Minnesota's Hidden Alphabet

Look at the natural world around you.  Can you find the letter A in a jumble of tree roots?, the letter I in a cattail?, or the letter O in a bird's nest?  Photographer, Joe Rossi traveled the state of Minnesota in search of all the letters of the alphabet, photographing scenes from Granite Falls to Chippewa National Forest, and from Bemidji to St. Paul.  Read this book to see what he found; and learn about the nature and plants/animals as they are described by David LaRochelle.  The illustrations and text make this much more than a simple alphabet book.  It could be a classroom resource for elementary art and science classes.

Hurray for Spring!

This simple story told in rhyming text is an imaginative introduction to Spring.  It will be fun to share with young and primary age children.  Written by Patricia Hubbell, and illustrated in large watercolor and pencil pictures by Minnesotan Taia Morley, it's a real expression of the joy of Spring! (and boy do we need it this year!!)

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

On the calendar, March is gone for this year--but it sure doesn't feel like it yet.  And more snow forecast for tomorrow---Come On! Mr. Weatherman!--it's April 18 already!
In this rhyming story, March storms into a boy's cozy home, leaving a trail of snow, sleet, hail, and muddy footprints.  The boy observes the lion's pouncing and growling, until he sneezes one day; and the lamb arrives with flowers, birds, baby animals, and Spring is finally here.  Written by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, this could be a classroom resource for weather and season units at the primary level.

And the Winners are....

Congratulations to Michael Hall (My Heart is Like a Zoo) and Pete Hautman (Blank Confession), winners of the Minnesota Book Award for 2011.  Well deserved!  They were reviewed here a couple weeks ago. 

Cutest Critter

Spring is the season of new life.  What is the cutest baby critter of the land? Maybe a sleepy bear cub? Or a fawn just learning to stand up? Each double page spread of this book features a different baby.  The pictures by Stan Tekiela are paired with a simple rhyming text by Marion Dane Bauer.  And who's the cutest?  I'm not giving it away--read the book.  This will be fun for parents to share with young children.

Heart of a Samurai

This is one of my favorites from the 2011 crop of award titles. This book tells the story of Manjiro Nakahama, a young Japanese fisherman in 1841 (before Japan opened to the West).  He and some companions were stranded on a remote island in a storm, and rescued by an American whaleboat.  They would be killed if they return to Japan, so Manjiro decided to join the American crew, was taken under the wing of the commander, William Whitfield, and was the first Japanese person to set foot on American soil.  By Japanese tradition, Manjiro was destined to be no more than a humble fisherman, but when his 10-year saga ended, he had become much more--in some respects becoming a samurai--a dream of his youth.  Written by Margi Preus, this was a Newbery honor book in 2011.

Chasing Alliecat

Dumped with relatives in a small Minnesota town (a Mankato suburb) for the summer, Sadie is relying on her mountain bike to save her from total boredom.  Then she meets Allie, a spiky-haired mountain biker who is training for an important off-road race.  Allie leads Sadie and Joe (a cute fellow cyclist) up and down Mount Kato as they train together.  The fun times come to an abrupt end when they find Father Malcolm, a local priest, badly injured and near death, in the woods.  After calling for help, Allie vanishes into thin air.  Sadie and Joe must piece together Allie's past and her connection to the priest.  There are plenty of scary moments, in life and in the bike races.  Don't miss this sports mystery from new Minnesota author Rebecca Fjelland Davis (who lives near Mankato, and rides a bike for recreation--so readers will feel that she knows what she writes about).

A Night on the Range

The cowboy life can be hard at times.  Despite that, a young boy named Cole has decided it is the life for him.  He sets up camp with his trusty dog companion in the backyard one night.  Life is great under the stars until the crickets, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and other bandits or varmits visit the camp and create havoc.  Will Cole be brave enough to survive this great camping adventure? Written by Aaron Frisch, illustrated by Chris Sheban, this is a finalist for the 2011 Minnesota Book Award.

My Heart is Like a Zoo

This bright colorful picture book introduces young readers to 20 animals, which have been created from heart-shaped paper.  It also describes in rhyming text, how someone's emotions, especially love, can be different things at different times. For example: eager as a beaver, steady as a yak, etc. This is a first book for graphic designer Michael Hall, and it is a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2011.  Share this bright, wonderful book with your favorite preschooler.

Blank Confession

Shane Blank walks into the police station and confesses to having killed someone.  He's the new kid in town, and already in a lot of trouble.  The other kids don't understand him. He's not afraid of anything (or anybody).  But, when he walks into the police station to confess to murder, it's apparent that there is more to Shane's story than what he is saying.  Detective Rawls will need to be very patient, and a good listener to get to the bottom of this case.  Don't miss this latest mystery yarn by Pete Hautman.  It is a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2011.