Jo Jo Makoons: Rule School

Jo Jo Makoons #4

by Dawn Quigley, Tara Audibert (Illustrator)

It is good to follow the rules. But there are just so many! In this fourth book in the beloved Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series, Jo Jo’s talents may not quite include following her substitute teacher’s rules…

Jo Jo and her classmates are excited that the Elders’ Tribal Center has changed the rules for the talent show to invite the whole tribe to perform. But the rules have also changed in Jo Jo’s classroom, where instead of their teacher, they have a substitute. Since Jo Jo has a knack for being helpful, she puts her mind to helping her classmates decide on their talents—but can she manage to follow the substitute teacher’s rules?

Even if no one else quite understands Jo Jo’s own rules (like that saying “please” makes words softer and fluffier to hear and that square foods are too pointy to be yummy), her undeniable talents for celebrating, curiosity, and class keep her happily hop-skipping in step with her Ojibwe community.

Genres: Kids, Childrens

96 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Nihar Satsangi]

3.75⭐

[Rebecca]

This is a really cute series with similarities to Ramona Quimby and Amelia Bedelia. The only thing I think would make this series better is if we saw her mom and grandmom working on helping her better understand figures of speech and body language. She's a fun character, and quirky, but she doesn't understand that some of what she does in fun could be perceived as unkind and mean by others. She also misreads cues, and no one helps her figure things out. I was hoping four books in to see some growth in these areas for her, but right now she reads a bit like Mabel from Gravity Falls, and that isn't a compliment. Mabel is my least favorite character in that show. JoJo is better than Mabel, but I do want to see her grow rather than just stay the same from book to book. Even if it is teachers finding better ways of working with her, I want to see that. Amelia Bedelia's employers learn how to write instructions in a way that makes sense to her rather than have her come to see it from their perspective.

[Kelsey]

Jo Jo Makoons: Rule School is the fourth in the Jo Jo Makoons early chapter book series. Jo Jo is a spunky and opinionated first grader whose family lives on a fictional Ojibwe reservation. In this installment Jo Jo and her classmates encounter a substitute teacher and share excitement over a talent show that is now open to all ages. The events of the story give Jo Jo reasons to evaluate the various rules in her life, as well as what she thinks are her talents. Quigley has sprinkled Ojibwe words throughout the story, which readers will be able to interpret via context. A brief glossary is included at the end of the book, as well as an author's note and note from the editor. The Jo Jo Makoons series is a win for representation—readers will learn about, or see themselves in, depictions of contemporary Native life. Jo Jo's quirky personality is sure to be a hit with young readers, especially those who are fans of Junie B. Jones.

Recommended for readers in grades 1-3.

[Shana OkieCozyReader]

I feel like for the number of pages, the child should be older and have a little older conversations. I can’t tell the lexile for sure, but it seems older than first or possibly second grade, but is for that age of reader. I think it’s young acting for third grade.

I love that Heartdrum is writing Native stories for everyone to read. Jo Jo is reminiscent of Judy B Jones, and likes to talk about inappropriate things (lots of toots, boogers and explanations of easy things).

In this story she is learning about following rules, with a substitute - and from her family. I’m not sure she learns much, but she seems like a happy child.

[SOYAMRG]

Jo Jo Makoons: Rule School is the fourth in the Jo Jo Makoons early chapter book series.

Jo Jo is a spunky and opinionated first grader whose family lives on a fictional Ojibwe reservation. In this installment Jo Jo and her classmates encounter a substitute teacher and share excitement over a talent show that is now open to all ages. The events of the story give Jo Jo reasons to evaluate the various rules in her life, as well as what she thinks are her talents.

Quigley has sprinkled Ojibwe words throughout the story, which readers will be able to interpret via context. A brief glossary is included at the end of the book, as well as an author's note and note from the editor. The Jo Jo Makoons series is a win for representation—readers will learn about, or see themselves in, depictions of contemporary Native life.

Jo Jo's quirky personality is sure to be a hit with young readers, especially those who are fans of Junie B. Jones.

Recommended for readers in grades 1-3.

K.M.
School Librarian

[Cathy]

Little of this was good. Jo Jo may have a big heart but also has a big mouth. Disrespectful, clueless about rules. And the things brought up so often were not pleasant, CathyR

[J. Robinson-Readersgottoread]

4.25. Hilarious!

[Tamara Smith]

Jo Jo is such a breath of fresh air for early readers! I love having mirror book for my students in the library.

[Megan Mann]

If you’ve ever worked with first graders or know a first grader, you can appreciate how spot on this storytelling is. I love it. It’s so fun!

[Kc]

50 mins

[Jeff Barger]

This is my first Jo Jo book and it grew on me as I read it. I think beginning chapter book readers will like it.

[Andrew Dittmar]

Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!

Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a post-it note with the book.

Started May 16th, 2025.
Finished May 16th, 2025.

May 16th, 2025: entire book in physical form.

[Fish]

Another amazing Jo Jo Makoons! Jo Jo's perspective (Dawn Quigley knows how to write a believable young kid character) on strange social norms and all the nonsense adults get up to is delightful.