Jo Jo Makoons

Written by Dawn Quigley · Illustrated by Tara Audibert

Book #1 in the Jo Jo series

A young girl navigates friendship challenges on her Ojibwe reservation, fearing her best friend may drift away.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 985 ratings

71 pages· 6,505 words· Est. 1 hour read

$15.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Jo Jo Makoons, a lively seven-year-old on her Ojibwe reservation, faces a dilemma: her school friend Fern might not want to be friends anymore. While Jo Jo adores her cat Mimi, she must learn the art of making new friends. As she navigates these challenges, her unique perspective teaches her family and teacher about friendship and understanding. Will Jo Jo find a way to keep her friendships intact? This heartwarming tale explores the joys and trials of growing up with humor and pride, celebrating the vibrant spirit of a young Native girl.

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… 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.