Henry's Amazing Imagination

Henry has had some amazing adventures. He has caught a huge fish; met aliens; built a snowman as big as his house; and met a real live dinosaur. He shares his adventures during show-and-tell at school--until finally one story is too good to be true, and his classmates accuse him of fibbing. How can Henry keep his vivid imagination in check? Young readers will enjoy this new adventure for Henry and his classmates. Written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2009.

T-Minus: The Race to the Moon

As we recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon, there has been a surge of books aboout the early space program. This one is different from the others. This is a graphic novel about the space race between the United States and Russia, and the effort to be the first country to send a man to the moon. It includes historical and technical information, but the major focus is on the human drama (depicted in the faces of scientists from both sides). Written by Jim Ottaviani, and illustrated by Zander and Kevin Cannon (not related) who live in Minneapolis. This is a unique way to tell the story of the space race - and it is told in a very human-interest sort of way.

Always

The bond between children and their pets is often a very special one. In this gentle picture book, readers get a glimpse of that bond between a dog and the girl he lives to protect from real and imagined dangers. Friendship, loyalty, and love are all deeply felt in this relationship. Written by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre, this is a good read-aloud for a young child.

Song of Middle C

It's her first piano recital, and the young heroine of this story has prepared herself well. She has spent hours practicing, and wears her lucky shoes, hat, and underwear on the recital day. What she wasn't prepared for was a little problem called 'stage fright'. Fortunately, her imagination saved the day. Written by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Scott Menchin, this story will help readers relate to a common childhood experience.

Toot Toot Zoom

Poor Pierre -- the little red fox who lives at the base of a very tall mountain, and doesn't have a friend in the world. But wait -- maybe he could find one on the other side of the mountain. So off he goes, in his little red sports car (toot! toot! zoom!), meeting and making friends along the way. Written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, this will be enjoyed by young readers.

The Minnesota Almanac

While not a book that most people will read from cover to cover, this might have browsing interest for teens, and probably belongs in high school library reference collections. Written by Candice Gaukel Andrews, and reminiscent in style of the Old Farmer's Almanac, this book features wit, wisdom, and practical knowledge, and it is all related to Minnesota. It includes historical tidbits, weather data, household and gardening tips, recipes, a monthly events calendar, and a variety of brief interesting stories.