Book review: Johnny’s Pheasant

Reviewed by Alex Hebert

When I first saw this book and read the title, I thought that the story would be more about the pheasant than Johnny.

It was more about Johnny and his grandmother finding the pheasant by the side of the road.  Grandma thinks it was hit by a car.  They take it home because grandma can use its feathers for crafts.

It’s still alive!

This book is about respecting nature and how wild animals shouldn’t be kept in a house. You should always be kind to animals.

The illustrations were simple, yet effective for this type of story.

This book is for young readers.

Author Cheryl Minnema. Illustrated by Julie Flett. Johnny’s Pheasant, Winnipeg: University of Minnesota Press, 2019. ISBN 978-1-5179-0501-9

Alex Hebert is a 13 year-old citizen of Dokis First Nation and attends White Woods Public School in Sturgeon Falls.  At age seven, he was the designer of the world’s first Treaty of Niagara LEGO wampum belt.  His story is featured in the book “Alex Shares his Wampum Belt”, which is available through the Anishinabek Nation head office.