New Releases by Kathy-Jo Wargin

The fantastic Legend team of Kathy-jo Wargin and Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen have another beautiful book to add to the Sleeping Bear and Mackinac Island stories. A Grandmother's love for her grandchildren is magically portrayed in "The Legend of the Loon". A perfect addition to your collection, this book remains true to the heartwarming qualities you've come to expect from these legendary storytellers.

Like most boys growing up in Michigan in the early 1900s, George Gipp enjoyed playing sports. But even as a small boy, his athletic skills set him apart from the others. When he is awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, his future seems set. An afternoon's horseplay with a football, however, brings George to the attention of assistant football coach Knute Rockne, and Notre Dame football is transformed forever. Setting records and winning fans' hearts, George seems unstoppable -- until cruel fate intervenes. Now, for every young reader who has ever wondered about the phrase "Win one for the Gipper," comes the inspiring story of the legendary George Gipp.Kathy-jo Wargin has written such bestselling titles as The Legend of Sleeping Bear, The Legend of the Loon, and The Edmund Fitzgerald: Song of the Bell. She is a faculty member of the Bear River Writers Workshop, sponsored by the University of Michigan. She lives with her family in Petoskey, Michigan. Bruce Langton's unmistakable style and unique ability to capture not only sporting and wildlife scenes, but also contemporary landscapes has won him numerous awards including the 1998 Featured Artist for the Northern Wildlife Art Expo. Win One for the Gipper is Bruce's seventh book with Sleeping Bear Press. He lives with his family in Granger, Indiana.

It started with a mother's love... Fleeing from a forest fire, a mother bear urges her two cubs into the watery shelter of a vast body of water. Though it will be difficult, she knows if they can swim across to the opposite shore, they will be safe. With calls of encouragement and steadfast love, Mother Bear guides her cubs across the great lake, Lake Michigan. And the story of what happens once Mother Bear reaches the far shore becomes the legend behind the natural wonder known as Sleeping Bear Dune. In 1998 writer Kathy-jo Wargin and nature artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen combined their talents to bring The Legend of Sleeping Bear to life. Published to wide acclaim, the book was soon named the Official Children's Book of Michigan. More than ten years later, this story of enduring maternal love continues to resonate with readers young and old. In celebration of the initial release of The Legend of Sleeping Bear, we are pleased to announce a new, limited edition of the book, accompanied with a free animated DVD narrated by Jeff Daniels.

The intriguing facts and faces, history and places of Wisconsin are revealed to readers young and old in B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet. From its leaders in fine arts and architecture (Georgia O'Keefe and Frank Lloyd Wright) to its pioneers in nature conservation (John Muir and Aldo Leopold), Wisconsin has been an influence on major movements in education, industry, and use of natural resources. Brought to life with lyric rhymes and expressive, original artwork, B is for Badger showcases for natives and visitors alike the splendors of Wisconsin.Born in Tower, Minnesota, Kathy-jo Wargin has spent a great deal of time in the upper Midwest. Previously, she teamed up with illustrator Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen on the award-winning Legend series, including The Legend of the Lady's Slipper (Upper Midwest Bookseller's Favorite). B is for Badger is her fourth state alphabet book. She lives with her family in Petoskey, Michigan.Renee Graef is new to the Sleeping Bear Press family but is very well known as a children's book illustrator for the American Girls collection with Pleasant Company. She has also illustrated for Boyd's Bears and is the illustrator of HarperCollin's My First Little House series. Renee attended the University of Wisconsin and the University of Madison; she lives in Milwaukee with her family.

The Legend of the Lady's Slipper is a suspenseful tale of a young maiden's run through the forest in an attempt to save the people of her village. Dashing through the forest, with starlight at her heels," Running Flower is a testament of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. You will remember her story whenever you see delicate pink and white lady's slippers carpeting the ground of a northern forest. Add The Legend of the Lady's Slipper to your collection and let it enchant you for years to come. Kathy-jo Wargin aims to help young readers notice the most intricate details of a story by adding the nuances that create magic and wonder in a good tale. Kathy-jo Wargin (Nelson) was born in Tower, Minnesota and moved to Grand Rapids at the age of seven. She studied music composition at University of Minnesota-Duluth. Her transition to writing books was a natural step. As well, her love for children and her desire to expose them to vivid written descriptions, inspire her to write with great attention to the nuances of a story, opening their minds to see all the possibilities in a scene or situation. Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen captures his lifelong connection to nature and wildlife. His talent for mural painting can be seen in several museums, including Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Born in the Netherlands, Gijsbert studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Holland and immigrated to the United States in 1976. In 1993, after 17 years as the Art Director for the Michigan Natural Resources Magazine, he ventured out on his own. His highest professional achievement comes from being selected numerous times into the internationally renowned Leigh Yawkey Woodson Birds in Art exhibition, held in Wisconsin. Gijsbert and his wife Robbyn, give nature tours at their home outside Lansing, Michigan where they live with their two daughters, Kelly and Heather.