(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

(3) PS Translated by Mary Ann Corbiere. Employing the time-tested baby book refrains “What do you see?” and “What do you hear?”, Pawis-Steckley’s (Ojibwe) upbeat text takes readers along for a stroll in the morning woods, introducing them to thirteen different animals engaged in everyday activities like munching leaves, climbing a tree, digging a hole, and eventually falling asleep. Written in Anishinaabemowin and English and featuring bright, varicolored, minimalist woodland-style illustrations, this is a welcome addition to Native American literature for the preschool set. Includes bilingual author’s and translator’s notes.

Reviewer: Summer Edward