Reading Together Project

The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans and the Minnesota Humanities Center have jointly published this series of four picture books.  The Reading Together Project seeks to address the lack of children's books that speak to the experience of being an Asian Pacific Islander child or youth in the United States.  The project supports the development of English literacy skills while recognizing cultural heritage, and allowing children to learn about their cultural background.

The four books are:

Link and the Red Envelope (Hmong)

The lunar new year is here, and Linh wants to help her mother prepare for the big celebration, but she keeps making mistakes.  Can she fix the messes in time to earn a lucky red envelope?

Author: Diane Tran

Illustrator: Alex Patrick Shimkus

Tawan; The Sun Girl (Laos)

 

 A child's name is carefully chosen and the child must strive to live up to that name. If the child fails, it can bring sadness and misfortune.  Each of the characters in this story have been given a special name.  When a true test knocks on their door, will Tawan, Din, Nom, and Prince Jaiboun be able to live up to their names?

Author: Chay Douangphouxay

Illustrator: Alex Kuno

Night Breeze (Philippines)

Ian loves to look at the night sky, and wants to know the story of his birth mother, and his adoption from the Philippines.  Who is his mother and why did she leave him at an orphanage?

Author: Stephen Wright
Illustrator: Ilhwa Gloria Kim

Melody of the Qeej (Hmong)

Hengxue was too busy playing soccer and being with his friends to take an interest in the ancient qeej.  But one day his two best friends become curious about the instrument, and their curiosity took them to visit Grandfather, who taught the boys about the importance of the qeej during Hmong funerals.  Phengxue realizes he might want to learn the play the qeej.

Author: Mai Kou Xiong
Illustrator: Vang Lee

Fat Boy vs. The Cheerleaders

Addicted to Mountain Dew Code Red, sixteen-year-old Gabe is angry when he learns that the cost of pop from the school vending machine has gone way up.  Furthermore, the funds being raised are no longer going to the school band (of which Gabe is a member), but to the cheerleaders.  Gabe is in for a learning experience -- from personal weight control, to improving relations with his father, to leading a small rebellion against the change, and feeling the first twinges of romance with a Goth girl. Funny, with food for thought for teen readers, this latest book from Geoff Herbach is a fast read, but could spark class discussion of several teen issues.

It's an Orange Aardvark

 A group of carpenter ants live in a tree stump.  One day, an ant decides to drill to the outside of the stump to see what's there.  The other (more pessimistic) ants think that's a bad idea.  What if there's an aardvark out there?  Everybody knows that aardvarks eat ants. The first ant drills the hole anyway, and sees something orange (could it be an orange aardvark?). This delightful read-aloud story for young children will introduce the colors of the rainbow.  Add some mystery and word play, and this is fun for all (even adults reading the story).
Minnesotan, Michael Hall, author of My Heart is a Zoo, Cat Tale, and Perfect Square, is the creator of this color fest.

Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words and Wisdom from Greek and Roman Mythology

Victory, echo, fate, mortal, furious, Grace, grateful, janitor---these are just a few everyday English words that take their origin from ancient Greek and Roman mythology.  The brief stories in this collection introduce readers to the ancient myths, and explain how the stories are related to today's common words.  It's a wonderful introduction to Greek and Roman mythology for intermediate and middle school readers, and is a great resource for the English classroom.  Lise Lunge-Larson is the Minnesota author behind this clever book, and the action-filled illustrations by Gareth Hinds bring the stories to life.

West of the Moon

Astri is a thirteen year old Norwegian girl who has been lent (sold?) to a cruel goat
herder. She is determined to escape and travel to America to join her widowed father.  The story is told in three parts:  service to the goat herder; the daring escape to the coast; and travel to America.  Several Norwegian folktales are woven into the story, and they inspire Astri to hold onto hope despite her dire circumstances. The story is conceived from a statement in the diary of the author's great-great-grandmother.  Minnesota author Margi Preus, has written another winner for intermediate and middle school readers.  It might be a good read-aloud to accompany immigration units.

Water Can Be...

Water is an important part of the earth's environment.  This picture book by Laura Purdie Salas uses poetry to explore the many things that water can be -- from garden soaker, to thirst quencher, to drink cooler and fire snuffer, among others.  Illustrations by Violeta Dabija add to the mood of each page.  Back matter including a glossary and explanatory material for each water property add to the usefulness as a classroom resource for primary science units on the forms of water.

