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PICTURE BOOKS
Pawis-Steckley, Mangeshig

The Trickster Shadow

40 pp. | Little | October, 2025 | Trade ISBN 9780316574518 $18.99
(2) K-3 Zoon has a trickster shadow that follows him everywhere, and he’s frequently blamed for its mischief: disrupting class, creating a mess in his room. Upset, Zo-on seeks refuge with Nookomis (grandmother), who gives him a drum that be-longed to his deceased Mishoomis (grandfather). She begins to tap a beat on the drum and tells Zoon it’s like a heartbeat. Zoon learns to use the drum as a means to connect with his ancestors, find and create balance within himself, and relate to the trickster shadow. With staccato sentences and the presence of the drum-beat throughout, Ojibwe visual artist Pawis-Steckley tells a universal story of finding inner strength through one ordinary Anishinaabe boy. The col-or-saturated illustrations are rich with cultural symbols: bears, flowers, and even a page covered in strawberries and hummingbirds. The author’s note provides context for the role of the trickster in Ojibwe folklore, and Pawis-Steckley adds personal context for the meaning behind Zoon’s journey. A glossary of Ojibwe words used throughout the book is included.
Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2025

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