Swirl by Swirl; Spirals in Nature

Here is another jaw-dropping celebration of nature from the team of Joyce Sidman (poet) and Beth Krommes (illustrator).  This one features spiral forms found on animals and plants, or in the ocean and sky.  While the poetry is wonderful, the scratchboard illustrations steal the show.  Readers can spend hours finding all the spirals on these pages.  End notes add factual details for readers wanting more information about featured animals and plants.  This gorgeous book could be a resource for science, and possibly math classes (Fibonacci numbers).

Breadcrumbs

Hazel's ten-year-old world is full of anxiety thanks to her parents' separation, starting a new school (with a strict teacher), feeling like an outsider, and her neighbor (and best friend) Jack is suddenly spending more time with his male friends than with Hazel.

When a shard from an enchanted mirror gets into Jack's eye, he becomes drugged and somewhat manic under its spell, and he accompanies the Snow Queen into the woods near their neighborhood. Hazel heads into the woods to rescue him, but encounters a myriad group of characters from numerous fairy tales. Will Hazel succeed, or will she be swept up by the challenges of this fantasy world?

Written by Anne Ursu, with illustrations by Erin McGuire, this combination of fantasy and realistic fiction will grab many intermediate readers looking for a good "quest" story.

It has been selected as the December book for NPR's Backseat Book Club, and is getting mentioned as a possible Newbery contender. Here is a link to the NPR information: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/29/142862998/december-kids-book-club-pick-breadcrumbs.

Scrawny Cat

This story of an abandoned and hungry orange and white cat will pull on your heart strings. Every place the cat goes, people chase him away with the words "Get Out of Here!" One day he is chased by a dog down to the wharf and onto a moored dinghy. Almost immediately, a storm blows in, and the dinghy's mooring rope breaks. The dinghy and cat are awash in a storm. Finally, when the storm subsides, they wash ashore near a cottage where a woman lives alone. Together, these two lonely souls become a new happy family. Written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Alison Friend, this heart-warming tale will be enjoyed by animal lovers of all ages.

Kara, Lost

This debut novel by Susan Niz tells the story of Kara, a teen who has run away from her depressed mother and unhappy homelife. Her sister, who also ran away from home, has a live-in boyfriend, who won't allow Kara to live with them beyond a few days. Even though she has no money, and no form of identification, Kara is determined to make it on her on on the streets of Minneapolis. At times, life is scary and harrowing, but bit-by-bit, Kara starts to find her way. This is an edgy novel from a new author with promise.

The Clock Struck One

The delightful rhyming text of this story expands on the nursery rhyme 'Hickory Dickory Dock', as a cat chases a mouse up the clock, and then around the neighborhood. They are followed by other animals (and people) until midnight arrives, and everyone falls asleep. That is, until 1:00 comes... The book includes information about clocks and telling time in the back. Written by Trudy Harris, illustrated by Minnesotan Carrie Hartman, this might be a resource for telling time units for preschool or primary grades.

Unforgettable

Fifteen year old Baxter Green has a perfect memory--for every face, every name, and minute details of everything he has experienced since the age of three. He and his mother have moved from California to Wellington, Minnesota, a fictional town on the Iron Range to escape her ex-boyfriend.
Baxter wants to be a normal kid, and strike up a romance with a girl from his kindergarten class (she has long since forgotten Baxter)--but his unusual memory creates problems at every turn. This coming of age story has several good discussion topics: social issues for kids who are different, environmental and health aspects of taconite mining, and honesty in relationships, for example. It is another thoughtful work by Minnesotan Loretta Ellsworth.

Through No Fault of My Own

This is the diary of thirteen-year-old "Coco" Irving, the daughter of Horace and Clotilde Irving, socialites who lived on Summit Avenue in St. Paul in the early 1900's. Coco loved to write, and also get in trouble. Her diary entries frequently begin with the words "through no fault of my own..." The diary recounts one year of Coco's adventures, romances, and youthful problems.
Coco's writing has been published previously; this new edition is from the University of Minnesota Press and includes an introduction by Peg Meier and historical photographs.
Coco and her sister Olivia donated the family home to the state of Minnesota in 1965, and it became the Minnesota Governor's Residence.
This is a fascinating peak inside early 20th century life on Summit Avenue from a young person's perspective.