Plant a Pocket of Prairie

The author/illustrator team of Phyllis Root and Betsy Bowen have produced another winner about Minnesota ecosystems--this time the native prairie of southern and western Minnesota. Readers are encouraged to plant a pocket of prairie to help reestablish that rich ecosystem of birds, insects, flowers, grasses and other features that we have nearly lost.  Back matter includes more information on the plants and animals featured, as well as the prairie ecosystem in general.  A great classroom resource for intermediate level science or social studies units studying Minnesota ecosystems.

Three Bird Summer

Summer will be different this year for twelve year old Adam.  Since his parents divorced, he will spend the summer at Three Bird Lake in northern Minnesota with just his mother and grandmother.  He's not even interested in Alice, the girl next door, at first, but she will become his ally in solving a mystery. 

Grandmother's memory problems are getting worse as she starts leaving strange notes for Adam to find.  One day Adam finds a very unusual treasure map, and he and Alice work together to solve a family mystery.  The setting, characters, and activities are nicely described by author Sara St. Antoine, in this gentle well-written first novel.  A good summer read for junior high/middle school readers.

Sex and Violence

Now there's a title to get your attention!

This young adult novel for mature readers is the story of 17 year old Evan.  His mother has died, and Evan and his father move around a lot, so he is always the "new kid" in school.  His interest in sex has grown as he has, and he has figured out a way to identify the "easy" girls in each new school, and arrange hook-ups with them.  All without consequences, until he hooks up with the wrong girl at a very wrong time.  After a vicious assault that leaves Evan scarred physically and emotionally, he and his dad move to a lake cottage in northern Minnesota; and Evan begins the slow process of healing.

A well-written first novel by Minnesotan, Carrie Mesrobian, this was a finalist for the William Morris Award (for debut novels), and won the Minnesota Book Award in 2014.

Grasshopper Magic

The third entry in the Magical Mixups series by Lynne Jonell has the Willow children getting ready for the town festival.  Abner has been chosen to dress up and represent his great uncle General Abner Willow.  Abner is worried about how things will go--will he forget his speech?, or fall off his horse?  The other Willow children decide he needs some bravery practice.  One day the children are challenged to eat some baked grasshoppers, made by Mrs. Delgado, the seamstress who is making Abner's costume.  Abner bravely tries a few, and soon he is leaping 20 feet in the air.  How to stop the grasshopper magic?  Read the story to see if the children solve this dilemma in time for the festival.

Lawn Mower Magic

Continuing the group of stories that began with Hamster Magic; in this installment, the Willow family faces the necessity of getting a new lawn mower because the old one has died.  That is until Abner finds an old fashioned push mower in the shed.  The kids pull it out, sprinkle some handfuls of grass on it -- and -- just like magic, the lawnmower takes off to mow the huge lawn.  There are several unexpected adventures along the way, but the lawn is mowed, and Mr. and Mrs. Willow are very proud of the kids in the end.  Written by Lynne Jonell, the illustrations by Brandon Dorman add to the humor of the story; and the book will be enjoyed by readers in grades 2-4.  Just perfect for the start of summer!

Peep Leap

It's Spring and soon birds will start nesting and raising their young.  Wood ducks often nest in trees near a pond or swamp. On the day after they hatch, the baby ducklings must jump from the nest to the water, where they will live with their parents until they are able to fly and fend for themselves.

In this rhyming counting story by Minnesotan Elizabeth Verdick, a group of ten baby ducklings must make the big leap.  All jump bravely except number ten who is afraid of such a big leap.  Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations by John Bendall-Brunello add a realistic touch to the story.  A nice resource for "Spring" units with young children.

Spike; Ugliest Dog in the Universe

Spike is one ugly dog!--and he's got the award to prove it (Ugliest Dog in the Universe, that is).  But Spike's life turns bad the next day when his owner abandons him.  Joe, the boy next door, takes Spike home with him; but Joe's mom doesn't want to keep Spike either.  Poor Spike -- looks like he's headed for the dog pound.  That is, until he rescues Evangeline, the beautiful award-winning white cat from a kidnapping (catnapping might be more like it). Now Spike is the local hero and has a real home with Joe and his mom.  Minnesota author and illustrator Debra Frasier has found a new way to tell a story; this time using old worn blue jeans to create collage pictures of Spike and Joe.  Evangeline--well she's too beautiful for blue jeans--she's made from a lace wedding gown.  You really have to see the illustrations to believe them; and don't miss this positive story about friends and pet ownership.

A Dog is a Dog

We all know what a dog is, right?  Well,---not so fast---things are different in this lively picture book.  A dog is a dog----unless it's a cat!, or maybe a ______, or maybe a ______.  I won't give all the animals away--you have to read it for yourself.  This is a first book by Minnesota author and illustrator Stephen Shaskan; and the lively colorful story will have young children chuckling as they read.  It is great fun!

