Old Turtle and the Broken Truth

A picture book for older readers to contemplate, or for adults to share and discuss with youth; this is the second book about Old Turtle from Douglas Wood. In this story Earth is full of suffering and war, until a young girl seeks Old Turtle who tells her about a "broken truth" and how mending it will help her people understand that all humans have a common bond. The book also features watercolor and ink illustrations by John Muth. It also could be an example of allegory for secondary students.

Hooray for Minnesota Winters

Could there be a better title for a day when the weather forecast is for another big winter storm? I can't think of anything better.

Are you looking for some information about the extremes in weather conditions in Minnesota in the winter? If you are, this book is a fun and entertaining way to find them. Done in an ABC rhyming format with "cold facts" to supplement each page, this book will enlighten readers about the coldest, snowiest, windiest, and other Minnesota weather records. It also features winter activities such as hockey and the Winter Carnival. Created by the team of Paul Lowrie, Bret Nicholaus, and Jennifer Awes, it is a creative look at weather here.

Rules of the World; An Unruly Book of Manners

Playing in the dirt, burping, leaving clothes scattered on the floor are fine behaviors -- IF you are an animal. But children should know better, and this delightfully funny book will show how their behavior should be different from the animals. Minnesotan Bridget Levin is the author, the quirky Lane Smith-style illustrations are by Amanda Shepherd. This was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2005.

Lawn Boy

Watch out Eden Prairie! Lawn Boy is here and he's in your neighborhood! This comedic tale from Gary Paulsen is about a twelve year old boy and his summer lawn mowing job that turns into a slapstick lesson in business, the stock market, supply and demand, and prize fighting for good measure! A fast, funny read for summer, or anytime.

Coppe'lia

This is a retelling of the ballet "Coppe'lia done by prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn. It is the story of a dollmaker who schemes to pass his most beautiful doll off as a real girl, but he is outwitted by the townspeople that he tried to deceive. The illustrations by Minnesotans Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher are done in oil, acrylic and fabric on canvas to create very historic looking images. The book was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1999.

Africa Trek: A Journey By Bicycle Through Africa

This is Dan Buettner's (a Minnesota native) account of his multiethnic team's trek by bicycle across Africa in 1992-1993. The team included three Americans and two Africans (each serving as guide and translator for part of the trip), and the trip took over 200 days and covered over 11,000 miles. Excellent photography and maps help the reader feel a part of the trip. The book was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1998.

Grandma's Gone to Live in the Stars

For parents needing a book to share with young children when a grandparent or other loved person has passed away, this is an excellent choice. In this story, grandmother has just passed away and her spirit is at peace as she says goodbye to her sleeping family and home. Written and illustrated by Max Haynes, it was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2001.

Making the World

A breeze brushing the water, waves washing onto the shore, butterfly wings making a breeze, birds singing, a monkey playing in a tree.... All of these activities help to make the world as we know it. With lyrical poetic descriptions by Douglas Wood and watercolor paintings by Hibiki Miyazaki, this book will take the reader on a trip around the world to see how everything in nature works together to recreate the world each day. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1999.

Marooned; the Strange But True Adventure of Alexander Selkirk...

Was Robinson Crusoe a real person? A number of people believe that the story of Alexander Selkirk became the model for Dafoe's famous story. This book, by Minnesotan Robert Kraske tells Selkirk's story--how he was marooned on a Pacific island in 1704, lived in complete solitude for more than four years, how he was rescued and spent the remainder of his life as a British seaman. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2006.

Is That You, Winter?

It's Spring on the calendar, but Old Man Winter is laying on the white frosting again today. This brings to mind the book "Is That You, Winter?" written and illustrated by Stephen Gammell. In this simple picture book, Old Man Winter drives around in his old truck delivering a load of white snow to the world. But as he returns home for lunch, the old man slips and falls, and readers will be caught by the surprise ending. This was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1997.

The Book of One Hundred Truths

Thirteen year old Thea is visiting her grandparents at the beach in New Jersey for part of the summer. Her parents have given her a notebook in which she is to write one hundred truths while she is there. In this story lies come easily, but the truth is harder - a life lesson for many young teens. This novel by Julie Schumacher won the Minnesota Book Award in 2007.

Rosie's Fiddle

Rosie O'Grady, lived by herself at the edge of town. Everyone left her alone, except when she played her fiddle. When that happened, people and animals gathered to listen. People said she could play better than the devil himself. One day the devil came calling and challenged her to a fiddling contest. No spoilers here, you'll have to read this story by Phyllis Root, with illustrations by Kevin O'Malley to find out what happened. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1998.

Defect

While spending much of his life in Minnesota foster homes, and being bullied in school, fifteen year old David has been trying to hide an unusual physical abnormality. When he switches to an alternative school and meets Cheetah, a girl with a less obvious disability, he has a chance at a normal life. Then David is offered a surgical correction for his abnormality. Should he do it? Is the defect a curse or a blessing? A good discussion starter for teens about medical issues and how they can affect one's life, and stigmatization in a small community. Written by Will Weaver, set in Red Wing, it is the young adult winner of the 2008 Minnesota Book Award.