The Green Ghost

Kaye and her parents are on their way to her grandmother's house for Christmas. It's a stormy night, and their car gets stuck in a ditch. A glowing light leads Kaye and her parents to an old farm house. A kind old woman named Elsa lives there and takes them in for the night. Before dawn the next daty, a mysterious girl wearing a green cloak, named Lillian, wakes up Kaye and takes her on a trip through the woods to see a magnificant pine tree. Read this chapter book mystery by Marion Dane Bauer to see how the characters of this story are interrelated. Is it a Halloween story or a Christmas story?, or a good mystery for any time of year. You decide.

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated in various places in North America from October 31-November 2. This easy reader will introduce students to the history and activities associated with this holiday. Written by Linda Lowery, with illustrations by Minnesotan, Barbara Knutson, this is a nice classroom resource for this favorite Fall holiday.

Mudkin

The rain has stopped, a girl and her favorite toys go outside to play. She looks into a mud puddle, and sees Mudkin, a friendly--if a little muddy creature. He gives her a robe, crown, and carriage, and takes her away to a castle where she becomes queen of the realm. The kingdom only lasts until the next rain, but it's fun while it lasts. Written and illustrated by Stephen Gammel, in his easily recognizable style, it is a tribute to mud and imagination -- two key elements of a happy childhood.

The Haunted Hamburger, and Other Ghostly Stories

Frankie and Franny Ghost beg for a scary bedtime story from their father. He agrees to tell just one story. Soon, one story turns into three -- each scarier that the one before -- at least for ghost children, because the stories are about people. For kids, they will be laugh-out-loud funny stories by David LaRochelle and illustrator Paul Meisel. Not to be missed for Halloween.

Pick a Pup

Sam and his grandmother are off to the local animal shelter to adopt a puppy. Sam isn't sure he will know when he picks a puppy if it will be the right one. Along the walk to the shelter, they meet all the wonderful (and different) dogs of the neighborhood. When they arrive at the shelter, a golden puppy picks Sam, and everyone is happy. The rhyming text is written by Marsha Wilson Chall, with illustrations by Jed Henry; this is a fun story for young readers.

Playful Slider

First published in 1993, this book would normally be outside the date range of this blog. However, I recently saw an advertisement where the University of Minnesota Press has rereleased it. If you missed it the first time, here is your second chance.
This book, written by Barbara Esbensen, describes the daily life of the American river otter. Unlike their more aggressive relatives in the weasel family (including badgers, wolverines, and skunks), river otters are known for their sense of fun and playfulness. The realistic illustrations by Mary Barrett Brown add to the enjoyment of this informative book.

Wonderstruck

This is the new illustrated novel by Brian Selznick (creator of the Caldecott Medal winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret). I am including it here because the story has a Minnesota connection. Ben and Rose are the main characters, and both are hearing impaired. Ben is 12, and lives in a cabin along the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota. Rose is also 12, but her story takes place 50 years earlier in New Jersey. Ben's story is told in prose; Rose's in black and white pencil illustrations. Both children have a missing parent, and both run away to New York City in search of that person. The two stories begin to converge at the American Museum of Natural History; but I won't reveal the mystery behind their connection. Read and enjoy it for yourself! Not only is the artwork a feast for the eyes (just like Hugo was); the amount of research behind the book (described in the acknowledgements) shows that this wasn't a book hastily thrown together. I enjoyed it just as much as Hugo, and I hope you will too.

Bridge to America

The year is 1920; the setting is a small village in Poland.  Fival and his family are extremely poor and live in fear of the Cossacks and their pograms against Jews.  Fival's father has gone to America to find work and save money, so he can send for the rest of the family.  When the passage money finally arrives, Fival and his family move to Duluth, Minnesota to join his father.  Based on the true story of Phil Myzel, this novel by Linda Glaser tells an absorbing, hopeful story of immigrants to America in the early twentieth century.  It is a resource for social studies classes.

Dragonfly Door

Readers of this picture book about the life cycle will meet two insect friends, Lea and Nym, who are water nymphs living in a marsh.  One day Lea is missing and Nym looks everywhere for her.  Eventually Nym learns that Lea has died and gone to a new world to be a dragonfly.  It's a story about the life cycle, but with overtones about death and future life, possibly making it appropriate to use with grieving children.  Written by Minnesota author John Adams, with illustrations by Barbara Gibson, this is a simple story to share with young children.  Endnotes provide more detail about the life cycle of dragonflies.

