Kid’s Lit, Fiction, and Non-Fiction
Many of these titles are out of print, but can be found on amazon.com, amazon.ca, abebooks.com, or other on-line book sellers. The Hutterian Brethren Book Centre occasionally carries used copies for resale.
This bibliography is compiled and maintained by Kenny Wollmann. Please note that inclusion does not equal endorsement on the part of the compiler.
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Bly, David. The McIntyre Liar, revised edition. Calgary: Mind’s Eye Publications, 2001. “Kevin Muskrat Winslow, whose mouth sometimes moves faster than his brain, finds himself in a strange land among strange being when he’s sent to be a labourer on a ranch in the hills. His colleagues are the flotsam and jetsam of humanity. Among them are a convicted killer, a recent graduate of a mental hospital, a one-eyed blacksmith, [Jake the homesick ex-Hutterite], and assorted tobacco-chewers and boozers. His big-city skills are of little use on the ranch, and he’s not sure he can make it through the summer without being torn apart by his co-workers, especially after they discover he’s making fun of them in a newspaper he writes for his friends back home.”
Buhle, Paul. editor. Illustrated by Sabrina Jones, Gary Dumm, and Nick Thorkelson. Radical Jesus: A Graphic History of Faith. Waterloo: Herald Press, 2013. Includes an account of the so-called “Falkenstein Story”: “Escape from Galley Slavery: A Story of the Hutterian Brethren,” 63-70.
Harder, Geraldine and Milton. Illustrated by Lavonne Dyck. Christmas Goose. Newton: Faith and Life Press, 1990. “Christmas Goose is the story about Rosie, a young Hutterite girl who had a special pet goose she wanted to keep forever.”
Hofer, Gilbert. Illustrated by Victor Kleinsasser. Jewell Adventure. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2008. “Many Hutterite boys dream about riding to the neighbours on forbidden bikes. When Gilbert and his friends finally make the trip, the unexpected happens: The Schuellehrer, German school teacher, discovers them. A hietz? Now what?”
Hofer, Samuel. Born Hutterite. Saskatoon: Hofer Publishers, 1991. “A classic book. Stories that take you into the very hearts of Hutterite individuals. Highly entertaining. Humorous. The first book of fiction ever written about Hutterite life.”
Hofer, Samuel. Dance like a Poor Man. Winnipeg, Hofer Publishers, 1995. “In addition to providing an enticing family/coming of age story with a touch of a mystery, Hofer offers middle school readers an informing glimpse into the daily routines of the communal lifestyle of one of Canada’s little known peoples, the Hutterites. Over two summer weeks, 12-year-old Peter Waldner experiences many changes in his life. Because his Rockeyview Colony in Alberta has exceeded its optimum population, its membership must be divided, and half of its residents will go to live on the new colony of Flat Willow in Saskatchewan.”
Hostetler, John Andrew. Hutterite Life. Scottdale: Herald Press, 1983. “John A. Hostetler’s authoritative, readable account about a group of people often misunderstood. Presented with pictures and story are the Hutterites, a people who practice communal living. Readers will find who they are, where they live, what they believe, and how they serve God.”
Hughes Monica. Beyond the Dark River. New York: Atheneum, 1981. “In a Canada now devoid of technological knowledge and equipment because of nuclear war, a boy from the secluded Hutterite community and an Indian girl seek a cure for a mysterious illness.”
Humes, Kathryn. Ainsley and Amanda. Neepawa: N.P., 1991.
Humes, Kathryn. Sammy. [Neepawa]: N.P., 1991.
Kirkby, Mary-Ann. Illustrated by Sharon Strand Sigfuson. Make a Rabbit. Prince Albert: Polka Dot Press, 2010. “Make a Rabbit takes us inside a Hutterite colony on the Canadian prairies and introduces us to charming Eddy Hofer. Like toddlers all over the world, Eddy is ready to do an important big boy job: sit on the potty and moch eh Haselah , make a rabbit. Through the encouragement of the community, guidance from his family and gentle pressure from his peers, Eddy pushes past the obstacles of potty training and grasps the simple joy of accomplishment.”
Kleinsasser Towne, Marian. Jacob Hutter’s Friends: Twelve Narrative Voices from Switzerland to South Dakota over four Centuries. Freeman: Pine Hill Press, 1999.
Maendel, Dora. Der frumma Jeronimus Vetter und ondra Tschichtlen. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2010.
Maendel, Dora. Die olta Martha Basel und ondra Tschichtlen. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2008. “A compliation of stories told in the Hutterite dialect. Story-teller Dora Maendel tells six stories which are proven favorites, tested by years of telling. The stories are accompanied by traditional Hutterite Geiglen, Harmonica tunes, played by Eileen Maendel.”
