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Novels Picture Books Nonfiction
The Truth About Truman School (2008)
Tank Talbott's Guide to Girls (2006)
Do you Know the Monkey Man? (2005
Alexandra Hopewell, Labor Coach (2005)
Sliding Into Home (2003)
Trading Places With Tank Talbott (2003)
My Grandpa Had a Stroke (2007)
F is for Firefighting (2007)
My Mom's Having a Baby! (2005)
H is for Hoosier (2001)
ABC's of Wisconson (2000)

M is for Minnesota  (1998)
W is for Wisconson (1998)
The Great Tooth Fairy Rip Off (1997)
Whodunit? How the Police Solve Crimes (2003)

Forthcoming books and recent news

The Truth about Truman School

They just wanted to tell the truth.

When Zebby and Amr create the website thetruthabouttruman.com, they want it to be honest. They want it to be about the real Truman Middle School, to say things that the school newspaper would never say, and to give everyone a chance to say what they want to say, too.

But given the chance, some people will say anything-anything to hurt someone else. And when rumors about one popular student escalate to cruel new levels, it's clear the truth about Truman School is more harrowing than anyone ever imagined.

"a realistic portrayal of the negative influence of bullying, cliques, and peer pressure as they might affect tweens inside and outside the online world"

–Kirkus    

"a good vehicle for starting a discussion about bullying and the effect on all students in the school"

–VOYA    

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My Grandpa Had a Stroke

What happens when a loved one suffers a stroke? Often, for a child, the experience can be painful, invoking feelings of anger, fear, and confusion. My Grandpa Had a Stroke is a story of Ryan's relationship with his grandfather both before and after his grandfather suffers from a stroke, leaving both Ryan and his Grandfather to deal with the physical, mental, and emotional aftermath. After Ryan's grandfather has a stroke, their close relationship has to change and with the help of his parents, rehabilitation professionals, and Grandpa himself, Ryan learns what a stroke is and the stroke's effect on his grandfather, now and in the future.

My Grandpa Had a Stroke provides age-appropriate explanations of a stroke, its short- and long-term consequences, and its treatment, including rehabilitation. It deals simply and compassionately with a child's complex range of feelings when a loved one becomes disabled, and as Ryan adapts to his changing relationship with his grandfather, young readers too will be able to better understand their own emotions regarding any disabled loved ones in their own lives.

"With quiet prose, this covers most of the emotional and practical hurdles faced by both patient and child. A sad but useful book."

–Booklist    

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F is for Firefighting

This exciting picture book for young children teaches the ABCs of firefighting. A popular career choice for most five year olds, firefighting conjures images of pump trucks, sirens, and ladders. This informative and fun ABC journey gives a bit of firefighting history with "B is for bucket brigade" and moves into the 21st century with "T is for thermal imaging camera." The colorful illustrations sport a spotted Dalmatian hidden on every page.

"This up-to-date treatment of a high-interest topic is perfect for its intended audience, and children will soak up details like sponges...This accessible resource can be used to supplement community and community-workers curriculum areas."

–School Library Journal     

"Informative and intriguing"

–Kirkus    

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Tank Talbott's Guide to Girls

Tank's summer is not shaping up the way he'd hoped. It's bad enough that his three stepsisters will be sharing his cramped house for the summer vacation. Then he finds out that he has to work with a math tutor every day and fill a big notebook with his writing-just to pass fifth grade!

Tank wishes he could just sell his friend Jason's movie script to Hollywood. After all, Tank is Jason's agent. But passing fifth grade is a big deal too and soon, inspired by his brother's breakup with Jason's sister, Tank realizes he can fill his notebook writing a guide to girls. It will be a bestseller!

Tank has plenty of material to work with-his three stepsisters and Jason's strange new interest in Kelly, the Mistress of Evil. What is up with that, anyway? Readers first met Tank and Jason in Trading Places with Tank Talbott.

"Readers will relate to this painfully honest portrayal of growing up as seen from a believable 11-year-old boy's perspective."

–School Library Journal     

"Butler's follow-up to Trading Places with Tank Talbott (2003) is a satisfying, often humorous read (Tank's explanations for girls' behavior are particularly creative), which touches on such matters as Internet safety, changing friendships, and anger management, especially as it relates to Tank's older brother."

–Booklist    

 

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* 2005 Top Pick, Kansas State Reading Circle
* 2005 Bank Street College of Education Teen Book List
* 2005-2006 Pennsylvania Young Adult Top Forty List
* Alabama Emphasis on Reading List, 2006-2007
* Master List, 2007 Kentucky Bluegrass Awards
* Preliminary List, 2007-2008 Mark Twain (Missouri) Award
* 2007-2008 Black Eyed Susan award nominee (Maryland)
* 2007-2008 Soaring Eagle Book Award nominee (Wyoming)
* 2008 Charlotte award nominee (New York)
* 2008-09 Iowa Children's Choice Award nominee

Do you Know the Monkey Man?

