Books published by publisher Couchgrass Books

Ten-year-old Ginny and her mother are opening the cabin. On an otherwise quiet day, Ginny hears a male loon, Yudel, sparring with a younger bird over territory. Canoeing with her friend Wes, Ginny discovers a loon nest on an island. They quickly find themselves protecting the defenseless eggs against predators. During the summer, the loons raise three loonlings. Now faced with many dangers, Yudel and his mate, Owala, will put their courage to the test. Follow the journey of Ginny and the loons as their stories unite.... The Wide Awake Loons placed as finalist in the children's/juvenile fiction category of the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Reviews: "Holmes, who lives in Duluth, tells a story that will resonate with every youngster who has been startled by a loon's 'song.' And she does it in the kind of lovely prose kids should be exposed to from the day they are born." (Mary Ann Grossman, St. Paul Pioneer Press) "Incredible authentic details about life and survival habits and skills of the loons are woven into this engrossing nature story.... Prize winning author Holmes paints a Northern setting with vast skill and delicacy for the reading and educational pleasure and appreciation of middle grade and older readers." (The Midwest Review, Children's Bookwatch) "When I began reading Wide Awake Loons, I immediately recalled my own childhood in northern Minnesota. The loons have a call like no other, and Ms. Holmes did a wonderful job of capturing their ethereal beauty and charm.... Ms. Holmes writes beautifully; her prose was both stunning and clever, and she shared the loons' story very convincingly." (Bobbie Grob for Readers' Favorite)

Explore the flute’s four types as they have appeared on most continents since prehistoric times. This book follows the discovery of artifacts and the historical impact of the instrument. Stories are included in many chapters. Myths, legends, and fairytales are re-told as they pertain to a regional flute. Sumer, the ancient Mediterranean world, Africa, India, the Orient, the Americas, and Europe are presented. The last pages cover eminent flautists, women musicians, jazz flutists, and finally, musical groups and performers who have made the traditional and folk instruments popular again.

Explore the flute’s four types as they have appeared on most continents since prehistoric times. This book follows the discovery of artifacts and the historical impact of the instrument. Stories are included in many chapters. Myths, legends, and fairytales are re-told as they pertain to a regional flute. Sumer, the ancient Mediterranean world, Africa, India, the Orient, the Americas, and Europe are presented. The last pages cover eminent flautists, women musicians, jazz flutists, and finally, musical groups and performers who have made the traditional and folk instruments popular again.

Perry has his own misadventures when the standard poodle Claude comes to his house. Because of a defect, Claude can’t be a show dog. But he fetches beyond his training, opens doors, and attempts to roam the neighborhood. The spring before the moonwalk, Perry plans a group project about UFO’s, space travel, and the Dog Star. During this, Claude makes escapes like a canine Houdini. Perry’s father has enough to worry about with the anti-war protesters in his history classes. Can Perry turn Claude’s exploring into training?

Ten-year-old Ginny and her mother are opening up the cabin where her family stays during the summer. On an otherwise quiet day, Ginny hears a male loon, Yudel, sparring with a younger bird over territory. Canoeing with her friend, Wes, Ginny discovers a loon nest on an island. They quickly find themselves protecting the defenseless eggs against predators. During the summer, the loons raise three loonlings. Now faced with many dangers, Yudel and his mate, Owala, will put their courage to the test. Follow the journey of Ginny and the loons as their stories unite . . .

Unbeknown to Dawn, her grandfather has shot an old swan out of mercy. In their coastal Alaskan town, her father buys the swan pelt, preventing her Uncle Alex, a fur trader, from selling it for export. Dawn’s father surprises her part-Aleut mother with a hat she helped to make and also with an idea to catch poachers. Shooting swans has become illegal but Alaska is a territory and Prohibition occupies the Sheriff. Dawn and her mother become involved with suspicious inquiries about the swan bonnet besides its haunting effect. Because Dawn’s grandparents see the swans first, Dawn agrees to secretly watch the migration with the deputy sheriff’s son. But after she and her mother encounter women from a ship and find out about a hunting party, they ride to the inlet. There are townspeople roving the shore too but who is the vigilante and who is the poacher?

Costumes make the kids in this fantasy about identity. Wayward Sadie leads her friends to the murals of the painter Mistral. There, they are transported to a star where their Halloween costumes become real. As Fortuneteller, Sadie only has to look in her crystal ball to help the others with their dream identities. Her friend Candy has become the Homecoming Queen. Her brother is a zebra and the neighbor boy is a musician in the star band. Other children in Sadie’s grade school make up a bizarre community of star people who have also become enchanted. The hunt for a star-of-sapphire necklace takes up the latter chapters of this madcap fantasy.

Besides music, Vivvy loves green apples. She and her brother Matt go on morning apple raids until, one fall, their father drives them to a pick-your-own orchard. There, the cross old Josiah inhabits another time where pixies might appear like uprooted saplings. During the early, eventful 1960s, Vivvy takes the flute from Mr. Fortray, a band teacher who plays jazz. Another apple picking trip is confused with detours and Josiah is angry about progress. Vivvy finds that if she wants to do what she loves, she must think beyond a fear that her father and Josiah share.

Wayward Sadie leads her friends to the murals of the painter Mistral. There, they are transported to a star where their Halloween costumes become real. As Fortuneteller, Sadie only has to look in her crystal ball to help the others with their dream identities. Her friend Candy has become the Homecoming Queen. Her brother is a zebra and the neighbor boy is a musician in the star band. Other children in Sadie’s grade school make up a bizarre community of star people who have also become enchanted. The hunt for a star-of-sapphire necklace takes up the latter chapters of this madcap fantasy.

Perry has his own misadventures when the standard poodle Claude comes to his house. Because of a defect, Claude can’t be a show dog. But he fetches beyond his training, opens doors, and attempts to roam the neighborhood. The spring before the moonwalk, Perry plans a group project about UFO’s, space travel, and the Dog Star. During this, Claude makes escapes like a canine Houdini. Perry’s father has enough to worry about with the anti-war protesters in his history classes. Can Perry turn Claude’s exploring into training?

Ten-year-old Ginny and her mother are opening the cabin. On an otherwise quiet day, Ginny hears a male loon, Yudel, sparring with a younger bird over territory. Canoeing with her friend, Wes, Ginny discovers a loon nest on an island. They quickly find themselves protecting the defenseless eggs against predators. During the summer, the loons raise three loonlings. Now faced with many dangers, Yudel and his mate, Owala, will put their courage to the test. Follow the journey of Ginny and the loons as their stories unite . . .

Unbeknown to Dawn, her grandfather has shot an old swan out of mercy. In their coastal Alaskan town, her father buys the swan pelt, preventing her Uncle Alex, a fur trader, from selling it for export. Dawn's father surprises her part-Aleut mother with a hat she helped to make and also with an idea to catch poachers. Shooting swans has become illegal but Alaska is a territory and Prohibition occupies the Sheriff. Dawn and her mother become involved with suspicious inquiries about the swan bonnet besides its haunting effect. Because Dawn's grandparents see the swans first, Dawn agrees to secretly watch the migration with the deputy sheriff's son. But after she and her mother encounter women from a ship and find out about a hunting party, they ride to the inlet. There are townspeople roving the shore too but who is the vigilante and who is the poacher?