Publisher's Note

Peter Jesperson at the Euphoric Recall launch with Mary Lucia. Photo credit: Dan Michener

With the snow flying and the holidays approaching, ’tis the season for a good read. Whether for yourself or as a gift, thousands of options await you online in the MNHS Shop, in person at the Minnesota History Center and at MNHS sites, and in bookstores nationwide. Read on to see which of our recent releases are just right for your occasion! 

Find something for every interest in our gift guide!

In Her Own Words

Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope, $29.95
Patty Wetterling with Joy Baker

It was a crime that captured the attention of the nation and forever changed the way parents raise their children. Most recently, it was the focus of a two-hour feature on ABC’s 20/20. In Dear Jacob, Patty Wetterling shares the inside story of the 27-year-long search for Jacob Wetterling—and its astonishing conclusion.

Coffee Table Worthy

Bring Warm Clothes: Letters and Photos from Minnesota’s Past, $29.95
Peg Meier

A best-selling classic returns! This beautiful coffee table worthy book features a new introduction. Bring Warm Clothes uses vintage photos, clippings, and letters compiled by a former reporter at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Peg Meier, to portray the history of the North Star State.

For the Music Lover

Euphoric Recall: A Half Century as a Music Fan, Producer, DJ, Record Executive, and Tastemaker, $29.95
Peter Jesperson

Record executive, producer, band manager, club DJ, booking advisor, record store manager—few people have had as deep an impact on the Twin Cities alternative and indie rock scene as Peter Jesperson. Jesperson cofounded Twin/Tone Records, which in the course of two decades released over 300 records, including by such groundbreaking artists as the Replacements, the Suburbs, Soul Asylum, Babes in Toyland, the Jayhawks, and many more.

Stunning Skyscapes

Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos, $19.95
Photography by Travis Novitsky, Text by Annette S. Lee

For millennia, humans have marveled at the night sky: the wonder of the aurora, the glory of the Milky Way, and the peace that comes with stargazing. In this remarkable book, photographs by Travis Novitsky, a member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, portray these marvels, while Native American astrophysicist Annette S. Lee discusses how Western science and Indigenous knowledge can work together to provide a deeper understanding of our place in the universe.

Visions of the North Shore

Following My Spirit Home: A Collection of Painting and Stories, $29.95
Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik

When Sam Zimmerman decided to rededicate his energy and focus to painting in the late 2010s, he found himself drawn to the stories of his family and Ojibwe community. Following My Spirit Home features more than 80 vibrant and colorful images accompanied by stories, mostly based on tales Zimmerman’s grandfather told him or from his own experiences in nature along the north shore of Lake Superior. Includes both English and Ojibwemowin.

Modern Minnesota Chronicles

The Essential Dear Dara: Writings on Local Characters and Memorable Places, $19.95
Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

For 25 years, six-time James Beard award winner for food writing Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl has been a fixture of Twin Cities life, telling the stories of our people, places, and (sometimes delicious) things. What do we see looking back at a quarter century of Dara? A place brimming with unforgettable Minnesotans—from libertarians at the gas station to Aquatennial Queens to artists working in the medium of dog hair. A place uniquely Twin Cities and Minnesotan.

Humor and Heart

Plums or Nuts: Ojibwe Stories of Anishinaabe Humor, $18.95
Larry Amik Smallwood and Michael Migizi Sullivan Sr.

This fully bilingual volume collects the best and funniest from renowned Ojibwe storyteller Larry Amik Smallwood, transcribed and translated into English by linguist Michael Migizi Sullivan Sr. Enjoy the wit and wisdom of a beloved elder in narratives of modern-day Anishinaabe life. Language learners and fans of humor can enhance their appreciation by pairing the text with recordings of Amik reading them in Ojibwemowin, available for free online at the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary. 

For Children of All Ages

Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama!, $17.95
Rose McGee, with illustrations by Christopheraaron Deanes

Marie and Landon bicker about many things, but on one topic they agree: their grandmother, "Mama," makes the best sweet potato pies. Marie and Landon love to help Mama bake pies to share. When the pies are finally ready, neighbors stop by for a slice and some comfort. Many folks look a little sad when they arrive. After they taste Mama's pies, they leave laughing and singing!

Nana and Abuela, $17.95
Monica Rojas, with illustrations by Emiko Rainbow

In Nana and Abuela, Monica Rojas recounts a story from her own childhood, while Emiko Rainbow's playful artistry brings it to life. This bilingual story about love and listening celebrates relationships and communication—and what young and old alike can learn from spending time with our favorite people.

The Great Get-Together, $17.95
Karlyn Coleman, with illustrations by Cori Doerrfeld

Carry summer with you all year long. Karlyn Coleman’s story leads new and old visitors through the attractions of the state fair, while Cori Doerrfeld’s lively illustrations capture the fun and fascination of a day spent there. All that’s missing is the stick!

Star Party, $17.95
Polly Carlson-Voiles, with illustrations by Consie Powell

With this children’s story of a young girl visiting her grandparents’ cabin in the woods, savor the beauty of stargazing in a tale infused with Polly Carlson-Voiles’s expertise in sky watching. Immerse yourself in the rich illustrations that capture the beauty of the dark skies far away from city lights. An author’s note highlights nocturnal creatures, constellations, and tips for observing the night sky.

Events

Twin Cities Metro

12/13/2023 6:00 PM, Travis Novitsky, Spirits Dancing, Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN

Greater Minnesota

12/15/2023 1:00-3:00 PM, Travis Novitsky, Spirits Dancing, Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, MN

National

1/17/2024 7:00 PM, Peter Jesperson, Euphoric Recall, Book Soup, Los Angeles, CA

In the Media

“Peter Jesperson chronicles 50 years in music,” Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Marvel at the night sky at Mill City Museum’s photography exhibit,” WCCO CBS News Minnesota

New in MNopedia

Willmar State Hospital

Originally structured as a small farm for the treatment of alcoholism, Willmar State Hospital expanded its client base and operations as conditions declined through the first half of the 20th century. Following reforms in the 1950s, it introduced innovative treatments for alcohol and drug dependency, the “open-door” model of psychiatric care, and the physical rehabilitation of disabled people.

See you next year!