M Is For Minnesota [Hardcover]

Dori Hillestad Butler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Illustrated entries for each letter of the alphabet present information about the history, geography, natural resources, and important sights of Minnesota.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6-Butler offers lots of information about Minnesota in an alphabetical arrangement from "Agriculture" to "Zoo." Each letter provides an opportunity to cover another aspect of the state. The author incorporates a fair amount of history and a smattering of geography and ecology among her host of topics. The text supplies plenty of tidbits as starting points for school reports, but it is hard to imagine anyone but the most dedicated Minnesota buff reading the book for enjoyment. The prose is dry and Porter's illustrations are attractive but static. Minnesota libraries definitely will want copies. Those elsewhere can weigh their proximity to the "Gopher State" and the demands on their collection for state-report material as they consider purchase.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5. Learn all about Minnesota, from A to Z, in this fact-packed picture book from the author of W Is for Wisconsin (1998). Each page is devoted to a letter, with accompanying text describing the things that make the Gopher State great: its cities, natural resources, historical events, lore, animals, and people. Did you know that Charles Lindbergh grew up in Little Falls? Or that the first successful open-heart surgery was performed at the University of Minnesota? Porter's atmospheric images perfectly capture the northern landscape and its inhabitants, and the text is sure to fill young readers with state pride, though it is doubtful that the appeal of the subject goes beyond the region. Kathleen Squires

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816630410
• ISBN-13: 978-0816630417
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dori Hillestad Butler has always wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel when she was in sixth grade. She wrote it to find out if she could write a novel, and because she needed extra credit in her English class. Her dream of becoming a published author came true in 1997, with the publication of The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off. She's gone on to publish more than 35 additional books for children.

Her books have been appeared on children's choice award lists in 18 different states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children's Choice Award in 2007. And The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for best Juvenile Mystery.

Dori has also been a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club and Boxcar Children series, and a children's book reviewer for several publications. She's published numerous short stories, plays and educational materials, and has served as the Iowa Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Regional Advisor.

She grew up in southern Minnesota and now lives in Coralville, Iowa with her husband, son, dog and cat. She visits schools and leads writing workshops all over the country.

For more information, visit her website at www.kidswriter.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minnesota is a great place..., July 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: M Is For Minnesota (Hardcover)

...to live or to visit. The artwork and accompanying paragraphsclearly define what Minnesota is all about. Written for young people,it's a great gift for grownups as well. No wonder it's popular at da U.

2.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps a Bit out of date., June 25, 2011

By 

N. Swanson "Ickysgirl70" (MN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M Is For Minnesota (Hardcover)

I picked this book up to flip through while visiting the gift shop of an Iron Ore mine in MN this past week. ""I" is for ironrange" is not altogether accurate. It states that the Rust Hull open pit site in Hibbing was once the largest open pit in the world, measuring 2 miles X 3 miles in size, but is now filled in by water and is no longer active. Not so. I was at the very active Rust Hull site that very morning and watched the monster dumper trucks, carrying up to 250 tons each of rock, roll past my lookout point every 30-45 seconds. Part of the mine IS filled in with water, but according to my nephew, who lives in Hibbing just a few blocks from this site, and works for MinnTac, another mining company, he tells me it is still the world's largest, measuring 3 miles X by 5 miles in size.

I'm not sure about the other information in this book, but if this page is not accurate, I certainly wouldn't trust it to base a school history project on any of it's pages.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on Minnesota, April 30, 2011

By 

Melanie "mongoliamel" (Cass Lake, MN, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M Is For Minnesota (Kindle Edition)

My 9-year-old daughter and I really enjoyed reading this in preparation for our move to Minnesota. I would not, however, recommend buying it for your Kindle as the beautiful, bright artwork loses something in black and white.