It’s Children’s Book week and the beginning of National American Indian Heritage Month, a good time to explore some newly published Minnesota books for kids. We’ll begin with “We Miss You, George Floyd” by Shannon Gibney, illustrated by Leeya Rose Jackson (University of Minnesota Press, $17.95). It’s about a little girl trying to make sense of the violence in her neighborhood everyone is talking about, the murder by a Minneapolis police officer of George Floyd, a Black man. This is not an easy book. Gibney directly depicts Floyd’s struggles to breathe as the officer’s knee was on him: “This was the longest, cruelest 8 minutes and 46 seconds.”

The girl finds solace at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, where Floyd is commemorated with artwork and messages, and she makes her own art saying “We Miss You George Floyd.” The story also reminds readers that Floyd was more than a victim — he was a father, a brother, a hip hop artist, a football and basketball player, and a friend. In the end, the girl joins her community in their commitment to march, protest, vote and tell their stories, imagining a world without violence.

Gibney is an award-winning educator and activist whose books include “The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be,” and for younger readers, “The Incredible African and American Food Fight,” about a boy caught between the cuisines of his two cultures. Jackson, whose illustrations are big and bold, runs the illustration shop Leeya Makes Noise and is creative founder of Noisemaker Design.

Gibney and Jackson will launch the book at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls. They will read at the free event and there will be activities for kids.

“So Cold!” >> by John Coy, illustrations by Chris Park (Minnesota Historical Society Press, $17.95)

It’s 23 below zero but that doesn’t stop a boy and his father from putting on their warmest clothes so they can do outdoor experiments such as seeing what happens when boiling water is thrown in the air or how a helium balloon that floats inside the house changes in the freezing air. The boy is having so much fun he decides his name should be Freezeman. And when the duo is finished with experiments, they drink hot chocolate indoors and think of how much fun cold can be. Ways to duplicate experiments in the book are detailed at the end. Coy is the award-winning author of numerous books for children and teens.

“Huck and Loona” >> by Emily Kilgore, illustrated Florence Weiser (Beaming Books, $18.99)

A bear named Huck and a loon named Loona are best friends living in the Northwoods in this tale of friendship. The two love spending every minute together, even though their abilities don’t match. Bear can’t dive to the bottom of the lake and Loona can’t climb trees. But one day the friends have an argument. Loon wants a quiet, relaxing day but Huck is looking for adventure. They get so mad they walk away from one another, only to find that things aren’t much fun when they are apart. They get back together and realize that it’s OK to sometimes want different things but shared experiences are good too, such as watching cloud formations.

Kilgore is a teacher and author. Weiser is a French illustrator living in Belgium.

“Wisdom Weavers” >> by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, illustrated by Marcus Trujillo (becker&mayer! kids/Quarto)

Many of us non-Natives have dreamcatchers in our houses or cars. But why are they significant? This debut picture book written by a scholar and educator of Ojibwe language is subtitled “Explore the Ojibwe Language and the Meaning of Dream Catchers.” In the story, a father explains to his son that dream catchers (izhi’on) allow good dreams to pass through and catch the nightmares. Together father and son go on an expedition to create a dream catcher.

In the beginning of the book, which has many Ojibwe phrases, the author explains that the dream catcher tradition is important spiritually and culturally to Ojibwe people, made for babies to protect them. The web in the dream catcher also shows babies starting to learn by watching how they are connected to everything and everyone around them. Instructions for making a dream catcher are included in this inventive book that’s just right for non-Native youngsters who are curious about other cultures.

“Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwa Tradition)” >> by Marcie Rendon, illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (HarperCollins/Heartdrum, $19.99)

In this story by Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) writer and illustrator, an Ojibwe grandmother measures and selects just the right colors of fabric and her sewing machine hums “whirr, whirr, whirr” into the late night. In the morning, her growing granddaughter has a beautiful new ribbon skirt to wear, a reminder of her nookomis and the cultural traditions that stitch together her family with love. It’s a celebration of the power of indigenous craft and community. Rendon writes the award-winning Cash Blackbear mystery series and stand-alone novels as well as children’s books, plays and poetry. Pawis-Steckley is a children’s book illustrator living in Ontario.