Beaver, Bear, Snowshoe Hare; North Woods Mammal Poems

A combination poetry and science book, this includes poems about 21 animals found in the North Woods.  Poetry forms include: free verse, haiku, lullabies, lyric, narrative, and sonnets, among others.  The information for each animal includes a brief sketch, including their scientific name.  This is the work of two Minnesotans--Cheryl Dannenbring is the author, and Anna Hess is the illustrator.  Although the page layouts could have been more readable in spots; in general, this can be a resource for classes studying Minnesota animals.

Aunt Mary's Rose

Aunt Mary tells her nephew Douglas to water and care for a special rosebush; and then someday, a little bit of Douglas will be inside the rosebush.  Douglas can only see a plain old rosebush, until Aunt Mary tells the family story of the rosebush from the time when her grandfather planted it. The story is based on a real event in author Doug Woods' youth.  The illustrations by LeUyen Pham are soft pastel watercolor paintings, with sepia-toned 'photos' of the family from the 1930's-1950's.  This could be used as a supplementary resource to introduce farm life in that era, or to introduce a family biography unit.

Scare a Bear

What if a bear wandered into your camp? Do you know how to scare a bear? This rhyming story by Kathy-Jo Wargin has lots of suggestions to try when a too-friendly bear visits camp.  The humorous illustrations by John Bendall-Brunells add to the fun. A perfect way to end the summer camping season!

The Golden Ghost

Fittingly, it is Labor Day weekend, which is where this story starts.  Delsie and her friend Todd can't find anything interesting to do on this last weekend of summer.  Then they dare one another to explore several old abandoned houses near the edge of town.  All are locked except one which has evidence that someone might be living in it.  Even more surprising, something doesn't want Delsie to leave.  It's a dog, a strange golden dog that only Delsie can see.  This is the latest installment in Marion Dane Bauer's ghost story series, and will be a perfect fit for kids who want a dog, but can't have one.

Spellbound (Books of Elsewhere #2)

The second volume of the Books of Elsewhere series continues the story of eleven year old Olive and the spooky old house she lives in.  In this adventure, Harvey (weird boy-next-door) suggests to Olive that she should start looking for the grimoire (the book of spells) owned by the witches who built the creepy old house.  This sends Olive on a modestly scary adventure to find the missing book.  Written by Jacqueline West, with illustrations by Poly Bernatene, the series will be fun reading for upper elementary kids.

Loon Baby

A baby loon and his mother are looking for supper in the middle of a lake in the great north woods.  Mama loon dives and is gone a very long time.  So long in fact, that baby loon is sure she isn't coming back.  Lonely, wet, and lost, he cries the loneliest cry -- when suddenly, Mama loon is back  -- and she has supper!  This simple picture book is a first book for author Molly Beth Griffin.  The watercolor and ink illustrations by Anne Hunter add to the admosphere of the story.

Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry

The adventures of Emmy Addison continue in this newest installment by Lynne Jonell.  The plot is more complicated here, and the book a little longer, but it's a fun summertime read.  Jane Barmy and Cheswick Vole (changed into rats in the last book) are back, and are plotting revenge.  They steal Professor Capybara's secret formula for restoring their human size, send Emmy on a trip to Schenectady to visit two elderly great aunts, and Sissy has a chance to find her long lost ratmom.  It's a busy plot (you probably should have read Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat and Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls first to avoid feeling confused), but fans of the first books will enjoy this quirky, entertaining tale. The flip-book art by Jonathan Bean continues here, and adds to the fun also.

Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships

Orangutan and cat, giraffe and ostrich, baby fox and badger.... The candid and endearing pictures in this book show some of the unusual friendships that develop between animals of different species.  The pictures are wonderful, and the simple text by Catherine Thimmish shares the mystery behind these unique friendships.  This will be enjoyed by all ages.

The Big Crunch

June has attended six schools in four years, and now she's beginning her junior year in a Minneapolis high school.  She knows she won't stay long because of her father's frequent job moves; so she just wants a few friends, and an okay-kind of boyfriend (no entanglements if possible).  Wes has just broken up with Izzy, and isn't ready for a new girlfriend.  When their paths cross, romance is sparked.  Told in alternating points of view, this book follows their romance through the four seasons.  Written by Pete Hautman, this story explores the emotions and social dynamics of first love, and the relationships between parents and teens at the edge of living independently.  It's an absorbing read for summer (or any season).