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Superior Reviews |
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Books, Music and
Video Reviews
|
Books,
music
and
DVDs
reviewed
by Lake
Superior Magazine are not necessarily sold by LSM. Contact your local book seller
to find a copy for you. |
 Ojibwe
in
Minnesotaby Anton Treuer Minnesota Historical Society Press ISBN: 978-0-87351-768-3 $14.95 Softcover REVIEW |
 Niimiwin:
Everyone
Danceby Leah Savage, photos by Nikki Willgohs & Jill Pertler Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa ISBN: 978-0-9820870-6-0 $7.95 Board book (www.fdlrez.com, under Head Start) REVIEW |
 Manoomin:
A
Wild
Rice
Adventurewritten & illustrated by Joshua M. Whitebird Whitebird Books ISBN: 978-0-9825503-0-4 $19.95 Hardcover (www.whitebirdbooks.com) REVIEW |
 Paddle
Your
Own KayakAn Illustrated Guide to the Art of Kayaking by Gary & Joanie McGuffin Firefly Books ISBN: 978-1-55046-464-1 $34.95 Hardcover REVIEW |
 The
Great
Minnesota Fish Bookby Tom Dickson illustrated by Joseph R. Tomelleri University of Minnesota Press $34.95 hardcover REVIEW |
 Woodworking
for
Wildlife:Homes for Birds and Animals by Carrol L. Henderson Minnesota Department of Natural Resources $16.95 softcover REVIEW |
 50
Hikes
in Michigan’s Upper Peninsulaby Thomas Funke The Countryman Press $17.95 softcover REVIEW |
Ojibwe in Minnesota
Anton Treuer, a professor at Bemidji State University, is one of the go-to experts on Ojibway language. In this newly released and slender volume, he also proves himself to be the man to seek out for Ojibway history in Minnesota.
His review of the past does not shy from the painful as well as those things to be celebrated. And as a tribal member, he brings a perspective to Native American history often neglected.
Anton Treuer, a professor at Bemidji State University, is one of the go-to experts on Ojibway language. In this newly released and slender volume, he also proves himself to be the man to seek out for Ojibway history in Minnesota.
His review of the past does not shy from the painful as well as those things to be celebrated. And as a tribal member, he brings a perspective to Native American history often neglected.
- Konnie
LeMay
↑Top
Niimiwin: Everyone Dance
The peoples of this region include many ethnic origins and we frequently celebrate our cultures with events. But perhaps one of the most welcoming and intriguing celebrations of culture is the pow wows that abound - at least once a year in almost every Ojibway community. Because many non-Indians are timid about attending pow wows, this wonderful children’s board book is a terrific way to introduce local youngsters and their parents to these celebrations where you frequently hear “Niimiwin - Everybody dance.”
The charm of this book is the simple language, which includes introduction to Ojibway words, and the stories from very small children as they prepare for the pow wow.
This is published through the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Head Start in Cloquet, Minnesota (which also did board books Our Journey and Boozhoo), and explains what to expect and what one will see at a pow wow. Once you read the book, plan to go with your children to a local pow wow this year. You might even try dancing when the floor is opened for it.
Manoomin: A Wild Rice Adventure
I must admit, I wish this was one of the books available when I was taking Ojibway language classes. It’s witty, fun to read and with winning illustrations and characters. It also comes with a CD with a workbook that you can do on the computer.
Ojibwemowin - the Ojibway language - is one of the most eloquent and difficult languages to learn. This book comfortably brings in words and cultural keys as young Miika and Mino learn wild ricing from tobacco offering through harvest to cooking.
Joshua Whitebird, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (or Ojibway). incorporates stories about ricing, cooking tips and traditions. He’s working on the possibility of having the characters used in an animated cartoon for network release.
Paddle Your Own Kayak
Gary and Joanie McGuffin are Canadian icons of paddle power, having traveled across the country, east to west, and more amazingly north to south, frequently in a kayak or a canoe. They’ve done eight books, including Paddle Your Own Canoe (see www.garyandjoaniemcguffin.com).
The quality of writing, the gorgeous photography along with brilliant, easily followed how-to graphics makes this new book fun to browse even if you have no intention of kayaking.
For those just starting out in the adventure of kayaking, this book is a master stroke. It covers every conceivable question, from styles of paddles and kayaks to proper safety gear, paddling methods, rolling and recovery techniques. Sprinkled throughout are the tips from these two experts who can anticipate the foibles and questions of newcomers.
I’d suggest you get this before you even put a paddle in water.
