Tracy Nelson Maurer

A dirt road climbs a long, steady hill to the home were Tracy Nelson Maurer grew up outside of Superior, Wisconsin. Lake Superior looks like a thin blue line in the distance from the hilltop. Tall evergreens and clustered poplar trees guard the driveway. She spent hours playing in the woods there. Living in the country helped forge her lifelong love for quiet places, books, gardens, and writing.

Tracy graduated from the School of Journalism at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities and launched into a full-time independent writing career in 1991. She has researched and written more than 60 nonfiction books for schools and libraries, in addition to releasing Storm Codes, a children’s fiction book set in Duluth, Minnesota. Her grandfather, the late Captain Harvey C. Almstedt, inspired this tribute to sailors and their families.

Tracy continues to write nonfiction and fiction children’s books while pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Hamline University in St. Paul. She married her best friend, and they have two wonderful children. They live near Minneapolis—an easy two hours from the shores of Lake Superior.

Storm Codes
illustrated by Christina Rodriguez
Windward Publishing Company, 2007
agest 6 to 12, ISBN 978-0-89317-063-9 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-89317-064-6 (softcover)

Storm Codes presents the sights and sounds of Great Lakes shipping in the late 1960s through seven-year-old Katy’s story of hope and determination. As a fierce ice storm rips through northern Minnesota, Katy and her mother wait restlessly for her father’s ship to return to their harbor in Duluth. Storm Codes vividly combines historically based illustrations with nautical terms and descriptions. Katy even creates her own secret code to help bring her father home safely.

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Awards
ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award Finalist 2007; Midwest Booksellers “Midwest Favorite”; Minnesota Book Award Nominee 2007; Northeast Minnesota Book Award Nominee 2007; Hennepin County Library Top Six Pick of Children’s Gift Books, 2007

Maserati (ISBN 978-1600445736)
Bugatti (ISBN 978-1600445705)
Ford GT (ISBN 978-1600445712)
Tesla (ISBN 978-1600445774)
Thunderbird (ISBN 978-1600445729)
Mazda (ISBN 978-1600445743)
PT Cruiser (ISBN 978-1600445767)
Mini-Cooper (ISBN 978-1600445750)
Full Throttle series
Rourke Publishing, 2008

Today’s dream machines supercharge the reading excitement! Filled with stunning full-color photos, surprising “Fast Facts” and helpful glossary callouts, each high-interest book showcases the vehicle’s place in history and its development over time. Learn about the body styling, engine designs, construction, and all-out staying power that created these legends of the motoring world.

New Brunswick (ISBN 978-1-55388-371-5)
Newfoundland and Labrador (ISBN 978-1553883616)
Nova Scotia (ISBN 978-1-55388-359-3)
Prince Edward Island (ISBN 978-1-55388-363-0)
Quebec (ISBN 978-1-55388-357-9)
Yukon (ISBN 978-1-55388-365-4)
Canada’s Land and People series
Weigl Educational Publishers, 2008

This series offers a fascinating journey through Canada’s ten provinces and three territories. Each book explores the natural and cultural features that make a particular province or territory unique, including the environment, history, industry, tourist attractions, arts, sports, and cultures of the region. Informative writing, dynamic images, and detailed maps help young Canadians learn more about their vast country and the exciting diversity of its people.

Lamborghini (ISBN 978-1-60044-224-7)
Viper (ISBN 978-1-60044-228-5)
Land Rover (ISBN 978-1-60044-225-4)
Jeep (ISBN 978-1-60044-223-0)
Lotus (ISBN 978-1-60044-226-1)
Mustang (ISBN 978-1-60044-227-8)
Hummer (ISBN 978-1-60044-222-3)
VW Beetle (ISBN 978-1-60044-229-2)
Full Throttle series
Rourke Publishing, 2007

The Cheerleaders (ISBN 978-1595154989)
Cheerleading Skills (ISBN 978-1-59515-500-9)
School Cheerleading (ISBN 978-1-59515-499-6)
Competitive Cheerleading (ISBN 978-1-59515-501-6)
Cheerleading Gear (ISBN 978-1-59515-502-3)
Cheerleading Practice (ISBN 978-1-59515-503-0)
Jump & Shout! series
Rourke Publishing, 2005

Cheerleaders blend amazing athletic skills and spirited talent to perform breathtaking stunts. They work hard to boost school pride and win over judges at stiff competitions. Coaches expect teamwork, dedication, good grades, and healthy attitudes. Exciting color photography and clear text in each book reveal how to cheer—safely and confidently. From warm-up stretches and proper form to voice projection and time management, this series delivers fun tips and surprising details that score big with readers!

