Snow Day

Starred review from March 22, 2021
In this buoyant series starter by Ojibwe author Quigley (Apple in the Middle), Indigenous first grader Josephine Makoons Azure, known as Jo Jo, narrates her experiences of home and school on the
fictional Pem-bina Ojibwe Reservation, where she lives with her mother and grandmother. In a winning, straightforward voice (“Ojibwe is my Native American tribe. You say it like this: Oh-JIB-way. See? Ojibwe”), Jo Jo introduces her growing concerns. Cat Mimi, Jo Jo’s “home best friend who ignores me sometimes,” needs shots, which the girl believes may deflate the feline, “just like a balloon letting the air out.” Jo Jo also worries that her school best friend, Fern, may not want to eat lunch with her anymore. Quigley adeptly creates strong classroom scenes that convey an inclusive student body’s realistic dynamic and an endearing, assured seven-year-old protagonist who appreciates her cultural identity (“If you can say Tyrannosaurus rex, you can say nindizhinikaaz”). B&w cartoon drawings by Audibert (This Place), who is of Wolastoqey/French heritage, emphasize characterization throughout. Front matter discusses reservations and Native Nations; back matter includes a Michif and Ojibwe glossary with pronunciations and an author’s note. Ages 6–10. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary.

October 1, 2023

K-Gr 3-Seven-year-old JoJo Makoons is enjoying her first real snow day. No e-learning is occurring today due to an internet outage on the Ojibwe reservation where JoJo lives. She has been learning about healthy foods and being neighborly in school. With those topics in the forefront of JoJo's mind, she and her friends set out to create Olympic games of their own. Outdoor adventures include rolling down the hill, using burned fry bread, and a lip pointing race that even the elders can get involved in. Being healthy and neighborly are woven throughout the nine chapters. New readers will adore JoJo's voice and hilarious take on life. This early chapter book includes journal entries from JoJo, a glossary with pronunciation guide, and black-and-white illustrations. VERDICT Readers will laugh out loud at JoJo's antics and opinions as she embraces her community, heritage, and love for life. Give to fans of "Junie B. Jones." Recommended for all libraries.-Tracy Cronce

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2023
Grades 1-3 Spunky seven-year-old Josephine "Jo Jo" Makoons Azure, a first-grader living and attending school on the fictional Pembina Ojibwe Reservation, returns in the adorable third installment of a clever and kindhearted early chapter-book series celebrating tribal community and culture. Plucky Jo Jo notices that Mama, Kokum, and cat Mimi each have their own way of staying healthy: Mama runs, Mimi takes vitamins, and Kokum "is in love with sugar" but has "die-beeties"--for which she takes medicine. Over nine quick chapters, Jo Jo embraces Teacher's lesson about healthfulness and checking on Elders and coordinates a snowy, multigenerational, neighborhood "Ojibwe Olympics," complete with round-dancing and lip-pointing. Audibert (Wolastoqey/French) nails Jo Jo's animated personality with her ebullient, cartoonish spot and full-page grayscale illustrations. Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) continues to affirm Native identity through peppered use of Michif and Ojibwe language while eliciting Amelia Bedelia-style giggles with Jo Jo's high jinks and wholesomely naive worldview. A terrific pick for fans of plucky protagonists like Ryan Hart, Marisol Rainey, and Jasmine Toguchi.

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