Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Loon Magic for Kids

This is one of those oldie-but-goodies. Published in 1989, this book will take young readers into the fascinating world of loons; and they will learn about nesting habits, migration, how they catch their prey, etc. With excellent close-up color pictures, this is a wonderful resource on the Minnesota state bird.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Our Journey

This is a board book that portrays two young Ojibwe children who live a traditional life. The simple text introduces the Ojibwe words "anin" (hello) and "miigwech" (thanks) to the east, west, north, south, sun, earth, and "the one who gave me my birth". Written by Lyz Jaakola, illustrated by Karen Savage-Blue, it was published by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in 2001.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Dance With Me

Published in 1995, this was one of the last books produced by Barbara Esbensen before she passed away. As with most of her books, the theme is nature. In this case, the poems depict how bubbles, flowers, shadows, the wind, and other items in nature dance as they go through a day. It is a delightful collection, and it won the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award in 1996, and was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1996.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Swing Around the Sun

This poetry collection by Barbara Esbensen was first published in 1965, and was a popular book in classrooms for many years. In 2003, a new edition was released with new illustrations by four Minnesota artists; Cheng-Khee Chee, Janice Lee Porter, Mary GrandPre, and Stephen Gammell. Now old and new readers of this collection of vibrant seasonal poems can enjoy them with bright new illustrations.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Echoes for the Eye: Poems to Celebrate Patterns in Nature

One of Barbara Esbensen's final books, this one focuses on patterns in nature. From spirals, to polygons, to circles, branches and meanders, there is a subject and a poem for every shape. Complimented with illustrations by Helen Davie, this will get readers thinking about shapes and patterns of all types.

Friday, April 25, 2008

When I Go Camping With Grandma

A grandmother and granddaughter enjoy a camping and canoeing trip together in this simple but elegant picture book by Marion Dane Bauer. The softly colored illustrations by Allen Garns make one start to think about summer. This was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1996.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Emmy is a rich, but very lonely little girl. Her parents are obsessed with the latest fads and spend most of their time on vacations to faraway places. Emmy is left at home with a horrible nanny Miss Barmy. The other kids in her class at school act like she doesn't exist. When Emmy starts to hear (and understand) the class's pet rat talking to her, an amazing and exciting series of events are set in motion. Written by Lynne Jonell, with artwork by Jonathan Bean, this would be a wonderful read aloud for upper elementary grades. It won the Minnesota Book Award in 2008.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Wolf Song

One evening at twilight, Nell and Uncle Walter go for a drive in the north woods. Nell wants to learn how to howl like a wolf. She and Uncle Walter carry on a short "howling" conversation with a wolf pack. Written by Mary Bevis with bright scratchboard illustrations by Consie Powell, this could supplement a unit on Minnesota animals. Endnotes in the back provide more information about wolves and their habits.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

What Teachers Can't Do

To go along with "What Dads..." and "What Moms Can't Do" (reviewed previously) now we add "What Teachers Can't Do". They can spell Mississippi, but not cat; they can twirl the jumprope, but they can't jump; and they have a hard time remembering what 2 + 2 equals. This humorous story by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Doug Cushman, will be enjoyed by young readers, and is also a fun gift for an aspiring elementary teacher.

Monday, April 21, 2008

The Secret of Saying Thanks

This is a quiet reflective story about the importance of showing gratitude and giving thanks. We have much to be thankful for: the stars, moon, lakes, rivers, cool shade on a hot day, family and other people that we love, among others. Written by Douglas Wood with illustrations by Greg Shed, this could be used as part of a values lesson, or even at Thanksgiving.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Northern Lights

This book describes the auroras, or northern lights, including information on their cause, characteristics, and historical background. With text by Minnesota's Jill Kalz, the book also features some excellent photos of the northern lights.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Loon Chase

In this story a boy and his mother are canoeing, with their dog Miles swimming along side. Everyone is having a good time until Miles spots a loon and two chicks in the distance and swims after them. The chase ends when the loon rises up, splashing water and flapping its wings to defend its young. End notes and an art activity complete the book. Although the author and illustrator (Jean Diehl and Kathryn Freeman) are from the East coast, the subject is very fitting for Minnesota readers.

Friday, April 18, 2008

To Be Like the Sun

Soon it will be time to plant flowers in the garden. In this simple picture book, a young girl plants some sunflower seeds, and watches them grow into a tall beautiful sunflower. When summer is ended, the seeds become feed for the birds, and in winter the girl reflects on how hard the seed worked 'to be like the sun'. Written by Minnesotan Susan Marie Swanson with illustrations by Margaret Chados-Irvine, this could be a nice supplement for a Spring seed or flower unit.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Strong to the Hoop

Ten year old James has watched from the sidelines many times as his older brother Nate plays pick-up basketball games. But one day a player gets injured and James is suddenly in the game. Vivid descriptions of the game by John Coy, paired with photo-collage illustrations by Leslie Jean-Bart make this a winner with reluctant readers. It has been selected for several notable book lists.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Out of the Ocean

Although we live a long way from the ocean, this book by Minnesotan Debra Frasier will have readers thinking about beachcombing on a warm ocean beach. An interesting array of treasures are found by the mother/daughter team in this story. A journal in back provides more information about the found items as well as plants and trees that are part of the illustrations. It will have you wishing you could run to a beach and start exploring.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

My Mother is Mine

This is a nice story for early childhood classrooms around Mother's Day. It includes a simple poem by Marion Dane Bauer and pastel illustrations by Peter Elwell, which show how mothers of all kinds take care of their young.

Monday, April 14, 2008

If Frogs Made Weather

In this poetry picture book, a young boy ponders the favorite kind of weather for ten animals (frogs, cats, turtles, geese, and more). Authored by Marion Dane Bauer with cut-paper illustrations by Dorothy Donohue to bring the story to life, it is a clever introduction to both animals and the weather.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Fiddler of the Northern Lights

The Pepin family live in the north woods, and young Henry has listened to and memorized many of his grandpa's stories. One is about the fiddler who makes the Northern Lights dance. Everyone says they are 'just stories', but one night Grandpa and Henry travel upriver in search of the fiddler and something strange and wonderful happens. Written by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, illustrated by Minnesotan Leslie Bowman, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1997.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Vroomaloom Zoom

In this story, Daddy takes his daughter Carmela on an imaginary car ride, lulling her to sleep with special sounds: from the urgle burgle of a swamp to cackle lackle of a farm and hip hop tippy top of a mountain. The word play comes from author John Coy, the primary color ilustrations are by Joe Cepeda; together they have created a fun bedtime story.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Kiss the Cow!

Mama Mae has a large family of children to feed, and she has a magic cow named Luella. Luella gives plenty of milk as long as Mama Mae says the magic words and kisses Luella on the nose. Annalisa, the most curious and stubborn of Mama Mae's children, decides to milk Luella one day. She says the magic words but refuses to kiss her. NO more milk! What will the family do now? Written by Phyllis Root with illustrations by Will Hillenbrand, this is a great read-aloud story.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Looking for a Moose

Four children set out through the woods to find a moose. When they don't find any, theo also look in a swamp, in the bushes, and up a rocky hillside. The rhyming text by Phyllis Root and sneaky moose hiding in Randy Cecil's illustrations, make this a nice hide-and-seek story for young children and early readers.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Farmer Cap

Life is a little different in Pfeffernut County, especially when you meet Farmer Cap. He doesn't wear overalls and a cap, or boots either. And he doesn't grow regular crops. He's tried growing spaghetti and popsicles, but he ran into problems. Readers will laugh out loud when they see what the problem is. Written by Minnesotan Jill Kalz, with illustrations by Sahin Erkocak, this book was a finalist for the 2008 Minnesota Book Award, and won the Reader's Choice Award at the award ceremony .

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Moose Tracks

Seth's stepfather is a game warden hunting for poachers in the north woods. While riding his horse one day, Seth comes face-to-face with the poachers and he witnesses them shooting a moose cow and wounding its calf. They warn Seth not to tell his father, but Seth desperately wants to save the calf. Can he succeed without further endangering his family? This gripping adventure story by Mary Casanova will have readers engrossed until the last page.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Love and Roast Chicken

A trickster tale from the Andes Mountains of South America, this is the story of a clever guinea pig who repeatedly outsmarts the fox that wants to eat him for dinner. Students might enjoy comparing this with Brer Rabbit stories. Written and illustrated by Barbara Knutson, it was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2005.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Eureka! Poems About Inventors

This book is a collection of 16 poems about the poeple who invented things that make our lives easier today. From ancient to modern, the discoveries featured here include paper, moveable type, automatic dishwashers, and velcro, among others. Written by Joyce Sidman, with illustrations by Bennett Chavez, it also includes brief endnotes to help readers learn more about each inventor and his/her discovery.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Our Visit to the Nature Center

In this bilingual book by Cheryl Dylan (English/Spanish), readers will follow a group of students on a visit to the Lowry Nature Center. Photos and text document their experiences as they hike, perform a pond study, play games, and explore nature.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Cowboy Sam and Those Confounded Secrets

Cowboy Sam holds all the towns secrets under his hat, until finally it won't old any more. What will the people do now? There are many suggestions, but none worked until Little Leroy suggested that Sam keep the secrets in his heart. Written by Kathy Griffin and Kathy Combs, with Texas-size illustrations by Minnesota's Mike Wohnoutka, this is a rollicking adventure for early readers.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Our Big Home; An Earth Poem

This poem-picture book describes the water, air, soil, sky, sun, wind, rain, and more, that are shared by all living creatures on Earth. Written by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Elisa Kleven, this could be used with young children to help them understand the importance of caring for the environment.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Nightlight

In this story, two young bears Aurora Mae and Borealis Burl awaken at night to discover the northern lights lighting up the sky. A collaborative book by Jeannine Anderson, Nikki Johnson and Joy Dey, this captures the magic of a summer night in the woods. It includes endnotes about fireflies and the northern lights.