Horsepower; The Wonder of Draft Horses

This book will introduce todays readers (especially city kids who've never been close) to draft horses including Clydesdales, Percherons, and Belgians. Each breed is described in words and pictures; and the book also shows how horses were/are used on farms past and present. With text by Cris Peterson and photos by Alvis Upitis, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1998.

Letter to the Lake

It is a cold winter day. Rosie and her mother need to get to school and to work, but the car won't start. As these everyday events transpire, Rosie begins to think about summer and the lake where she spends some time. In her mind, she begins to write a letter: "Dear Lake....Remember me, your friend Rosie?....Lake, I think of you all winter long..."Written by Susan Marie Swanson with illustrations by Peter Catalanotto, this will have readers thinking ahead to summer, even while winter still controls our daily activities. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1999.

October Smiled Back

Although this might sound like a book about Fall, it is actually a poem about all of the months of the year. Each month has a unique personality (frisky March, lazy February, or silly May for example). Written by Lisa Westberg Peters, with collage illustrations by Ed Young, it is a unique introduction to the seasons, and it was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1997.

Goose Moon

What a perfect book for early March as we start getting anxious for Spring to come. This is the story of a young girl who is getting tired of winter and wants warm weather to return. Her grandfather tells her about the Goose Moon (signaling the return of geese from down south), a sure sign that Spring is coming. Written by Carolyn Arden with very realistic watercolor illustrations by Minnesotan Jim Postier, it's a perfect book to share at this time of year.

Dhegdheer: A Scary Somali Folktale

Pronounced Deg/duur, this story is a widely known folktale in Somalia. Somewhat like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, Dhegdheer is known to gobble up children. While it is a scary story, no one gets eaten in this version. Retold by Marian Hassan, with illustrations by Betsy Bowen, this book is part of the Somali Bilingual Book Project of the Minnesota Humanities Commission.

Little Quack

It is time for five little ducklings to leave the nest and go swimming on the pond for the first time. Will they be brave enough? This is the first of the Little Quack stories written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Minnesotan Derek Anderson; this story has the added feature of being a simple counting story.

Lucia and the Light

Lucia and her family live in a cabin in the mountains of the Far North. They are happy and content until one day when the sun does not rise over the mountain. After many days of darkness, Lucia sets out with her skiis, a tinderbox to make fire, and her white cat to find the sun. Written by Phyllis Root with eerie and suspenseful illustrations by Mary GrandPre, this could be a good read-aloud for children studying the winter season.

Fold Me a Poem

Readers will watch as a young boy creates a menagerie of creatures of all shapes and sizes from brightly colored paper. With short poems by Kristine O'Connell George, and colorful pictures, featuring origami animals, by Lauren Stringer, this fun book won the Minnesota Book Award in 2006.

Everything I Know About Pirates

If you are looking for factual information about pirates, don't read this book! However, if you are seeking an easy-to-read, funny, silly, goofy collection of made-up facts, educated guesses, and silly pictures about pirates and other bad guys of the sea, this is the book for you. Written and illustrated by Minnesota's Tom Lichtenheld, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2001.

Nature's Yucky! Gross Stuff That Makes Nature Work

Did you know that honey is really bee barf? This book uses children's natural fascination with the gross, stinky, and just plain icky aspects of nature to help them learn more about animals and their behavior. Written by Minnesota's Lee Ann Landstrom and Karen Shragg, with illustrations by Constance Bergum, this is a useful supplement for animal units. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2004.

The Night Rainbow

This story is told in poem form and is based on legends from several countries about the northern lights. The lights were often associated with animals, ghosts, dancers, and even raging battles. Written by Barbara Esbensen, with very realistic illustrations by Helen Davie, this is really a book for all ages. End notes provide more information about legends connected to the northern lights and basic scientific information about the aurora borealis.

Just Us Two: Poems About Animal Dads

Eleven poems present life from the point of view of animal fathers and their offspring. The animals include Emperor penguins, Nile crocodiles, giant water bugs, and Peregrine falcons among others. Writtens by Minnesota's Joyce Sidman with cut-paper illustrations by Susan Swan, this could be used in a study of animals. The endnotes include more information about each animal.

It's Fall!

It seems backwards to be writing about this book in March - but truth is I can't wait another six months to share this well-written introduction to the autumn season. Written by Minnesota's Linda Glaser, with 3-dimensional cut paper illustrations by Susan Swan, this is an excellent introduction to the changes that happen to plants and animals during fall. It is enhanced by three pages of suggested nature activities to do in the fall.

A Cold Snap! Frosty Poems

This is a special collection of poems about late autumn and winter, especially appropriate for Minnesota and the upper midwest. Since it is still winter when I write this, the descriptive phrases and word choices will make any reader feel the chill of a winter day. St. Paulite Audrey Baird is the author, and the illustrations by Patrick O'Brien add a frosty touch as well.