FOR THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD SAMANTHA, life consists of too many unanswered questions. Why has her father not tried to contact her all these years? How could he have allowed her twin sister to drown in Clearwater Quarry when they were only toddlers? And how can Samantha's mother expect her to accept some man she hardly knows as her new father? Samantha already has a father out there. Somewhere.

A fateful decision sets into motion a chain of events and confrontations that will change Samantha's and her family's lives forever. As she sets out to find her father and discover what really happened the day her sister was presumed drowned, she uncovers painful secrets that threaten to destroy her family all over again.

 

“Butler has a simplicity of narrative voice that makes the story easy to read while reflecting the often-complex emotions of children forced to deal with things that have long been buried. It is the way that the author conveys these emotions that provides the most lingering memories of this fast-paced suspense novel”

–School Library Journal

 

“Middle-graders looking for a simple mystery will be pleased, and the story may inspire them to think about the concepts of identity and family that are threaded through the story.”

–Booklist

 

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Alexandra Hopewell, Labor Coach

Download the Teacher's Guide

By the time Alex Hopewell breaks her third egg in her fifth grade class’s Family Life Unit she’s earned the nickname "Alex Hopeless." Since Mrs. Ryder won’t trust her with an egg, she has to write a report about child development. That’s when Alex announces that she is going to be her mom’s labor coach. There’s only one problem—she hasn’t told her mom yet!

Things don’t always go easily for Alex. Her parents talked to Mrs. Ryder at the beginning of the year about her learning disorder, but Alex still thinks Mrs. Ryder hates her. Somehow Alex knows everything will be fine if only she can be there when the baby is born. Finally, her parents agree. Then Alex’s mother goes into labor early, and Alex gets a chance to prove what a great kid she really is.

“Butler successfully juggles the many elements of her novel, including a protagonist with special needs (Alex has auditory processing disorder); a teacher who is impatient with a pupil's atypical learning style; and the specifics of giving birth. This merits consideration for its candor regarding the birthing process, unusual in fiction for this age group.”

–Booklist

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* Booklist 2005 Editor’s Choice Award Book
* Booklist 2005 Top Ten Sci-Tech Books for Youth

My Mom's Having a Baby!

Download the Sibling Class Guide

Download the Parent's Guide

Elizabeth’s mom is having a baby, and the whole family is involved. Elizabeth learns all about the baby’s development, and she traces his growth, month by month. She learns how the baby got inside Mom, too. Finally the big day comes—Mom and Dad head off to the hospital, and soon there’s a brand-new little person in the family!

“Numerous books are available to prepare soon-to-be siblings for the changes that come with the arrival of a new baby in the house. Butler's goes one better by candidly and thoughtfully responding to the question many such books ignore, ‘How did that baby get there?’”

       –Starred Review, Booklist

“The joy and love felt by all of the family members is palpable. This volume is an excellent choice for those readers who are ready to ask and be told some of life's basic facts”

–School library Journal

 

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Cover for Sliding Into Home

* 2003 Honor Book Award, Society of School Librarians International
* 2003 Young Adult Top Forty List  (Pennsylvania School Library Association)
* Nominee, 2005-2006 Mark Twain Award preliminary list
* Nominee, 2005-2006 Nebraska Golden Sower Award
* Nominee, 2005-2006 Young Hoosier Book Award
* 2005-2006 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards Master List
* 2006-2007 Volunteer State (Tennessee) Book Award Intermediate Master List
* 2006-2007 Massachusetts Children's Book Award Master List

Sliding Into Home

An adolescent girl learns that realizing a dream requires a good deal more than stubborn, steely resolve as she risks everything to follow her heart.

IT'S NOT FAIR! Thirteen-year-old Joelle Cunningham is passionate about baseball. She loves to watch it, read about it, and, most of all, play it. But when her family moves from Minneapolis to the small town of Greendale, Iowa, she quickly discovers that there are strict rules preventing her from playing on the school baseball team. At Hoover Middle School, only boys play baseball. Girls play softball.

It's not the same sport! Joelle tries to tell everyone. But no one is listening. Not Coach Carlyle--even though his baseball team is at the bottom of the league, he doesn't want her on his team. Not Ms. Fenner, the softball coach--she wants Joelle to use her big league swing to benefit the girls' team. Not her new friend, Elizabeth, who is growing tired of her complaints. Not even Jason, her older brother, who is too busy at college to be of much help.

But Joelle is determined to play baseball. And through some creative problem-solving and surprising alliances she finds a solution to her dilemma that brings the disputing sides together…and baseball to the girls of Greendale.

"Determined Joelle is a fine protagonist. Readers will be caught not only by her drive to play ball and her willingness to take risks but also by her passionate commitment and the broadening vision... the well-paced plot will engage readers, who will be moved by the story of a young teen who stands up for what she believes and goes after what she wants."

