The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation has teamed up with local children’s author Jan Everett to offer a revised edition of her popular Never Give Up book about little Johnny helping turtles cross a dangerous road. The book is based on the true story of her husband John’s efforts to rescue turtles crossing the Long Point Causeway, once rated the fourth deadliest road for turtles in North America.
Johnny’s story also reflects the work of local citizens since 2006 to reduce road mortality of turtles, snakes and frogs on the Causeway that is located in the Biosphere Reserve. The group has faced many challenges to their efforts to install signage, barrier fencing and ecopassages along the road but like little Johnny, their motto is Never Give Up!
The revised edition, also available in French, includes photos and information about the Long Point Causeway Improvement Project and the Biosphere Reserve. Never Give Up and N’Abandonne Jamais sells for just $9.99. A portion of the proceeds from each reprint of Never Give Up and N’Abandonne Jamais is used to benefit the Long Point Biosphere Reserve.
Recognizing the significance of the turtle in Indigenous culture, the LPBR approached the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) to help us translate the book into Anishinaabemowin, the common language of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomi peoples of the Three Fires Confederacy. The translation of Kaa Wiika Boontaake was done by James “Mawla” Shawana (Odawa/Pottawatomi from Wiikwemkoong First Nation), a language teacher at the Lloyd S. King Elementary School in the MCFN community near Hagersville, Ontario.
How to purchase the book:
- Emailing the author directly (jan.everett4@gmail.com) is the best way to purchase the book. In your email, please indicate the number of books ($9.99 each) that you’d like to purchase and the author will give you a quote for shipping and handling. Please specify whether you want the English, French or Ojibwe versions.
- Visit Shear Creations, 1407 Highway 59, Port Rowan, Ontario.