Honoring Bob Pratt through children’s publishing

With his lifelong friends and fellow Grand Marais natives, Gordon and Joyce Russell Lindquist, Bob spoke with Anne Brataas of Minnesota Children’s Press in April 2017 while gathered around the Lindquist’s kitchen table. We created what we called The Wisdom Project.

“We wanted to pass on local elders’ views and true tales of North Shore life, culture and values to the children who will create and tend its future, said Brataas.

Now that Minnesota Children’s Press is finally formed and certified as a tax-exempt public charity based in Grand Marais, it carries that kitchen-table conversation forward as its first project. “We will begin thanking and honoring Bob by writing, illustrating and publishing the story of Gordon’s Grand Marais childhood pets. “There was Silver, the abandoned blind fawn Gordon found and the family’s pet rabbit who adopted Silver. The book, Deer and Rabbit, will be authored and illustrated by children. Join us at the Cook County YMCA,” Brataas said.

“Work remotely if you can’t join in person on Thursdays.

Visit us in person on Thursdays at the Publishing Pop-up at the YMCA, or email anne@minnchildpress.org to learn about how to join us remotely from wherever you are in Cook County.”

As an entrepreneurial authoring club, Story Scouts aims to prepare kids with the portfolio and writing skills to thrive in 21st century digital communications. Remote working is a vital 21st Century skill set you need to learn and master! When you join Minnesota Children’s Press Story Scouts entrepreneurial authoring club this spring you get the full fun…including eligibility for the Lego Challenge Tree Fort Building Blast.

“We supply the Legos in our as-yet unbuilt Lego Lounge that is on our list of good things-to be, and coming soon to a North Shore childhood near you,” said Brataas.

Story Scouts is held Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Y for kid’s grade 2 through grades 8.

Minnesota Children’s Press is Grand Marais’ new nonprofit dedicated to helping children voice and amplify their messages for the world they will soon steward as adults.