Aunt Nancy and the Bothersome Visitors

Collected in one volume are four trickster tales by Phyllis Root with illustrations by David Parkins. 1) Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble, previously published in 1996 and winner of the Minnesota Book Award in 1997. 2) Aunt Nancy and Cousin Lazybones, previously published in 1996, and two new stories, 3) Aunt Nancy and Old Woeful, and 4) Aunt Nancy and Mr. Death. All of the unwanted visitors to Aunt Nancy's house try her patience completely; but somehow she manages to outsmart every one of her guests.

You're a Bear

This is a delightful story told in rhyming text, about a little girl who entertains herself before bedtime by pretending to be a bear. Under a furry coat, she prowls through the house; hunting for food, fishing in the bathtub, and finally drifting off to sleep holding her stuffed bear. The story is by Mavis Jukes, but the illustrations by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher make it really special. Each left page features a real bear, and each right page shows the girl imitating bear movements. It's ver imaginative.

In Search of Mockingbird

Erin's favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, her father gives Erin her long-dead mother's diary. She too loved this book. Erin has a variety of problems at home and school. Her father has announced his plans to remarry. Her brothers are obnoxious and she has only one close friend at school, but she enjoys writing. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, she decides to buy a bus ticket to Alabama, to find and meet Miss Lee, and to share her stories with Miss Lee. Written by Loretta Ellsworth, this might be a companion book for high school girls when they read ...Mockingbird.

Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks

Young Timothy Cox has decided he will not change his socks for a whole month. Despite the pleading of his parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, even the sheriff and fire department, Timothy stays true to his word; but the town may never be the same. Written by Robert Kinerk, with wonderful watercolor illustrations by Minnesota's Stephen Gammell, this is a fun rhyming story to share.

The Burger and the Hot Dog

Food is the subject of this collection of humorous poems by Jim Aylesworth. Young readers will find all their favorite foods rhymed here - burgers, hot dogs, cookies, several fruits, and ice cream, among others. The mixed media illustrations (including coffee) by Stephen Gammell add to the fun.

Knitting Nell

This is the story of Nell, a quiet girl who loves to knit. She knits all the time! She knits blankets, and socks and hats and scarves and mittens to give away to people in need. Eventually, she knits a beautiful sweater for herself, which she enters in the county fair. At the fair, Nell is honored in more ways than one. This is a good story to illustrate the importance of sharing and giving to others. It is a first picture book by Minnesotan Julie Jersild Roth.

Getting Used to the Dark

The first published collection of poems by Susan Marie Swanson, this book focuses on images of the night. Dreams, worries, wishes, spiders, flowers, deer, stars, and more - they're all here. Black and white illustrations by Peter Catalanotto add to the imagery. It might add to a storytelling session of scary stories.