A musical play adaptation of the bestselling children's book opens this fall.
This fall, Stages Theatre in Hopkins hosts an adaptation of Brenda J. Child (Bíne) and Jonathan Thunder's bestselling MNHS Press children's book Bowwow Powwow, produced in collaboration with Mni Giizhik Theatre Ensemble and running from September 16 to 27. After that, the performance tours the state, including an engagement on October 10 at 11:00 AM in the Minnesota History Center 3M Auditorium. Following that performance, the author will be signing copies of Bowwow Powwow as well as its follow-up, Blue Bearies, in the History Center rotunda.
Our fall season kicks off this month with three powerful and engaging books: the sequel to a bestselling children's book; a memoir by a beloved former governor; and a rich volume of original art paired with stories. Order your copies today at shop.mnhs.org.
Story by Brenda J. Child (Bíne), illustrations by Jonathan Thunder, translation by Gordon Jourdain
In Blue Bearies Brenda J. Child (Bíne) reprises the adventures of Windy Girl and her dog Itchy Boy with a focus on history and ecology, while Jonathan Thunder’s lively illustrations teem with playful humor. Anishinaabe educator Gordon Jourdain retells the story in Ojibwemowin. This much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning Bowwow Powwow celebrates the wonders of a time when humans lived closely with our animal relatives, to our mutual benefit.
Pub date: September 8, 2026
Mark Dayton, foreword by Hillary Rodham Clinton
This entertaining, insightful, and revealing account of Minnesota's fortieth governor provides a candid look at contemporary politics in the state and the nation. From Mark Dayton's first elected state office, to his time in the US Senate, to his two terms as Minnesota’s governor, Perseverance provides occasion for conversations of consequence and substance, today and for years to come.
Pub date: September 15, 2026
Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik
“Walking My Ancestors’ Path is a gorgeous collection of engaging Woodlands-style paintings, personal and familial memoir, cultural memory, and the complex dance of an artist balancing his own space between English and Ojibwemowin, including both. The arc of seasons informs Zimmerman’s work, along with constant lunar cycles, images illuminated with symbols both universal and deeply personal. This engrossing, rich volume welcomes us to witness one intersection of time and memory, allowing us to glimpse this singular artistic spirit and its place in the universe.” —Eric Gansworth Sˑha-weñ na-saeˀ (Onondaga, Eel Clan), author of Apple (Skin to the Core)
Pub date: September 22, 2026
9/16/2026, 5:30 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, Minneapolis Club, Minneapolis (ticketed)
9/26/2026, 2:00 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, in conversation with Lori Sturdevant, 3M Auditorium, MN History Center, St. Paul
10/1/2026, 7:00 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, SubText / University Club, St. Paul
10/10/2026, 11:00 AM, Brenda J. Child (Bíne), Bowwow Powwow, 3M Auditorium, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
10/14/2026, 6:00 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, Excelsior Bay Books / Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Excelsior
9/17/2026, 6:00 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, in conversation with John Ongaro, Zenith Bookstore / St. Louis County Depot, Great Hall, Duluth
9/19/2026, 2:00 PM, Patty Wetterling and Joy Baker, Dear Jacob, Lyons County Museum, Marshall
9/20/2026, 4:00 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, in conversation with Lori Sturdevant, Content Bookstore / Grand Event Center, Northfield
9/25/2026, 4:00 PM, Audrey M. Thayer and Colette A. Hyman, Weaving Community, Winona State University, Winona
9/26/2026, 1:15 PM, Audrey M. Thayer and Colette A. Hyman, Weaving Community, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey
9/30/2026, 6:30 PM, Patty Wetterling and Joy Baker, Dear Jacob, Twin Rivers Council of the Arts, North Mankato Warming House, North Mankato
10/2/2026, 4:00 PM, Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik, Walking My Ancestors' Path, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids
10/6/2026, 6:30 PM, Mark Dayton, Perseverance, Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors
Molly Beth Griffin and Jennifer A. Bell, The Babysitter Tree, Publishers Weekly, starred review
Brenda J. Child (Bíne) and Jonathan Thunder, Blue Bearies, "Local Ojibwe tale of ‘Bear Woman’ inspires new children’s book," KAXE
Mark Dayton, Perseverance, "Former governor pulling back the curtain with new memoir," KARE 11
On November 27, 1905, sailors on Lake Superior faced heavy snowfall, sustained winds up to seventy miles per hour, massive waves, and subzero wind chill temperatures. The Mataafa storm, named after a steamship wrecked near Duluth, was one of the most costly in Lake Superior’s history, and resulted in new navigational aids and safety practices on the lake.
Pierce Butler was the first Minnesotan to serve as a justice of the United States Supreme Court. His nearly seventeen years there (1923–1939) followed three decades as one of the most successful trial lawyers in early twentieth-century Minnesota. He was a prosecutor, railroad lawyer, litigator for hire, and University of Minnesota regent. Some of his work, including his opposition to minimum wage laws, remains controversial.
Our fall season continues with three October books that delight the senses: a richly illustrated history of a distinctly Minnesotan company; a collection of delicious northland recipes; and a charming children's story of two bear cubs. Order your copies today at shop.mnhs.org.
Dave Kenney
Rare archival images and profiles of legendary figures chronicle pivotal moments in the history of the Red Wing Shoe Company, offering an all-access pass to a Minnesota original. This volume offers an insider’s view of a company that weathered the Great Depression, two world wars, and more by investing in its hometown, accurately predicting global business trends, and charting its own path.
Pub date: October 6, 2026
Crystal Schlueter
Communities near the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota—at the “end of the road”—offer diverse recipes. Iron Range native Crystal Schlueter has compiled a hearty selection that will delight the palate. Potlucks across Minnesota’s northland feature a dazzling array of tantalizing dishes. Ojibwe, Slovenian, Italian, German, Irish, Croatian, Polish, Finnish, and Scandinavian flavors sit side by side. Celebrating deep cultural roots and rich ethnic traditions, Schlueter shows that good food awaits at the “end of the road.”
Pub date: October 13, 2026
Story by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrations by Jennifer A. Bell
Publishers Weekly awards this book a starred review, writing, "Two cubs left in the shadow of a large pine provide emotive and sensorial narration, . . . text smoothly interweaves observations about the tree’s unique characteristics. . . . Meticulous hatching adds a soothing texture to backlit acrylic and colored pencil illustrations. Supported by occasional factual captions, this sprightly narrative strikes an easy balance between conveying scientific information and making its subjects feel relatable."
Pub date: October 20, 2026
Rhoda's Rock HuntStory by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrations by Jennifer A. Bell
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Twin Cities Picture Showby Dave Kenney
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True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Twoby Stephanie Hansen
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