Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day

Jo Jo Makoons #3

by Dawn Quigley, Tara Audibert (Illustrator)

Oh, snow day, snow day, what a very fun no-school day! Jo Jo Makoons is back in the third book in this favorite chapter book series, and she’s planning the very best version of the winter Olympics that her Ojibwe community has ever seen… Jo Jo Makoons has noticed that the family members she loves most—Mama, Kokum, and even her cat, Mimi—all have their own ways of being healthy. So when Teacher says that their class will be learning about healthy habits, Jo Jo is ready to be neighborly by helping everyone around her be healthy too. After a snowstorm shuts down her Ojibwe reservation, Jo Jo uses her big imagination and big personality to help both Elders and classmates alike. Because after all, being healthy means being together! With her signature heart and hilarity, in this third book in her chapter book series, Jo Jo Makoons shows care for her community as only this vibrant young girl can.  The first book in this acclaimed chapter book series was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book; a best book of the year from Kirkus Reviews , School Library Journal , American Indians in Children's Literature, and the Chicago Public Library; a Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book; and a Cooperative Children's Book Center CCBC Choices selection.

Genres: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Native American, Chapter Books, Humor, Childrens, Indigenous

96 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Michelle Huber]

Another JOJO book!!!
I am so happy I was able to review this book, thank you so much to Cynthia Leitich Smith for sending this to me!
Ever since Apple, I fell in love with Dawn Quigley's writing, and then JoJo came into the world! This series never has a dull moment, especially because Jojo is so caring and sweet. She always takes the world by storm with her Ojibwe practices and knowledge that is passed down to her!

[Becky B]

Jo Jo is learning about being healthy at school and helping her neighbors be healthy too. When a snow day comes, can they find healthy ways to spend their time as a community?

I just realized that Jo Jo is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator for lower grades. And it helps to read these knowing she's going to be an unreliable narrator. She tells readers her views of healthy eating or how she's helping her neighbors or what her teacher or mom means by certain things, but others may view those things in very different ways. It was fun to see her and her friends come up with a snow olympics day that the whole community could join in on. I liked this book best in the series so far.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Characters are Ojibwe
GBLTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Some readers may need an adult to help them understand the truth versus what Jo Jo says about things. Jo Jo talks about her grandma having diabetes and needing to watch what she eats but sneaking cherry Lifesavers.

[Seth Bonnett]

Snow Day (Jo Jo Makoons book) by Dawn Quigley and illustrated by Tara Audibert
Published in 2023 by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
This book fits in a fiction genre and is classified under realistic fiction. The characters are believable and could really happen in real life.

Jo Jo is a first grader who lives on a reservation. She is being taught a lesson in school about being healthy and she looks to her family to see how they are healthy. Some exercise, eat healthy, and other take vitamins. Jo Jo however doesn’t have these habits and wants to help out her village create some. She tries to develop an olympics day for her tribe with games of her own creation. She makes a snowy day feel special and helps out her village continue to be healthy.
Recommended for grades 1-5 Lexlile level is not given but approximately 2.3
Reviews/Awards American Indian Youth Literature Honor, 2024, Booklist, 11/01/23, Kirkus Reviews, 08/01/23, School Library Journal, 10/01/23

[Devin Redmond]

4.5 stars
Representation in books really does matter.
The 𝘑𝘰 𝘑𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘴 book series is about a young fictional Native American character, Jo Jo, who lives on a fictional Ojibwe reservation with her family and community. I love this series. The books are realistic, funny, and seamlessly incorporate important aspects of the Indigenous culture. In 𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘋𝘢𝘺, Jo Jo has been learning about being healthy and on an unexpected snow day, she and her friends check on the Elders in their neighborhood to be sure they’re waring the storm and being healthy.
Obviously it would take some background knowledge building by the teacher, but this series would make a great K-1 classroom read aloud and would extend to other student learning opportunities about the Ojibwe culture.

[Kirsten Caldwell]

JoJo Makoons is part of the Ojibwe reservation, as is the author Dawn Quigley. In her first grade class, they are learning about being healthy and caring care of their Elders and neighbors. When all the kids in her class get a snow day, they meet up and create their own Olympic Games to be healthy. JoJo calls it the "winner Olympics" instead of winter. She is a really entertaining protagonist and has a charming childlike way of thinking and seeing the world. The cultural authenticity of this book is refreshing and provides an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about a different culture.

[Teresa Reads]

I like how positive JoJo is. In this story she wants to be healthy and tries to help her friends and family be healthy. I like that she is close to her grandma, Kokum. And she tries to help other old people too. We should take care of old people. JoJo keeps a healthy journal and the book sometimes tells the reader to write things about what they eat. That is a good idea. I don't always enjoy writing but I can think about the healthy stuff I eat. (review by Olivia, 4th grade)

[Erin]

This series is just delightful. Jo Jo has some Amelia Bedelia qualities, and some of the humor comes from her quirky interpretations of things that "everyone" knows. She's upbeat and cheerful, and every story comes rooted in the Ojibwe community. In this story, Jo Jo's class is talking about healthy foods, and then when a snow day is called, the community comes together to play some fun games that connect everyone in the experience.

