Northwoods Lullaby
University of Minnesota Press, 2026
Hardcover: 978 – 1‑517 – 91561‑2
32 pages
Autographed copies of Hush, Hush Forest will be available from Mary’s online store.
Northwoods Lullaby
written by Mary Casanova
illustrated by Jordan Sundberg
A springtime stroll transforms into a heartwarming bedtime lullaby
It’s time to sing a lullaby, and all through the northwoods, different wild animals join in. Come along as a child and their grown-up enjoy an evening hike. Loons drift by on the serene lake, a baby on papa’s back. On the banks nearby, swans hatch, and deer graze in the grass. Look, and you’ll find bear cubs climbing trees with mama, foxes and hares, and wolf pups playing in their den. Celebrating new life as spring unfurls, Northwoods Lullaby blossoms from a melody Mary Casanova began to hum while rocking her newborn grandbaby to sleep, a lullaby that can now be shared with generations to come.
Pairing Casanova’s signature lyrical writing with collage illustrations by Jordan Sundberg of Tin Cup Design, this bedtime story invites readers of all ages to explore the world of nature and discover the unexpected along the way. It’s time to sing a lullaby, a pine bough swaying lullaby, a lady’s slipper lullaby … a lullaby for you.
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Reviews & Comments
“In this celebration of the northwoods, Mary Casanova’s sparkling, rhythmic text and Jordan Sundberg’s beautifully layered illustrations combine to deliver a soothing bedtime book full of arresting details for young readers.”
— Joyce Sidman, author of Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
“Frogs croak-croak, ferns unfurl, fox kits snuggle, pine boughs sway, loons call. Mary Casanova’s lyrical language and Jordan Sundberg’s luminous art invite us to share in the wonders of a northwoods walk in a lovely, lilting lullaby for all.”
— Phyllis Root, author of The Lost Forest and Plant a Pocket of Prairie
Awards
- Minnesota Book Award Nominee
- NE Minnesota Book Award Winner