The Great Minnesota Fish Book
A recent book that focuses on fish becomes almost an art book thanks to illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri. The Great Minnesota Fish Book would make a beautiful coffee table book, especially for a cabin’s coffee table. The text is informative with nice details about where these species hang out, where their names came from, as well as state and world size records. There are sections for game fish, rough fish and, a personal favorite, little known fish. The northern hogucker, by the way, is cuter than you might think … at least as Joseph draws it.
Woodworking for Wildlife
For those handy with tools who also like to attract wildlife to their back yard, Woodworking for Wildlife: Homes for Birds and Animals offers how-to graphics and instructions along with information about the critters you might attract. Using this book, you can build homes for birds, toads, bats and squirrels (perhaps in the hopes that they won’t just use parts of your house).
50 Hikes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
This book has a nice at-a-glance chart outlining highlights of the 50 hikes (although the quick reference locations might be confusing if you don’t know the “Land of Hiawatha” from the “Iron Range.”) The chart and text does mark family friendly and wheelchair accessible trails, and other important information. This is a wonderful guide with solid trail tips from Thomas, who is director of conservation for the Michigan Audubon Society.
Niimiwin: Everyone Dance
The peoples of this region include many ethnic origins and we frequently celebrate our cultures with events. But perhaps one of the most welcoming and intriguing celebrations of culture is the pow wows that abound - at least once a year in almost every Ojibway community. Because many non-Indians are timid about attending pow wows, this wonderful children’s board book is a terrific way to introduce local youngsters and their parents to these celebrations where you frequently hear “Niimiwin - Everybody dance.”
The charm of this book is the simple language, which includes introduction to Ojibway words, and the stories from very small children as they prepare for the pow wow.
This is published through the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Head Start in Cloquet, Minnesota (which also did board books Our Journey and Boozhoo), and explains what to expect and what one will see at a pow wow. Once you read the book, plan to go with your children to a local pow wow this year. You might even try dancing when the floor is opened for it.
-
Konnie LeMay
↑TopManoomin: A Wild Rice Adventure
I must admit, I wish this was one of the books available when I was taking Ojibway language classes. It’s witty, fun to read and with winning illustrations and characters. It also comes with a CD with a workbook that you can do on the computer.
Ojibwemowin - the Ojibway language - is one of the most eloquent and difficult languages to learn. This book comfortably brings in words and cultural keys as young Miika and Mino learn wild ricing from tobacco offering through harvest to cooking.
Joshua Whitebird, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (or Ojibway). incorporates stories about ricing, cooking tips and traditions. He’s working on the possibility of having the characters used in an animated cartoon for network release.
- Konnie LeMay
↑TopPaddle Your Own Kayak
Gary and Joanie McGuffin are Canadian icons of paddle power, having traveled across the country, east to west, and more amazingly north to south, frequently in a kayak or a canoe. They’ve done eight books, including Paddle Your Own Canoe (see www.garyandjoaniemcguffin.com).
The quality of writing, the gorgeous photography along with brilliant, easily followed how-to graphics makes this new book fun to browse even if you have no intention of kayaking.
For those just starting out in the adventure of kayaking, this book is a master stroke. It covers every conceivable question, from styles of paddles and kayaks to proper safety gear, paddling methods, rolling and recovery techniques. Sprinkled throughout are the tips from these two experts who can anticipate the foibles and questions of newcomers.
I’d suggest you get this before you even put a paddle in water.
-
Konnie LeMay
↑TopThe Great Minnesota Fish Book
A recent book that focuses on fish becomes almost an art book thanks to illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri. The Great Minnesota Fish Book would make a beautiful coffee table book, especially for a cabin’s coffee table. The text is informative with nice details about where these species hang out, where their names came from, as well as state and world size records. There are sections for game fish, rough fish and, a personal favorite, little known fish. The northern hogucker, by the way, is cuter than you might think … at least as Joseph draws it.
-
Konnie LeMay
↑TopWoodworking for Wildlife
For those handy with tools who also like to attract wildlife to their back yard, Woodworking for Wildlife: Homes for Birds and Animals offers how-to graphics and instructions along with information about the critters you might attract. Using this book, you can build homes for birds, toads, bats and squirrels (perhaps in the hopes that they won’t just use parts of your house).
-
Konnie LeMay
↑Top50 Hikes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
This book has a nice at-a-glance chart outlining highlights of the 50 hikes (although the quick reference locations might be confusing if you don’t know the “Land of Hiawatha” from the “Iron Range.”) The chart and text does mark family friendly and wheelchair accessible trails, and other important information. This is a wonderful guide with solid trail tips from Thomas, who is director of conservation for the Michigan Audubon Society.
-
Konnie LeMay
↑Top