Muscle Cars (ISBN 978-1589527508)
Desert Racers (ISBN 978-1-58952-922-9)
Limousines (ISBN 978-1589527478)
Monster Trucks (ISBN 978-1589527492)
Lowriders (ISBN 978-1589527485)
Stock Cars (ISBN 978-1589527515)
Roaring Rides series
Rourke Publishing, 2004

Fasten your seat belts for a trip with today’s wildest wheels! Far from the tame cars and trucks in your dealer’s quiet showroom, these exciting rides focus on style, attitude, and power. Each photo-packed book highlights history, vehicle construction, competitions, safety equipment, and driver training, plus surprising details that will rev curious minds.

Guide to ATV Riding (ISBN 978-1589522763)
Guide to Snocross (ISBN 978-1589522794)
Guide to Mountain Biking (ISBN 978-1589522770)
Guide to Surfing (ISBN 978-1589522800)
Guide to Wakeboarding (ISBN 978-1589522817)
Guide to Watercross (ISBN 978-1589522787)
RadSports Guides Set II series
Rourke Publishing, 2003

This energetic series offers kids a wealth of information about today’s favorite “radical” sports. Each title details how to rent and buy the required equipment, as well as suggestions of great ways to practice the necessary skills, outside on the snow, water, concrete, or dirt trails. Action-packed photos highlight many of the coolest tricks. Important safety tips are given, completing the solid foundation of sports knowledge offered by this high-interest series.

Guide to Snowboarding (ISBN 9781589521063)
Guide to Snow Skiing (ISBN 9781589521056)
Guide to Skateboarding (ISBN 1589521048)
Guide to BMX Freestyle (ISBN 1589521021)
Guide to In-Line Skating (ISBN 158952103X)
Guide to Freestyle Moto-X (ISBN 1589521013)
RadSports Guides Set I series
Rourke Publishing, 2001

A to Z of Spring (ISBN 978-1-58952-197-1)
A to Z of Summer (ISBN 978-1-58952-198-8)
A to Z of Autumn (ISBN 978-1589521964)
A to Z of Winter (ISBN 978-1-58952-199-5)
A to Z of Seasons series
Rourke Publishing, 2003

Today’s students need to learn simple verbs and nouns—and how they can be used—to succeed in school literacy programs. Autumn and Winter use nouns to give the youngest readers information they need to know. Spring and Summer use verbs in easy sentences for the emergent reader. Child-friendly color photographs illustrate each word. You’ll find a year’s worth of seasonal alphabetical discoveries in this wonderful science series.

A to Z of Ps and Qs (ISBN 978-1589520622)
A to Z of All of Me (ISBN 978-1-58952-059-2)
A to Z of Friends and Family (ISBN 978-1589520608)
A to Z of Helping Hands (ISBN 978-1-58952-061-5)
A to Z series
Rourke Publishing, 2001

Discover the alphabet in everyday life! The letters from A to Z highlight the people, events, actions, and even basic body parts that everyone should know. Colorful photographs illustrate each letter. A fun and helpful way to practice the alphabet.

Growing Herbs (ISBN 978-1559162531)
Growing Houseplants (ISBN 978-1559162548)
Growing Vegetables (ISBN 978-1559162562)
Growing Flowers (ISBN 978-1559162517)
Growing Trees (ISBN 978-1559162555)
Growing Fruit (ISBN 978-1559162524)
Green Thumb Guides series
Rourke Publishing, 2001

People say that a good gardener has a “green thumb”—a special way with plants. Green Thumb Guides explain the many things gardeners do to grow healthy plants. Learn about seeds, soil, sunshine, and much more. You’ll discover amazing facts about your leafy friends, too!

Digestion (ISBN 978-0865935846)
The Brain (ISBN 0865935858)
The Senses (ISBN 0865935831)
The Heart and Lungs (ISBN 0865935815)
The Bones (ISBN 0865935807)
The Skin (ISBN 978-0865935822)
Bodyworks series
Rourke Publishing, 1999

Inside the human body, many tiny parts work together in amazing ways. Some keep you healthy and growing. Others help you understand the world. Take an inside look at how the body works. Learn what your body does on its own—and what you can do to keep it going strong.

State Songs (ISBN 978-1571032959)
State Capitals (ISBN 978-0613981545)
License Plates (ISBN 978-1571032980)
Rourke Guide to State Symbols series
Rourke Publishing, 1999

Discover the sometimes obvious and sometimes odd choices each state has made in picking the symbols to represent it, and why.

World Dances (ISBN 978-1571031730)
Tap Dancing (ISBN 978-1571031723)
Rhythmic Gymnastics (ISBN 978-1571031716)
Ballet (ISBN 978-1571031709)
Let's Dance series
Rourke Publishing, 1997

Dancers spin and jump. They clap and stomp. Sometimes they wiggle and sway. Around the world, young and old people dance many different ways. Yet they all share the joy of moving to music. Dance has become a part of our lives, from family traditions to sports. Learn about the important changes in dance over the years—and what has stayed the same for centuries. Dance is a colorful and exciting art anyone can enjoy.