[Natasha Galbraith]

4.5/5 STARS

We need more early chapter books like this that center Indigenous joy, culture and community.

Here’s just one of the many quotes that really stood out to me:
“Oh this is a game for everyone. That is what we [Ojibwe] do. All are welcome.”

It was truly a delight reading this book with my students ❤️

[Ellon]

4 stars (I really liked it)

Jo Jo is so full of energy. I really liked how the snow day fun evolved into a community activity. It really highlighted the friendly feel of a reservation. I also liked the emphasis on taking care of neighbors. A great book to add to the school library to give my students a window into the life of others.

[Pam.warren11]

It’s important to be healthy, and it’s also important to be neighborly. All that and a snow day make for lots of fun for JoJo. I love the opportunity to learn more about Ojibwe traditions, culture, and language. This early reader is part of a wonderful series by Dawn Axness Quigley. Lit Review Crew ❤️📚

[Natalie]

Jojo is seven years old and lives on a Native American Obijwe reservation. Her school calls a snow day and Jojo is finding various ways to fill her time. When Mom tells her to check up on her elders she does so, to make sure they are healthy. Her own grandma needs to be checked in on from time to time as she is diabetic but keeps sneaking sweets when Mom's not looking.

[Cheryl]

Personally, I'm like the adults in the book. I need a break from JoJo and her wild (rice) ideas. But of course I love that she plays rummage sale, and that she leads the others to play Winner [sic] Olympics the Ojibway way. And Fern had some great input, too.

I've not had a chance to read other books in the series yet.

[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 April 14th, 2025.
Finished April 24th, 2025.

April 14th, 2025: read chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-26)
April 24th, 2025: read chapters 4-9 (pp. 27-77)

[Megan Mann]

I love JoJo. She’s written so well because it’s exactly how children think and act. Her imagination is incredible.

This one is all about a snow day on the reservation and being healthy! Jo Jo’s idea of healthy was hilarious. I loved all of their activities!

[Earl]

I'm so so glad Jo Jo is back. And you know it's going to be a barrel of laughs when she plans on being the most neighborly kid around!

[Candice Green]

Super cute book my granddaughter loved it.

[Karen F]

These books continue to be delightful!

[Linsey]

My 2nd grader and I read this series together and love it. JoJo makes us laugh so much! This book is so fun and also touching. I love that it teaches about another culture as well. Very enjoyable!

[Amber Wessies Owrey]

This book reminds me of the Junie B. Jones series. Jo Jo is learning about her family and Objiwe traditions in her own unique precocious style.

[Claire Mynes]

So good definitely save it if you like funny books and you have a kid

[Kc]

52 mins

[Melanie Dulaney]

Jo Jo Makoons is a high-energy first grade Ojibwe girl experiencing her first snow day, filling it with visiting the elders in her neighborhood as well as creating a kid-friendly version of the “winner” Olympics in the park nearby. Told in first person, even young readers will feel her somewhat exhausting personality coming through loud and clear. But along with her perpetual motion, her heart for family, friends and her tribe is also apparent. Sketches appear almost every other page and pictures of her journal writings are also included. Coupled with wide spacing and a generous font, this series is perfect for readers grades 1-3.

[Julie]

Another terrific entry in the series, incorporating lessons about healthy living and looking out for one's elders. On a snow day from school, when even the internet is down on Jo Jo's reservation, she checks on her neighbors and helps her fellow kids organize an Ojibwe winter olympics. I love the sense of community that resonates throughout this and the other stories in the series, particularly when Jo Jo's teacher, who is white and well-meaning, doesn't understand and misinterprets situations, as he is used to a more competitive, individualistic society. A great series for young readers.

[Darla]

In the middle of a unit on Health, a snow day gives the kids in Jo Jo's class the opportunity to play outside and they organize their own Winter (not Winner, Jo Jo) Olympics. Soon their elders are joining in on the fun. It's a great way to remind kids to be active with their families. The book also includes some tips about how and how not to (ice cream on cereal is not a great breakfast choice, Jo Jo) eat healthy. This is not my favorite of the series, but still gives us a great chance to get to know Jo Jo and her community better.

[Beverly]

This is a short chapter book for children who have graduated from beginning readers, but not yet ready for longer middle grade chapter books. This fast-paced story, with likable characters features Jo Jo who lives on an Ojibwe reservation, somewhere in the northern USA, possibly Minnesota. When her school shuts down due to heavy snowfall, she organizes "Winter Olympics" for her community. The author is enrolled in the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe.