What's that noise?

It's bedtime, and mom and dad have tucked Ben and Alex into bed. But then the night noises start, and Ben is really scared. He wants Alex to come sleep in his bed, and sing him a song. Alex is himself, afraid of the cold floor and the monster that might grab his feet. This is a fun bedtime story to keep the scarry noises away. Co-authored by Michelle Edwards and Phyllis Root, with illustrations by Paul Meisel, it could become a family favorite.

Snapshot: America Discovers the Camera

Photography has been a popular hobby for many years. This book will entertain readers with the history of camera and photography in Europe and the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. It also shows how photography has been used to bring social problems such as crime, child labor, and historical events into the consciousness of average people. Written by Kenneth Czech, it won the Minnesota Book Award for children's nonfiction in 1997.

Chasing Tail Lights

Christy is a high school senior in Flint, Michigan, who likes to spend her time sitting on a bridge over the freeway, getting high on pot, and "chasing tail lights". As she watches the cars pass below, she imagines they will take her to a better place, away from the crime, dispair, and the dysfunctional family that she is part of. The personal and social problems are thick here - from self-esteem to drugs and drinking to sexual abuse and incest; it is a challenging story for young adults. Written by Minnesota's Patrick Jones, it was a finalist for the 2008 Minnesota Book Award.

Billie Standish Was Here

Set in a small Missouri town in the 1960's, this novel explores the friendship between eleven year old Billie and her elderly neighbor, Miss Lydia. Billy is the victim of a heinous crime, and has uninvolved parents. Miss Lydia helps Billie deal with life issues, and also teaches her many valuable life skills. Overall, it is a well-written coming of age story for girls of all ages. A first novel by Minnesotan Nancy Crocker, it was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2008.

Bonaparte

Bonaparte is very sad and distraught. His boy, Jean Claude, has been sent away to La School d'Excellence. The first rule there is "No Dogs Allowed". But Bonaparte is very determined to see his best friend again, so he follows him to Paris and tries several disguises to get past the school authorities. Eventually they realize that Jean Claude is missing and now Bonaparte's skill as a tracker are in demand. Written by Marsha Wilson Chall, with wonderfully detailed illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin, this was nominated for the Minnesota Book Award in 2001.

Stolen Dreams: Portraits of Working Children

The problem of child labor has been occuring throughout history, and continues today. This book uses text and photographs to document the lives of children forced to work in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and other countries. It includes a chapter on Iqbal Masih, the child labor activist fromPakistan who was killed at the age of 13 in 1995. Written by David Parker, Lee Engfer, and Robert Conrow, with photos by David Parker, this won the Minnesota Book Award for Children's Nonfiction in 1998.

Fawn Braun's Big City Blues

Part of the Pfeffernut County series from Picture Window Books, this is the story of Fawn Braun, a young girl anxious to leave her small town, and move to the exciting big city. Although she pretends she is already there, things just don't work right until her friend Larry Flatland finds a way to help her enjoy small town life. Written by Nick Healy, with illustrations by Sahin Erkocak, this is a pleasant story about friendship and finding happiness wherever you are (with a little humor mixed in for good measure).

A Beekeeper's Year

Readers will follow beekeeper John Wetzler as he cares for his behives through a year. The book shows how he introduces a new queen into a hive, tends the hives during the honey-producing summer months, extracts and bottles honey in the fall, and keeps the hives warm in winter. Written by Sylvia Johnson, with photographs by Nick Von Ohlen, this will help readers understand how honey is made, and how bees are important to the environment. Although the book is a few years old, it may help readers understand the importance of bees to our environment, when we read and hear about all the bee colonies that are dying mysteriously. The book was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1995.

Ten Sleepy Sheep

(Sorry, been away for a few days.)

A lullaby and counting book, this is the story of 10 little lambs who would rather play than sleep. But the sun is sinking, the stars are twinkling, and their sleepy eyes just won't stay open any longer. Written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Susan Gaber, it is a gentle bedtime story, that parents can easily relate to.

This Little Piggy

This is a collection of lap-sit songs, fingerplays, clapping games, and pantomine rhymes to use with infants and young children. The collection was compiled by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand, and has a musical arrangement on CD by Minnesotan, Adam Stemple. Directions are included for each activity - very helpful for the unfamiliar ones.

The Quiltmaker's Gift

A kind seamstress makes beautiful quilts and gives them away to the poor and needy. When the greedy king hears about these lovely things, he demands that she sell him one. She refuses, but says she will make and give him one if he gives away all of his possessions. At first stubborn, the king eventually gives in, and is rewarded with a beautiful quilt. While the story is heartwarming, it is the illustrations by Minnesotan Gail de Marcken that bring this story to life. The colors are vibrant and include numerous quilt pattern samples. Although some pages have a busy appearance, overall it is visually fascinating. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2000, and could be used either in a unit about values, or about quiltmaking.

Dear Big, Mean, Ugly Monster

This is a wonderful story for any child who is afraid of the dark. Joe is afraid of the monster that lives under his bed at night. Nothing works to scare the monster away, not Monster Spray, or a flashlight, or anything. Finally, Joe decides to write the monster a note, telling him exactly how he feels. The next day when Joe wakes up, the monster has written a reply. Now what should Joe do? Written by Ruth Marke Berglin, illustrated by Carl DiRocco, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2006.

Grandad's Prayers of the Earth

The storyline of this picture book - a grandfather uses a walk in the woods to explain prayer to his grandson - offers important lessons about the reasons and ways to pray. The grandson's understanding of the lessons only becomes clear years later after his grandfather has passed away, and he is again walking through the woods. The watercolor illustrations by P. J. Lynch add depth of meaning to this thought-provoking story by Douglas Wood. Although it is a picture book, the message can be appreciated by all ages.

A Quiet Place

We all need a quiet place once in a while - somewhere away from the noise and bustle of daily life. In this gentle story, Douglas Wood uses poetry to explore what it is like to find that special quiet place. Painted in oils, the illustrations by Dan Andreasen add to the gentle mood of this story.

An Elm Tree and Three Sisters

Growing up on a farm in the midwest, Mary, Mabel, and Molly can see all the way to the flat horizon in every direction. "This place needs a tree", they decide. They find an small elm sapling, bring it home, and plant it. As the sisters grow up and grow old, the tree grows with them. Finally the tree becomes diseased and must be cut down, but three new sisters (great granddaughters of the first three) are there to plant a new tree, and the cycle can begin again. Written by Norma Sommerdorf, and illustrated by Erika Weihs, this book aptly illustrates the cycle of life.

Rabbit and the Moon

Rabbit has always wanted to visit the moon, but he can't jump high enough to get there, and none of his flying friends are willing to help him. Finally, Crane offers to help. With Rabbit clutching his legs, Crane carries him to the moon. As a result of his kindness, Crane is changed in ways that are still evident today. This adaptation of a Cree legend by Douglas Wood, celebrates nature, friendship and the pursuit of dreams. The realistic watercolor illustrations by Leslie Baker and warmth to the story.

Rash

In 2076 in the United Safer States of America, verbal abuse, obesity, and other dangerous activities including sports are against the law. The penalty for breaking any of the laws is a lengthy prison term, and 24% of the population is incarcerated and responsible for doing much of the country's manual labor--without pay. For Bo Marsten, 16, the punishment for allegedly spreading a rash through school is a prison sentence, which is suspended, but then he goes to jail for lack of self-control after he hits a classmate. His prison is located in the far north of Canada, near Churchill, and he spends his time working on a pizza assembly line (and playing on an illegal football team). This story has several elements: satire, sports story, science fiction, and an adventure story all wrapped into one. Written by Pete Hautman, it was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2007.

Remember That

Friday evenings are special because it is the time that a young girl and her grandmother can spend together. Grandmother teaches her several important life lessons, concluding with the phrase, "remember that". As she ages, grandmother moves from her apartment, to the girl's home, and eventually to a nursing home, but the lessons continue. Written by Leslea Newman, with illustrations by Minnesota's Karen Ritz, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1997.

Rupa Raises the Sun

Every morning, it's the same old routine. Rupa walks around her campfire, the sun rises, her rooster crows, and the day begins. However, Rupa has done 21,954 sunups in a row, and now she needs a break, AND she has a big blister on her toe. Surely the village elders will understand and get a substitute for a few days. They try but none are successful, but they agree that Rupa can sleep late for a few days. Imagine the surprised people, including Rupa, when the sun rises all by itself. Written by Marsha Wilson Chall, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger, this was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 1999.

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof

When an American child loses a tooth, he puts it under his pillow at night and the Tooth Fairy brings him money for it while he sleeps. This book introduces readers to other lost tooth traditions from around the world. Written by Minnesotan Selby Beeler, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, it could be used as a teacher resource for helping children at that age when their baby teeth fall out, or for a health unit on teeth.

Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck

A little duck arroves at her pond a little too early in the Spring. The pond is still frozen. But as she thinks of Spring and warmer weather, soon it arrives along with other ducks to share her pond. Written by Lisa Westberg Peters; illustrated by Sam Williams, it could be part of a Spring season unit for young children.