Happy Book Birthday, Northwoods Lullaby by Mary Casanova!

I'm shouting out another book birthday, today, and screaming as loud as I can. Got to celebrate, right? This one has been on my radar for....oh my...over half a year? I've seen its cover peeking at me, asking me to pick it up, and begging to be read, but I had to wait until it hit the shelves. Oh, the pain of being a book reviewer! (Was that dramatic enough?)

Anyway, today's read comes out of the press at the University of Minnesota, and the books I've seen from there have always touched a chord with my love for nature. This book shouldn't be any different. Plus, I've had this one on my pile for a reason...it should be amazing. 

Let's open it up and see if it's been worth the wait.

NORTHWOODS LULLABY

by Mary Casanova

Illustrated by Jordan Sundberg

University of Minnesota Press

Board Book

32 pages

ages 0 to 8

A springtime stroll transforms into a heartwarming bedtime lullaby

It’s time to sing a lullaby, and all through the northwoods, different wild animals join in. Come along as a child and their grown-up enjoy an evening hike. Loons drift by on the serene lake, a baby on papa’s back. On the banks nearby, swans hatch, and deer graze in the grass. Look, and you’ll find bear cubs climbing trees with mama, foxes and hares, and wolf pups playing in their den. Celebrating new life as spring unfurls, Northwoods Lullaby blossoms from a melody Mary Casanova began to hum while rocking her newborn grandbaby to sleep, a lullaby that can now be shared with generations to come.

Pairing Casanova’s signature lyrical writing with collage illustrations by Jordan Sundberg of Tin Cup Design, this bedtime story invites readers of all ages to explore the world of nature and discover the unexpected along the way. It’s time to sing a lullaby, a pine bough swaying lullaby, a lady’s slipper lullaby . . . a lullaby for you.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

The wonder of nature mixes with calmness and lovely scenes to invite into the world of dreams. 

From the very first page, this book sinks into nature's calming atmosphere and showcases an adult and child as they wander through the hills and forests. They spy bears, lakes, and more, always watching the life and world around them. As they progress on their journey, each moment is accompanied by a section of a lyrical lullaby to make this a lovely, bedtime read.

The illustrations are created in watercolor with a tissue paper like overlapping to give everything a gentle feel. Yet, each scene is brought across clearly and simply to fit the age group. Especially animal fans will enjoy the various, forest creatures as they make their appearance, one by one. The text flows right along. It swirls around various details of the life found in the forest, while sticking to wording which is very fitting to the intended age group. The phrases are short and flow smoothly to create a nice read-aloud. Plus, there's a sense of parent-child warmth to snuggle up with and offer security. 

Fans of nature, animals, and simply those, who enjoy discovering the world around them, are sure to enjoy this lovely, bedtime read.

And here they are...

Mary Casanova is author of dozens of books for young readers, including Hush Hush, Forest and Wake Up, Island, both also published by the University of Minnesota Press. She and her husband live in a tiny cabin near Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota.

Jordan Sundberg is an artist and illustrator based in Duluth, Minnesota, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and two bunnies. She is coauthor and illustrator of Fables of the North Shore.