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Karen has many loves, but most include nature and teaching about nature. As a teacher and director of Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield she is able to work at her passion for making the world a more sustainable place by exposing children to how nature works. Writing, however, is a way to reach more children than can be reached in the many programs she teaches along with her fellow naturalists. One of her great motivations for writing is the thought that while teaching a pond study class in Minnesota, someone could be reading one of her books in another part of the country. Karen completed a doctorate in critical pedagogy from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis because of her interest in social justice. Her first children's book, A Solstice Tree for Jenny (Prometheus Books, 2001), is a reflection of her desire to publish children's books which provide understanding and common ground between all people. Her most recent books are written with her close friend and fellow naturalist Lee Ann Landstrom: Nature's Yucky! 2, the Desert Southwest (Mountain Press, 2007) and Nature's Yucky, Gross Stuff that Helps Nature Work (Mountain Press, 2003). Other books Karen has written or co-written with Stan Tekiela: Plantworks (Adventure Publications, 1991), Start Mushrooming (Adventure Publications, 1993), Nature Smart (Adventure Publications, 1995), and Tree Stories, A Collection of Extraordinary Encounters (cowritten with Warren Jacob and published by Sunshine Press). Her poem "Think Like a Tree" appeared in the anthology The Tree That Time Built in 2009. In addition Karen conducts children's literature seminars in order to communicate with potential authors on how to focus on the message contained in their manuscripts, (NAI National Interpreter's Association Conference 2002, 2003, and the Children's Literature Conference, University of St. Thomas, 2001.) |
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Lucy's Hero—Remembering Paul Wellstone Lucy is a Minnesota farm girl who met Paul Wellstone when he came to her small town in his green bus on his campaign for senator. Lucy helps out with the next Wellstone campaign, and she and her family are horrified by the plane crash that kills Paul and his wife Sheila. The family drives to St. Paul and Lucy finds some solace among the masses of grieving people. Months later, the inspiration Lucy received from Paul has grown into something more and provides an affirming end to this uplifting story. Short biographies of Paul and Sheila are included at the end. |
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Nature's Yucky! 2: the Desert Southwest This follow-up to the disgustingly popular Nature's Yucky! takes young naturalists and other lovers of foul facts and icky information on an expedition to the American Southwest. Nature's Yucky! 2 introduces readers to sixteen desert creatures and vividly answers such scintillating scientific questions as: How does the regal horned lizard squirt blood from its eyes? Why do dung beetles eat poop? Why does the piglike javelina smell like stinky socks? Astonishingly detailed illustrations capture not just Mother Nature's revolting qualities but her stunning beauty. With its "Eeewww!!! That's YUCKY" refrain, the book is especially fun for reading aloud. Serious scholars will enjoy gathering further information about each animal in the "More Fun Facts" section. Those with an appetite for further yuckiness can use the kid-friendly recipe for raven-gut upside-down cake or sing the Nature's Yucky!" song. There is also a list of books and Web sites to encourage further scientific exploration. Awards |
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Nature's Yucky: Gross Stuff That Helps Nature Work Did you know that honey is really bee barf? That grizzly bears sometimes eat rotting meat? Or that turkey vultures poop on their own feet? Nature's Yucky uses kids' natural fascination with the stinky, the gross, and the icky to help them learn more about wild animals and why critters behave as they do. Younger children will love having the book read to them, while older children and adults will also enjoy the "Animal Facts" section in the back, which has more in-depth information on the featured animals. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of learning to identify the droppings of various animals by making (and eating!) "scat cookies." Lovely watercolor illustrations balance out the "yuckiness," reminding us that nature is not just disgusting, but beautiful, too. Awards |
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A Solstice Tree for Jenny It's Christmas time all across America and Jenny is feeling left out. Her secular parents, born to different faiths that they no longer observe, don't believe in celebrating Christmas. Jenny never seemed to mind before, but now it bothers her—maybe because they're home this year amid the holiday hoopla and not traveling as they usually do to some faraway desert where her parents work as archaeologists. All around her the neighbors have decorated their houses with festive lights, while her house looks drab and uninviting. She feels like an outsider. Jenny wonders why her family has to be different, so she questions her mom and dad about their reasons for not taking part in the holidays. Then one day a teacher gives her an awesome idea: she tells Jenny about the winter solstice and ancient traditions among many peoples of the northern hemisphere who celebrate this shortest day of the year as a start of the warmer, brighter days ahead in the coming spring. Why don't we celebrate the winter solstice, too? Jenny wonders. Along with her parents, Jenny finds a solution that brings them closer together. This charming story will help children and parents enjoy the winter season in a meaningful and all-inclusive way. |
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Plantworks Thoughtfully written, this book presents clear directions for identifying wild foods (color pictures included), gathering, processing, and cooking them. Among others, you'll find recipes for cat-tail corn-on-the-cob and acorn flour pancakes. Enjoy cat-tail corn on the cob, or use acorn flour to make pancakes. |
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