Twelve Owls

Owls are fascinating predators found in many Minnesota locations.  This book includes profiles of twelve owls known to live in or migrate to Minnesota; ranging from the tiny saw-whet to the magnificent great gray owl.  In addition to general identification and habitat information,  the book includes information on how the environment affects each owls' life pattern and habitat. Written by Laura Erickson, with life size paintings of each bird by Betsy Bowen; this will be a good resource for predator units in science or biology classes.

Birds in Our Backyard

Minnesota is home to over 400 species of birds throughout the year.  This book will help young readers learn about Minnesota birds as they are seen during the four seasons.  They will also learn about travel and migration, nests, habitat, and the favorite foods of various birds.  The text, in poetry form, is written by Adele Porter, and the beautiful color photographs by Bill Marchel bring to life the world of Minnesota birds.  This is an excellent resource for elementary bird units, and can be enjoyed by readers any time of year.

How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans

Every Tuesday evening, Martha's family has green beans for supper.  Martha HATES green beans!  Nothing will ever make her eat them.  But, when some beady-eyed black-hat-and-boots-wearing beans storm into town, and begin causing trouble, Martha knows she must do something.  When the beans kidnap her parents, she hunts them down and ............. (I won't give it away--you have to read the story!)
Written by David LaRochelle, with delightful illustrations by Mark Fearing, this will have young readers laughing out loud at the story and the spot-on funny illustrations.

Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron

In 1798, woodsmen in southern France captured a seemingly wild boy in the woods and marched him to the town square.  So begins the story of the Savage of Aveyron.  Who was this boy? How old was he? Why didn't he speak? No one knew the answers.  Eventually the boy was taken to Paris where he lived in a home for deaf children. He attended the Institute of Deaf-Mutes, where a doctor tutored him intensely.  Although he never learned to speak, he was always drawn to the outdoors and to the woods; and it became clear that he did feel emotions.  Written by Mary Losure, with black and white illustrations by Timothy Ering, this very readable story will interest students at intermediate and middle school grades.

The Survivors

 

This is a sequel to Memory Boy (published in 2001) by Will Weaver.  Memory Boy is the story of sixteen year old Miles, his sister Sarah, and their family who had to flee their suburban Minneapolis home and move to the north woods after several large volcanic eruptions in the western United States changed the environment for everyone.  (It's a great story, and you must read it if you haven't.)

Survivors picks up the story after they arrive at a remote cabin (the location feels like it might be in the Lake Itasca or Bemidji area), and must find a way to survive the winter.  They also must avoid being identifed as homeless "Travelers", as that could put them in more danger.  Everyone relies on Miles for his commonsense outlook, ability to hunt, and other general knowledge about survival.  But when Miles gets a concussion in an accident, the family is forced to make new adjustments in order to survive. It's a very worthy sequel to the first book.  Don't miss it. 

The Last Day of Kindergarten

This feels like a book that should be read in the Spring (graduation time and all that), but I'm going to mention it now since many children are just starting first grade.

This is the story of a little girl experiencing the last day of kindergarten. She is sad at first to see her friends and teacher for the last time.  The children spend their time cleaning the room, meeting for a last circle time, and going to their graduation.  By the end of the day our young heroine is all ready to start first grade! Written by Minnesotan Nancy Loewen, and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2011.

Minnesota Bug Hunt

What is that fearsome creature on the cover of this book?  It's a Red Milkweed Beetle, and it lives on milkweed in the prairie/grassland habitat.  This book will provide readers an up-close-and-personal look at some of Minnesota's most interesting and unusual insects.  It is arranged by habitat (backyard, grassland/prairie, forest, pond, and oak tree), and provides information on three to six insects from each habitat.  Author Bruce Giebink (aka 'Bruce the Bug Guy') introduces readers to fun facts about each insect.  The detailed photographs by Bill Johnson allow readers to really see the features of each insect.  It will be a great resource for elementary insect units.

Sparrow Road

Twelve year old Raine lives with her mother and grandfather in Milwaukee, and she's never known her father. Her life is happy until one day her mother takes a job as a cook and maid at Sparrow Road, a remote colony for artists.  Raine resents the move, and especially all the rules ("no talking" during the day, except for Sundays, is really hard!). Gradually the enchanting aspects of Sparrow Road grow on her as explores the grounds, swims in the lake, explores a nearby town, and hangs around with the artists.  New questions arise when she learns that Sparrow Road used to be an orphanage; and as she searches for answers to those questions, she learns a secret about her own life.  Written by Minnesotan, Sheila O'Connor, this book was selected by the International Reading Association as its Intermediate Fiction Award winner in 2012.  It's a very nice "growing-up" story (not quite the same as coming-of-age) for middle school and junior high readers.

City Chickens

In this book, readers will learn about a unique animal shelter in North Minneapolis, called Chicken Run Rescue.  It provides shelter to chickens who may have been abandoned, maltreated, or have escaped from someone's yard.  Written by Christine Heppermann, this book tells the story of several chickens who have lived (or may still be there) at Chicken Run.  It also describes how the shelter got started, and how it operates each day.  Excellent color photographs and a colorful layout enhance the enjoyment of this book.  It could be used in classes studying farm/city animals; or as a model text for writing nonfiction at the upper elementary or middle school level.  It even offers food for thought for educators with a page discussing alternatives to baby-chick hatching units.  Overall, it is an excellent book on a unique subject.

Frozen

 

Sixteen year old Sadie Rose hasn't said a word in eleven years--ever since the day she was found lying in a snowbank next to her mother's body during a howling snow storm. Set in the 1920's in far northern Minnesota, this is Sadie Rose's story--how she was found in a snowbank, couldn't speak, and had only fleeting memories of her mother.  She is taken in by a corrupt state senator, and has a good life until she stumbles onto some pictures of her mother.  Who was she, and how did she die? There is evidence her mother worked in a brothel, but why? This story is set in a time of historical drama--prohibition, women's right to vote, political corruption, and a fight over lumbering and the use of the wilderness all come into play in this story. This is a suspenseful story about how Sadie Rose finds her voice again; and has several themes including power, corruption, class inequality, the environment, and the strength of family.  Written by Mary Casanova, it is recommended for readers in junior and senior high school. A trailer is available here.

Dolores Huerta; A Hero to Migrant Workers

 

This picture book biography of Mexican American labor leader Dolores Huerta describes how she helped organize migrant farm workers to protest poor wages and working condition.  She became a co-founder of the United Farm Workers, and has worked tirelessly for workers, immigrant and women's rights throughout her life.  This is a first book for Minnesota teacher Sarah Warren, and is illustrated by Robert Casilla.  Backmatter includes a timeline and list of other resources about Huerta.  The book was selected as a Jane Addams honor title in 2013. It might be used as a classroom resource for a unit on labor relations and treatment of workers.