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.