Chasing Shadows

Holly and Corey, teenage twins and children of a Chicago police officer, are friends with Savitri (she is also Corey's girlfriend).  One of their common interests is freerunning; and after one their sessions, Holly and Corey are victims of a random shooting.  Corey is killed and Holly is in the hospital in a coma.  When Holly awakens, Savitri realizes that her friend has changed dramatically. Holly refuses to accept her brother's death, and falls into a downward spiral as she obsesses over finding Corey's killer.  The story is told in alternating viewpoints from Savitri and Holly, with prose sections alternating with graphic novel elements.  Written by Swati Avasthi, this book was selected for the Best Fiction for Young Adults list in 2014, and is a finalist for the 2014 Minnesota Book Award. It's a challenging story that should appeal to urban youth.

Arlo's Artrageous Adventure

Arlo is visiting an art museum with his grandmother (he'd probably much prefer to be playing baseball).  As grandmother reminds him how to behave, and look at the art seriously, Arlo's imagination allows him to see the art in a much different way.  Written and illustrated by David LaRochelle, the pages of this book have 50 flaps that transform the works of art into something quite different (and sometimes their neighbors too).  This book will probably be most appreciated by children who have some exposure to art; but the humor can be enjoyed by all.

Henry and the Valentine Surprise

It's February 13, and Henry and his first grade classmates notice that their teacher, Mr. McCarthy, has a big Valentine box on his desk.  "Does he have a girlfriend?" everyone wonders.  All day they watch for evidence that it might be true.  The next day, at the classes' Valentine party, Mr. McCarthy has a surprise for everyone.  The stories of Henry and friends are written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson.  Share this one with your favorite kid soon!

What The Heart Knows; Chants, Charms and Blessings

Minnesota poet Joyce Sidman and artist Pamela Zagarenski have collaborated once again (they are also known for Red Sings from Treetops, a Caldecott honor book in 2010) on a collection of short poems that are arranged in four sections 1) chants and charms [to bolster courage and guard against evil], 2) spells and invocations [to cause something to happen], 3) laments and remembrances [to remember, regret, and grieve], and 4) praise songs and blessings [to celebrate, thank, or express love]. The poems touch on universal themes that teens and adults can relate to, and the illustrations are a poetic match for the words.  I heard recently that this is becoming a popular gift book among adults, although the target audience is probably teens. Readers of any age will appreciate the beauty of this book.

This is also a good place to note that Joyce Sidman is the winner of the 2013 Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, given by the National Council of Teachers of English.

The Morning Sam Went to Mars; A Book About Paying Attention

Eight year old Sam is a smart boy, but he is easily distracted; and his parents and teacher often have to remind him to "Focus, Sam!". Eventually his father takes him to a counselor who helps him with strategies so he can stay on track better.  It's hard at first, but eventually Sam and others see his improvement, which allows Sam the chance (once in a while) to let his imagination run free.  Nancy Carlson is the author and illustrator of this resource book for children (and their parents) who have trouble paying attention.

Hawk Ridge; Minnesota's Birds of Prey

Minnesota ornithologist, Laura Erickson, has created another wonderful book about the birds of Minnesota--this time with a focus on raptors.  Twenty raptor species are profiled in this book including vultures, ospreys, eagles, harriers, kites, hawks and falcons.  Information includes nesting, breeding, and migration habits as well as any special signature traits of the species.  The introduction includes a history of Hawk Ridge near Duluth, as well as information on the challenge of counting and banding hawks there.  Illustrator Betsy Bowen, normally a woodcut artist, switches to painting with acrylics for this second collaboration with Erickson.  This is an excellent classroom resource for high school students studying raptors and bird migration.

The Real Boy

Set in a fantasy world called Aletheia, this is the story of a boy, who is a social misfit, and who works as the "hand" (i.e. lowest servant) of a magician named Caleb.  Oscar lives in the basement of Caleb's shop, and spends his days making potions, charms, and tinctures for Caleb to sell.  Then Oscar's world turns upside down when Caleb leaves on an extended trip, his apprentice is mysteriously killed, and Oscar is left in charge.  A healer's apprentice, Callie, helps him learn social manners and behavior, and together they must tackle a large mystery concerning why the magic (that everyone depends on) is suddenly doing bad things to people.  Written by Anne Ursu, with illustrations by Erin McGuire; junior high and strong upper elementary readers will be drawn into this fantasy world where everything depends on the magic.