11:00am–12:00pm, Children's Corner
(located in the Head House)
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In Rings of Heartwood, twelve poems about woodland, wetland, and prairie dwellers explore different kinds of growth. A tadpole grows legs and lungs and transforms into a frog. A fern unfurls from fiddlehead to frond. A spotted fawn hides in dappled sunlight, but after winter it will never sport spots again. Molly Beth Griffin’s playful yet meditative lines paired with scientific facts invite readers into the life cycles of plants, amphibians, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, and insects, while Claudia McGehee’s vivid scratchboard and watercolor illustrations offer whimsically detailed naturescapes. In words and art, Rings of Heartwood encourages readers of all ages to appreciate the challenge of change and feel a deep kinship with the natural world.
Molly Beth Griffin is the author of many picture books including Ten Beautiful Things, Just Us, and Rhoda’s Rock Hunt. She has also published an award-winning young adult novel, Silhouette of a Sparrow, two chapbooks of poetry, and a series of beginning readers. Molly is a graduate of Hamline University’s MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults and has been teaching writing for children at the Loft Literary Center for over 15 years. She lives in South Minneapolis with her partner and their two children, where she enjoys walking around lakes, taking photos of birds, eating pastries, watching mysteries, and waiting for the mail.