The Perfect Nest

Jack the cat is building the perfect nest. He plans to attract the perfect chicken who will lay the perfect egg, which will make the perfect omelet. (Jack is really hungry for a good omelet.) When the nest is finished, Jack is in for a surprise that he didn't expect and the story has a pleasant surprise ending. Written by Minnesotan Catherine Friend, illustrated by John Manders, this is a 2008 finalist for the Minnesota Book Award.

Boozhoo; Come Play With Us

This simple board book uses words and pictures to introduce young children to 13 words in the Ojibwe language. Produced by the Fond du Lac Head Start program and intended for use in childcare centers, it could also be used to supplement a unit on basic words in other languages at the elementary level.

Why Do Kittens Purr?

Here is another simple rhyming story by Marion Dane Bauer. In this case, the poem tells the reader why kittens, puppies, bears, frogs, kangaroos, and other animals behave the way they do. With clever illustrations by Henry Cole, this book takes a child's-eye view of the world.

Storm Codes

It is almost the end of the shipping season at the Duluth-Superior harbor. Katy and her mother are anxiously awaiting the return of their father and husband, an ore boat captain on the Great Lakes. To make matters worse, a November rain and ice storm is blowing outside. The next day they go down to the Canal by the Lift Bridge to watch and wait for his ship. After long hours, the ice encrusted boat finally arrives. Written and illustrated by Minnesotans Tracy Nelson Maurer and Christina Rodriquez, the book also includes background information on the taconite industry and Great Lakes shipping. It is a nice tribute to people who work aboard ships on the Great Lakes.

The Long Way Westward

In this story, early readers will follow the route of a Swedish immigrant family as they traveled from New York City to Anoka, Minnesota in the 1800's. The trip is not easy as they don't understand the English language, and also encounter other problems and challenges. Written by Joan Sandin, the book explores the immigrant experience for beginning readers.

Grandmother Winter

All through the spring, summer and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her white geese and gathers their feathers. Why? Because when winter comes, she will shake her feather quilt, bring snowflakes to the landscape and sending the animals to their winter homes to rest for a while. Written by Minnesota's Phyllis Root with scratchboard illustrations by Beth Krommes, this is a lovely story about the winter season. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2000.

Silver Seeds

Written by Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer, illustrated by Minnesotans Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, this is a collection of brief acrostic poems that introduce children to features of nature including shadows, trees, insects, clouds, sun, moon, rain, etc. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2002.