Friday, February 11, 2022

JoJo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley and Tara Audibert - ADVISABLE

JoJo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend
by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert.
CHAPTER BOOK. Heartdrum (Harper Collins), 2021. $5 (paperback)

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

7yo Ja Jo lives with her mom, her kokum, and her cat on her Ojibwe reservation. Jo Jo is a great example of a kid with a positive attitude - unless it comes to her best friend. She has lots, her at home best friend is her cat, she has a bus best friend and an at school best friend - who sits with her at lunch. But that best friend is sitting with someone else, and JoJo is afraid she will have to find another best friend. 

I loved how Quigley seamlessly incorporated the Ojibwe culture and language into the story. Cute chapter book - it was funny and clever - I loved how JoJo thought she was so smart and it was the teacher who was wrong, plus, she brought her cat to school in her backpack! I could see how that was going to be a problem. The spine says it's a book 1, so here's to many more in the series. Includes a glossary and an authors note to build some cultural background knowledge.

Lisa Library

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