The Minnesota Historical Society Press is offering North Woods Girl, a children’s picture book, for ages 3 to 7. It is authored by Aimee Bissonette, and beautifully illustrated by Claudia McGehee.
Almost everyone has had a loving grandparent or an elderly family member, whom they loved so much and wanted to grow up to be just like. The author has written from the perspective of a little girl, who goes often to visit her grandma, who lives simply and uncomplicatedly in a little house in the woods.
Grandma is not the usual grandmother. She’s bony, doesn’t make cookies or pies, wears her late husband’s old shirts, pants and boots, carries a walking stick, and also says she’s not “a good looking woman.” The little girl thinks her grandmother looks pretty good to her.
They spend their time taking hikes along little trails in the woods. As they walk through grandma’s woods, they listen to the birds, watch the squirrels, sit on a log that her grandpa had set out for them by a small pond, skip rocks, listen to the frogs, watch the ducks and at times enjoy seeing small wild animals. Special times for both.
Both the child being read to and the one reading this lovely book and looking at its wonderful pictures will find it a very enjoyable together time. Check it out.
Author Aimee Bissonette is a writer, teacher and lawyer living in the Twin Cities. This is her first children’s book.
Writer, illustrator Claudia McGehee lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Her previous works include A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet and A Woodland Counting Book.
It may be purchased from the Minnesota Historical Society Press and at local independently owned bookstores.
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