Creak! Said the Bed

It's the middle of a very dark night and everyone is in bed.  That is, until Evie got scared in her room and came to sleep with Mom and Dad.  (Creak! said the bed.) Soon, Ivy was too cold in her room, so she joined them too.  (Creak! said the bed.) Soon, brother Mo was at the door, reporting that his room was spooky, and he joined them (CREAK! said the bed.) When Fred the dog also wants to join the sleeping party, things get even more interesting.  Read it for the funny ending.  This quirky tale is the newest by Phyllis Root.  The illustrations by Regan Dunnick, are spot-on for conveying the sounds and humor of the story.

Ben Has Something to Say: A Book About Stuttering

Ben is a good student, but he doesn't like to talk in class because he stutters.  On the weekends, he helps his dad in his car repair shop.  Frequently, they visit a local junkyard for parts, and Ben meets Spike, the guard dog who doesn't seem very guard-like.  When someone breaks into the junkyard and steals things, Spike fails to do his job, and his owner, Mr. Wayne, wants to get rid of him.  Ben realizes that this is the time to speak up and save his new friend.  Written by Laurie Lears, illustrated by Karen Ritz, this is a book for families or classes to share to understand the condition of stuttering.

Wildflowers of the Boundary Waters; Hiking Through the Seasons

Here's another cool guide to take along on your trip the the Boundary Waters this summer.  Focusing on wildflowers of the area, this guide includes information on 120 species.  Organized by season (early, middle, late), and then by color, the photographs show many flowers throughout their lifecycle (bud to flower to seedpod--something not always found in field guides).  The brief descriptions include the flower's features and tidbits about common names, locations, etc.  Written and photographed by Betty Vos Hemstad, a summer resident of the Gunflint Trail, this guide is a great resource for science teachers, scout leaders, and lovers of the outdoors.

Eyes on the Goal

Just in time for the World Cup, Eyes on the Goal is the latest installment in John Coy's 4 for 4 series. This is the story of four friends: Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego.  Their adventures continue as they attend a week-long summer soccer camp.  Diego and Gig have a natural talent for the game, but Jackson and Isaac struggle to learn the rules and strategies.  Readers will find that sports, like life, can be unpredictable, frustrating, but also exciting and exhilarating at times.  Coy is on a mission to help boys enjoy reading, and become better readers.  This series is part of that mission, and this story is very well written.  Give it to a 9-12 year old soccer player while the Cup is in progress.

So Many Days

This book may remind readers of Oh, The Places You Will Go, by Dr. Seuss (read both and see what you think).
Life is full of surprises, big and small.  This simple story by Alison McGhee encourages readers to notice the surprises, as well as the love and joy that we all encounter on life's journey. 
The illustrations are linocuts that have been digitally manipulated by Taeeun Yoo, an artist from Korea.  Add this to your list of favorite gift books.

Emma's Poem

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...".  This famous phrase is part of the poem written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 in a project to support the construction of the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.  This book by Minnesotan Linda Glaser, tells the story of Emma and her poem, appropriately in poetic form.  Watercolor paintings by Claire Nivola add historic atmosphere to the book.  An image of the original poem is included on the endpapers.  Use this as a resource in social studies immigration units.

The Great River Birding Trail Guide

Summer is here and kids will be outdoors.  Some will go on camping or canoe trips into the Minnesota outdoors.  This book can be used to identify habitat and birds along the Mississippi River as it flows through the state.  Starting at the Headwaters and going south, the book identifies state and regional parks, lakes, ponds, and other sites where bird watching is especially good.  The information for each site includes a description, location and directions, and a list of birds commonly found there.  Produced by Audobon Minnesota, this can be a school or classroom resource as well as a guide for campers and canoeists to use along the river.

Minnesota Book of Days; An Almance of State History

I've been meaning to write about this book for a while--and finally today's the day!

• When was F. Scott Fitzgerald born?
• When did Will Steger finish the Trans-Antarctic Expedition?
• When was Minnesota officially nicknamed "The Gopher State"?
• When did the Split Rock Lighthouse officially open?

These and many more events are part of Minnesota history.  This guide explores famous and not-so-famous aspects of our history in day-by-day entries.  Indexes for subject and year add to its usefulness as a research tool, and it should be in most secondary school libraries.