In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

This week we’re investigating all the cool things you can do in your backyard: relax! raise chickens! plant a garden! design a lovely outdoor living space with a patio table to catch all the winter snow!

Backyard Chickens: A Practical Handbook to Raising Chickens by Claire Woods
“The Backyard Chicken Handbook is an authoritative guide, from a fourth-generation chicken keeper, bringing simple yet practical knowledge which covers all aspects of raising healthy and happy chickens.
The handbook is suited to both first time keepers and veterans by providing varying degrees of detail to keep both readers engaged.”

Backyard by Donald M. Silver
“An exciting journey of discovery is as near as your own backyard: a place alive with creepers and crawlers, lifters and leapers, singers, buzzers, climbers, builders, and recyclers.”

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
“Every day we find ourselves in gatherings, Priya Parker says in The Art of Gathering. If we can understand what makes these gatherings effective and memorable, then we can reframe and redirect them to benefit everyone, host and guest alike. The result is a book that’s both journey and guide, full of big ideas with real-world applications that will change the way you look at a business meeting, a parent-teacher conference, and a backyard barbecue.”

Backyard Bears: Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife by Amy Cherrix
“Part field science, part conservation science, Backyard Bears looks at black bears—and other animals around the globe—who are rapidly becoming our neighbors in urban and suburban areas.”

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

In CMLE’s territory of Central Minnesota, cows are everywhere! If you have students or patrons that want to include more cows in their book selections, here are some options!

Harvey: A Ranch Birthday by Michelle Weber
“Today is a special day on the ranch. Join Harvey the Hereford calf as he takes you on a journey through his very first day. Artist, Rancher, Author and Illustrator, Michelle Weber, paints the vibrant story and colors of her families ranch in this real life birthday story. “

Moo! by David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka (Illustrations)
“When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer’s car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country. Moooo! But a bump in the road brings this joy ride to a troublesome end. Moo-moo. . . Has Cow learned her lesson about living life in the fast lane? Moo? Pairing two talented creators who managed to tell a complete story with just one word—MOO—this imaginative picture book will have readers laughing one moment and on the edge of their seats the next, as it captures the highs and lows of a mischievous cow’s very exciting day.”

Daddy Played Music for the Cows by Maryann N. Weidt
“From chasing mourning doves across shafts of sunlight to swinging from a rope into a featherbed of hay to playing hide-and-seek between the cows, this is a book filled with the special pleasures of a country child.”

Turn Left at the Cow by Lisa Bullard
” Thirteen-year-old Trav has always wondered about his dead-before-he-was-born dad. But when he heads from California to his grandmother’s house in rural Minnesota, hoping to learn about his past, he gets more than he bargained for. “

A Field Guide to Cows: How to Identify and Appreciate America’s 52 Breeds by John Pukite
“Always informative, sometimes amazing, often amusing, A Field Guide to Cows features detailed descriptions of 52 cool cow breeds. 
Each breed description includes a tasteful illustration, invaluable information on the cow’s origin and history, and statistics on abundance and popularity. Learn about: the best milking cow, the smallest cow, the longest-horned cow, and many more cows.”

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

This week we take a look at some books by or about some of the very cool women that have called Minnesota home! Take a look:

Wanda Gág: A Life of Art and Stories by Karen Nelson Hoyle
“At the young age of just 15, Wanda Gág received her dying father’s last wish that she take up his dream of becoming a successful artist: “What papa couldn’t do, Wanda would have to finish.” Wanda assumed the role of head of the household and became the sole means of support for her sick mother and six siblings. Although times were tough, Wanda persevered and eventually became a celebrated artist and author living in New York City.”

No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women And Their Extraordinary Journey Across Antarctica by Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen
“Chronicles and celebrates the journey of two modern-day heroines who crossed Antarctic on foot. Though modern technology could not ensure rescue, website transmissions and satellite phone calls enabled more than 3 million school children from 65 countries to bear witness to Ann and Liv’s journey. In February 2001, former schoolteachers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen became the first women to cross the Antarctic continent on foot.” 

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
“Sugar—the once-anonymous online columnist at The Rumpus, now revealed as Cheryl Strayed, author of the bestselling memoir Wild—is the person thousands turn to for advice. 
Tiny Beautiful Things brings the best of Dear Sugar in one place and includes never-before-published columns and a new introduction by Steve Almond.  Rich with humor, insight, compassion—and absolute honesty—this bookis a balm for everything life throws our way.”

Gratia Countryman: Her Life, Her Loves and Her Library by Jane Pejsa
“Sometimes called the “Jane Addams of libraries” Gratia Alta Countryman had an influential role in the Minneapolis Public Library, as well as libraries across the country.”
Read a review of this book in our series Read Across Minnesota!

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

This week library people from all over the state celebrated Minnesota Library Legislative Day by heading to St. Paul and meeting with legislators at the State Capitol.
So in order to help keep library advocacy fresh in your mind, our books this week all take place in St. Paul!

Our Minnesota State Capitol: From Groundbreaking Through Restoration by Denis Gardner
“The Minnesota State Capitol is both an architectural masterpiece and a revered public building. This beautiful Renaissance Revival structure is the heart of the state’s civic life, a place for celebrations, demonstrations, arguments, and accomplishments. It’s where history happens.”

Minnesota’s State Capitol: The Art and Politics of a Public Building by
Neil B. Thompson
“Tells the story of how private citizens, professional tradesmen, and public officials formed a coalition that got Minnesota’s statehouse designed and built. Drawing on extensive research, Neil B. Thompson relates how several governors, a decade of hard work, and four million dollars contributed toward creating this magnificent testament to the sovereignty of the state, opened to the public for the first time in January 1905.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the Capitol, the Minnesota Historical Society has this PDF which gives an overview of all the fine art in the building! The document has pictures, locations, and descriptions of the works of art.

The St. Paul Conspiracy by Roger Stellj
“The morning after Halloween the city of St. Paul awakens to find that a serial killer terrorizing the blue-collar working women of University Avenue has struck for the fifth time. The citizens of St. Paul are on edge.
The fans of John Sandford, David Baldacci and Vince Flynn will enjoy this fast-moving story of murder, greed, and treason, the cast of colorful characters, and its setting in and around historic St. Paul, Minnesota.”

A Grand Murder by Stacy Verdick Case
” A Grand Murder is the first book in the Catherine O’Brien mystery series. When a prominent local businessman and friend of the chief of police is murdered on the front steps of his posh Grand Avenue Hill home, Saint Paul homicide detective Catherine O’Brien a pithy, vertically challenged, St. Paul, Minnesota, homicide detective with a monstrous coffee habit and her partner Louise are given two days to find his killer. “