Lynda Kenney of Crookston, a UND professor, was spending time with two young grandsons when -- inspired by a love of storytelling, a thirst for adventure and the silly sensibilities of two young boys --- they decided to write a book.
The result: "The Great Adventures of Dr. Poopindork: Story No. 1," written by Ethan Stroot, 9, and Castor Stroot, 7; edited by Kenney, their grandmother; and illustrated by Brittany Nelson, a UND graduate who was a student of Kenney's.
This weekend, Kenney said, she plans to take Ethan and Castor, also of Crookston, to the lake to start on "Dr. Poopindork: Story No. 2."
Kenney, an assistant professor in the UND technology department who teaches graphic design and photography, has always been a storyteller, especially for her six grandchildren, she said, and especially when they're in the car together. She started them out on "once upon a time" stories, she said, where she would start the story and then each person would add to it.
Before "Dr. Poopindork" was written, Kenney was talking with Ethan and Castor about a photography trip she'd taken with students to Australia.
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"And then Ethan said, 'We should write a book,'" Kenney said. "And then Castor said something, and it just kind of snowballed from there."
"The Great Adventures of Dr. Poopindork: Story No. 1" is about a young scientist-explorer who is curious about everything. He always wants to know the how and why and where and when and who and what for.
In Book 1, Dr. Poopindork sets out for Australia to find the lost treasure of a famous pirate. He's so curious about his surroundings that he gets on the wrong ship.
The book, published by Fine Print of Grand Forks, is no longer available, Kenney said. They gave away many copies to the boys' school and to teachers, family and friends. The rest they sold and donated the proceeds to the Crookston Humane Society.
N.D. history
"North Dakota History: Readings about the Northern Plains," detailing North Dakota's history from dinosaurs to the 21st Century, has received national honors from the American Library Association.
A collaboration of the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the North Dakota Center for Distance Education, the book is intended for use as a North Dakota history textbook for high school students, a news release said. It's available at the North Dakota Heritage Center Museum Store; by contacting Museum Stores Manager Rhonda Brown, (701) 328-2822; e-mail rhbrown
@nd.gov; or go to www.nd.gov/hist/MuseumStore .
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Sally Koslow
Fargo native Sally Koslow has a new novel on bookshelves this month, according to The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. "The Late Lamented Molly Marx" (Ballantine Books, 320 pages) tells the story of a deceased 35-year-old woman who now can observe the friends and family she left behind.
Koslow was editor-in-chief of the women's magazine McCall's for seven years, before the publication became Rosie in 2001. Her first novel, "Little Pink Slips," was published in 2007. Info: www.sallykoslow.com/ .
Troy Parkinson
Fargo native Troy Parkinson will sign copies of his new book, "Bridge to the Afterlife: A Medium's Message of Hope & Healing" (Llewellyn Ltd., 240 pages), from 7 to 9 p.m. June 24 at Fargo's Barnes & Noble.
Channeling spirits was the last thing Parkinson thought he would do, a news release said. A self-described ordinary guy, he first attended a spiritualist meeting when he was a college student in Boston. After receiving a message that night from his grandmother's spirit, he decided to train as a medium at the First Spiritual Temple of Boston.
He now travels the country, doing readings and presenting workshops. Info: www.troyparkinson.com/ . www.llewellyn.com/ .
Reach Tobin at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or send e-mail to ptobin@gfherald.com .