Booklist

"Joelle is a well-drawn character, sometimes unsure of her place in the scheme of things, and at other times ready to take on the world... Breezy and fast-paced, with a feminist slant."

Kirkus Reviews

"Filled with realistic emotions and dialogue, this involving tale has just the right amount of baseball action. It also provides an honest look at what it's like to be the "new kid" at school... a winning story that will appeal to many readers."

School Library Journal

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* 2006-2007 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Winner (Maryland)
* The Center for Children's Books, Best Books 2003 List
* 2005-2006 Volunteer State Book Award Intermediate Master List (Tennessee)
* 2005-2006 Sequoyah Children's Book Award Master List (Oklahoma)
* 2005-2006 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program Nominee (Florida)
* 2007-2008  Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee
Trading Places with Tank Talbott

Download the Teacher's Guide

All Jason Pfeiffer wants to do is finish his horror-movie script about his sister, but lately his life is full of horrors! His parents are making him take swimming lessons at the recreation center—and there's nothing that Jason hates more than taking off his glasses and putting his face in the water. Except maybe having to deal with Tank Talbott. 

All Tank Talbott ever wants to do is beat people up. (At least, that's what Jason thinks.) But Tank's at the rec center, too—because his parents are making him take ballroom dance classes! There's nothing that Tank hates more than dancing with girls—except maybe being mistaken for a dork face like Jason. But that's just what gives Jason a brilliant idea—trading places! The mismatched pair make the switch, and along the way, they learn some surprising things about friendship and courage. 

“A well-written, up-to-date story, laced with humor and a good sense of adolescent growing pains”

School Library Journal

“Butler begins with a wacky, kid-pleasing premise and builds it into a cleverly constructed story that contains considerable warmth and wisdom.

—Children's Literature

"Butler ingeniously takes the tradional adult injunction to 'put yourself in his shoes' and does just that to her main character...Readers will find themselves sympathizing with both kids, as well as thoroughly enjoying themselves"

—The Bulletin

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Whodunit? How the Police Solve Crimes

Go behind the scenes to discover the methods used by the police in solving crimes. Cover-to-Cover Informational Book. 

 

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* Nominated for Minnesota Book Award, 1999
* Nominated for Northern Minnesota Book Award, 1999

M is for Minnesota

There are plenty of alphabet books, but when you read about Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe you know you are in Minnesota. These characters are from just one entry in M is for Minnesota, a beautiful children's book that will both entertain and delight readers of all ages. Author Dori Hillestad Butler has hand-picked the best of the state, from the northern tip (N is for Northwest Angle, the northern-most point in the lower 48 states) to the great Mississippi River.

Illustrator Janice Lee Porter portrays the subject of each letter in original oil paintings, bringing facts and stories to life. From the blazing Hinckley fire to the serenity of a loon on a lake at sunset, Porter's renderings are filled with rich colors and innovative perspectives. Her style is both thoughtful and charming, appealing to children and adults alike.

Not only enjoyable to read, M is for Minnesota is enlightening as well. You'll learn about places like Minnesota's Iron Range, famous for producing high-quality iron ore, and people like "Lucky" Charles Lindbergh, who grew up in Little Falls. Entries feature animals, including timber wolves arid eagles, that call Minnesota home, and events such as the first successful open-heart surgery, performed at the University of Minnesota.

This book is a loving tribute to Minnesota. Residents past and present, tourists, educators, and book lovers will relish the opportunity to discover the history, stories, and natural beauty of the Gopher State

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* Cooperative Children's Book Center choice

W is for Wisconsin

Discover Wisconsin from A to Z! The alphabet is your guide to exploring the Badger State in this interesting, colorful and beautifully illustrated work. Elements from Wisconsin's past and present are blended to create a delightful text that will educate and entertain both children and adults. Each letter also is illustrated with a sign for the hearing impaired.

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* Cooperative Children's Book Center choice

ABC's of Wisconsin

Delightful illustrations show the everyday experiences of kids all over the Badger State. Children can count cows with Courtney, discover the Dells with David, and make maple syrup with Megan as they discover the wonder and magic of day-to-day life in Wisconsin. In this charming alphabet book, which includes a collection of fun facts, children can learn the ABC's of Wisconsin, and adults will enjoy sharing the experience with them.

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H is for Hoosier

Discover Indiana from A to Z!   The alphabet is your guide to exploring the Hoosier State in this colorful, beautifully illustrated work. Elements from Indiana's past and present are blended together to create a delightful text that will educate and entertain children and adults alike. Each letter is also illustrated with a sign for the hearing impaired.

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The Great Tooth Fairy Rip Off 

Joey tries to negotiate with the Tooth Fairy for the amount he thinks his tooth is really worth, but he gets a surprise and learns the values of work, money, and saving when the Tooth Fairy starts bargaining back.

This book is out of print, however signed copies are available from the author while supplies last.   for ordering information.

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Copyright © 2001, 2008 Dori Hillestad Butler