Maendel, Dora. Jakob Huter und ondra Hutterischa Tschichtlen. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2013.
Maendel, Elma. Illustrated by Cynthia Stahl. Marty’s Colour Adventure: a Hutterite colour book. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2010. “Consider all the colours / That you and I find yummy; / For certain they resemble / Rich rainbows in our tummies! / Marty Mouse explores the community Kuchl, kitchen on the Hutterite colony where he lives. Join him to learn about all the colours he finds along the way.”
Maendel, Elma. Illustrated by Cynthia Stahl. Marty’s Adventure: a Hutterite Shape Book. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2008. “Clever Marty Mouse takes children on a well-shaped midnight adventure on a Hutterite community. Reinforce the concept of shapes with this delightfully illustrated rhyme.”
Maendel, Rachel. Illustrated by Hannah Marsden. Rachel, a Hutterite Girl. Scottdale: Herald Press, 1999. “Rachel, growing up on a Hutterite farm colony, finds goose eggs hidden in the rushes. When the eggs hatch, everyone laughs to see the big geese following the little “mama” hen. One morning” the worst happens. There’s a surprise twist to the end of this story by Rachel Maendel.
Maendel, Linda and Dick Mueller. Hutterischa Bible Tschichtlen 1. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2008. Includes audio CD. “Der Himmel Voter is ollmechtich, geduldich und sa Lieba gegen seina Kinder heat nia auf. In Hutterischa Bibel Tschichtlen 1 wean sechs bekonnta Tschichtlen vun Olten Testament klor und anfoch aff Hutterisch verzelt. Scheana, forbenreichen Bildlen gean guet mit und mochen die Tschichtlen lebendich. Kinder wean leanen wie der Himmel Voter die Welt hot gmocht, wie er die Welt hot zerstert wall die Leit sein schlecht gwesen und wie wichtich es is in Himmel Voter fulgen.”
Maendel, Linda and Dick Mueller. Hutterischa Bible Tschichtlen 2. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2009. Includes audio CD. “Es Olta Testament is vul mit Tschichtlen vun Leit vun wos mir leanen kennen, wie mir sulln lebm uder ach wie mir nitt sulln lebm. In Hutterischa Bibl Tschichtlen 2 sein siebm sue Tschichtlen. Zomm mit die scheanen Bildlen sean mir wie der Himml Voter in verschiedena Leit sender Lebm hot gorbet; su wie der tscheida Salamon, der aufrichtiga Mose, der dickkupfeta Jonah, der frumma Hezekiah, die brava Esther und der wonkelmietiga Bileam.”
Maendel, Linda and Dick Mueller. Hutterischa Bible Tschichtlen 3. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2010. Includes audio CD. “Es Nuia Testament und in Jesus sa Lebm in die Welt is es wichtigsta Tal vun die Bibl, wall der Jesus es besta Exempl is, fir wie mir in Himmbl Voter trei nochfulk. Hutterischa Bibl Tschichtlen 3 verzehlt vun Jesus sa Geburt, wie er vun Teifl versuecht weat und wie er Kronka halt, Hungriga speist und e Sturm afn Meer stillt.”
Maendel, Linda. Hutterite Diaries: Wisdom from My Prairie Community. Harrisonburg: Herald Press, 2015. “What would it be like to share all your possessions and live in Christian community? In Hutterite Diaries, Linda Maendel offers a rare glimpse into the daily routines and communal faith of her people, the Hutterian Brethren. From stories of working together to bring in the fall potato harvest to laugh-out-loud tales of sisterly love laced with revenge, Maendel invites readers into her Bruderhof, or colony, nestled on the prairie of western Canada. Here children and adults work, play, eat, and worship together, crafting a community of goods and living out an alternative to the individualism and consumerism of mainstream society.”
Maendel, Linda. Illustrated by Sonia Maendel. Lindas glücklicher Tag. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2006. “Linda wohnt auf einer Hutterer Kolonie. Sie ist meistens so wie andere Kinder in ihrem Alter. Sie hat eine liebe Familie und eine Menge nette Freundinnen, mit denen sie gern spielt. Zur Zeit hat Linda nur noch einen Wunsch – sie maechte so gern ihren eigenen Schlitten. Wie wird ihr dieser Wunsch wohl erfuellt werden?”
Purslow, Frances. Hutterites in Canada. Calgary: Weigl, 2006. “Discover the adventures of Hutterite immigrants as they travelled to Canada and how they adapted their way of life into their new surroundings.”
