About This Resource
Meet Jo Jo Makoons, a fun and imaginative seven-year-old girl from the Ojibwe tribe, in Dawn Quigley’s engaging book series. Jo Jo’s lively adventures take place on a fictional reservation, Pembina Ojibwe, where she sees the world in her own special way. She often surprises her family and teacher with her unique perspective and creative ideas.
Jo Jo loves her best friend, Mimi, who is a cat, but she worries about her friendship with Fern, a friend from school. She’s not sure if Fern still wants to be friends because she thinks Fern is making fun of her and therefore doesn’t like her. So Jo Jo wonders if she should try to make more friends. Even with these concerns, Jo Jo’s journey is full of laughter and warmth as she learns some early lessons about the complexity of friendships while also learning more about herself.
This book highlights the voices and stories of Native people, offering young readers a chance to step into Jo Jo’s vibrant world and see the strength and maturation of Indigenous youth who use their talents and intellect to find a path forward. It also emphasizes the importance and richness of Indigenous cultures today.
