Weird Minnesota

Minnesota is known for its lakes, Mississippi headwaters, famous people in politics, business, and mythology. But the state also has its share of weirdness--from UFOs over Duluth, to jackalopes and hodags, the SPAM museum, milk carton boat races, and super-sized statues of man and beast--there are enough strange and weird features around this state to fill a book--which is exactly what Eric Dregni has done. Great fun to browse....or read cover to cover.

Mudville

Welcome to Moundville, a mythical Minnesota town where it's been raining steadily for over 20 years. That's longer than Roy McGuire, the hero and narrator of this story, has been alive. One day Roy comes home to find his father has taken in a mysterious foster son named Sturgis. With Sturgis' arrival, things begin to change. The rain stops. The baseball field dries out. A new baseball team takes shape, with Sturgis as a very talented pitcher. Soon, Roy and the team are preparing to play Sinister Bend (the team they were playing when the rain started), and Sturgis makes a choice that no one can understand. This is a first book by Minnesota author Kurtis Scatetta; it is a very readable story for sports and mystery fans.

Loud Mouth George and the Sixth Grade Bully

It's the first day of school and George has run into a new problem, a big sixth grade bully who steals his lunch on the way to school--every day--for a week. Finally, his friend Harriet comes up with a plan to solve the problem. This is another tale in the popular series by Nancy Carlson. It could be the basis of a discussion of bullying with young children.

Loudmouth George Earns His Allowance

Loudmouth George, created by Nancy Carlson, is a favorite character for many young readers. In this story, summer vacation has started and his mother has assigned George one chore for each day of the week, but George has more interesting things to do instead. By week's end, George would like to go to a movie, but his mother says "no allowance until your chores are done!" George enlists his brothers to help do the chores, but they make such a mess that George has double the work, and then is too tired for a movie! This is a fun story, with a gentle lesson tucked in along the way.

My Day

Young readers can follow Sam through his day; from waking up, getting dressed, breakfast, school, playing with a friend, supper, homework and bedtime. A clock on each page will help readers learn to tell time. Written by Lisa Bullard, with digital illustrations by Brandon Reibeling, this is part of the "All About Me" series by Picture Window Books.

Stop This War: American Protest of the Conflict in Vietnam

Written by Margot Fortunato Galt, and part of Lerner's People's History series, this book tells the story of protest against the Vietnam War. Several people from Minnesota are featured in the narrative. For those of us of a 'certain age', this is a very readable summary of our college years. For young readers, it will be a good resource for studying the Vietnam War era.

Worlds Apart

It is 1959 and 13 year old Winnie's family suddenly moves from (to her) a wonderful life in Chicago to a small town in Minnesota. To make matters worse, her father has taken a position as a doctor at a state hospital, and the family lives in a cottage on the hospital grounds. This makes Winnie the subject of bullying and ridicule at school. All she wants is to return to Chicago and her friends there. As several small mysteries are resolved, Winnie learns to see things and people in a new light. Written by Lindsay Lee Johnson, this book touches on some sensitive issues, and could be a basis for a discussion on how to treat others.