Ross, Marilyn. Illustrated by Cindy Crompton. A Surprise for Anna. Souris: Hollow Tree Books, 1996.
Ross, Marilyn. The Only Lonely Sheep. Souris: Hollow Tree Books, 1996.
Stahl, Cynthia. Hannah’s Hutterite Paper Dolls. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, n.d.
Stahl, Debbie P. and Melissa Wollman. Sarah’s Journey: The Story of a Hutterite Woman. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2014. “In her life, Sarah Stahl Wollman fulfilled many roles: a child in a Ukrainian village; a teenage girl crossing the ocean to a new life in America; a hopeful young wife; mother of three; a single parent. Known as ‘Besorge Ankela’ in her later years, she lived in a time of great change for her people, the Hutterites. Sarah’s Journey recounts the remarkable story of her life and reflects on her legacy.”
Stahl, Herman. Illustrated by Cynthia Stahl. Flowing Through the Seasons. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2008. “After reading Flowing through the Seasons you will not be surprised to learn that Harry Stahl has spent most of his childhood playing on the banks of a river. In fact, Grass River, the Hutterite community where he grew up, was so named for the river that wrapped itself around the Hof. Each incident in Flowing through the Seasons is drawn from his childhood adventures there. He sees the book as a tribute to the river itself, which was so instrumental in shaping and carving out the characters of the children living there. ”
Stucky, Naomi R. Sara’s Summer. Waterloo: Herald Press, 1990. “Fifteen. And an orphan. Sara Hofer’s mother had died before she was three. Last winter a plane crash killed her father. Now she is leaving her home in Toronto to meet her father’s family, whom she has never met. They live in a Hutterite Colony near Winnipeg. Sara does not know much about Hutterites, but she meets a boy on the bus trip who explains their unique lifestyle. The Hutterites live in tightly knit communities which are like huge families. They share everything they have with each other. They do not use telephones, radios, televisions, or musical instruments.”
Vernon, Louise A. Doctor in Rags. Scottdale: Herald Press, 2007. “Hutterites are known for their natural medicines and living in Bruderhofs. Michael Bruhn, his sister Gudryn, and their widowed mother live in a castle in Moravia. When a doctor wearing ragged clothing heals Gudryn, Michael thinks he, too, must be a Hutterite. Later, Michael learns that this doctor in rags is the famous physican Paracelsus. Michael is impressed and begins to plan when he can also be a doctor. Then tragedy strikes. For 9-to-14-year-olds.”
Waldner, Karis. Es Lauft e Meisl: Hutterischa Kinder Verslen, 2nd edition. MacGregor: Hutterian Brethren Book Centre, 2014. “Es lauft e Meisl is a stunning collection of Hutterite nursery rhymes. “Although they seem mere nonsense rhymes on the surface,” Karis Hofer observes, “I learned that they carry many memories: Michael shaking his head in distaste at the poem Michela, Machela as he remembered being teased with it; Diane Basel remembering the fun they had throwing pebbles into the creek that ran along side Interlake Community shouting, “Ankela, Ankela, strick mer e Blachela.” I believe that our very own bank of Huttrischa Verselen is an excellent resource with which to begin a child’s love of language. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to acknowledge, preserve and share our treasury of Verselen.””
White, Jacquelinne. Coyote Winter. Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1991. “In the worst winter in living memory. The people in the tiny northern Alberta Hutterite colony are confined by the relentless snow. Finally the thaw comes and the colony’s school children and their teacher are able to take their first walk of spring. To their dismay, the children discover a coyote caught in a trap. When they release it they are amazed to find that the animal makes no attempt to bite or to run away. Instead, it scampers like a dog, delighting in a freedom that every living creature can understand. The recording of this extraordinary event was the teacher’s dying wish. Her sister, Jacquelinne White, has told the story in evocative words and paintings.” Mentioned in: Booth, David. Story Drama: Creating Stories through role playing, improvising, and reading aloud. Markham: Pembroke Publishers, 2005.
Zola, Meguido. Illustrated by Victoria Cooper. Moving. London: Julia MacRae Books, 1983. “This is the story of a little girl called Beckie who lived about fifty years ago on the vast flat prairies of Canada. Beckie and her family lived in a Hutterite colony where everyone made their living by farming the land. … Every so often as more children were born, the colony became too large. Then they divided into two groups, placing the name of each group in a hat and drawing out one of the names. The group whose name was drawn was then sent away to start a new colony somewhere else. Beckie tells the story of one of these moves.”