HarperCollins on May 11, 2021
Genres: American Indians First Nations Metis Inuit
Pages: 80
Reading Level: Grades 3-5
ISBN: 9780063015395
Review Source: American Indians in Children's Literature
Also by this author: Apple in the Middle
Publisher's Synopsis: American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! Hello/Boozhoo — meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is.
Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn — about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly.
Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she’s worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore . . . .The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.
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