Children’s books by Phyllis Alsdurf
VALENTINE’S DAY IN THE VILLAGE
Illustrated by Lisa Hunt | Beaming Books, 2025
Coming December 15, 2025: A new countryside holiday tale for Valentine's Day about community, belonging, and kindness.
A girl notices that not everyone is looking forward to Valentine's Day. Some people are new to the community, some are lonely, others are missing loved ones. But then she comes up with a brilliant idea! With the support of her baker grandfather and her classmates, she organizes a town square hunt for valentine cards that people can exchange for a cookie. Soon everyone wants to help, and a new town festival is born. Food trucks, bingo, and live music bring it all together for a fabulous Valentine's Day in the village.
EASTER ON THE FARM
Illustrated by Lisa Hunt | Beaming Books, 2024
This bright, hopeful story invites readers to gather and celebrate the beauty of spring. A young girl meets baby animals, helps prepare the garden for planting, and collects pussy willows by the marsh. As they get ready to host a community Easter egg hunt on the farm, the family also decorates eggs with natural dyes and makes funny gifts from egg shells and grass.
“Perfect for cuddled-up sharing...a simple, cozy Easter title.”
~School Library Journal
HALLOWEEN IN THE ORCHARD
Illustrated by Lisa Hunt | Beaming Books, 2023
The apples are ready for harvest and Halloween is here! What better way to celebrate than by donning homemade costumes and going to the local apple orchard? In this charming story, a boy and his family enjoy everything the orchard has to offer, including searching for scarecrows, getting lost in a corn maze, and going on a hayride. Phyllis Alsdurf's nostalgic storytelling and Lisa Hunt's cozy illustrations will have you counting down the days until Halloween and apple orchard season!
“Phyllis Alsdurf has written a cute slice-of-life Halloween story that the youngest listeners will enjoy.”
~Manhattan Book Review.
A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM
Illustrated by Lisa Hunt | Beaming Books, 2021
A young child helps her family get ready for a simple Christmas on the farm, where the focus is less on getting and more on giving.
The family cuts a Christmas tree, makes cookies and homemade gifts to give. Then relatives, neighbors and friends are invited to share in the delight of Christmas Day together.
THANKSGIVING IN THE WOODS
Illustrated by Jenny Lovlie | Beaming Books, 2017
Every year a family and their friends gather in the woods to celebrate Thanksgiving among the trees. Everyone brings something to share and the day becomes a long celebration of family, faith, and friendship. Told in a gentle, lyrical style, this picture book includes warm illustrations of people gathered around bonfires and long tables adorned with candles and food, singing songs and sharing laughter. Thanksgiving in the Woods is based on the true story of a family in upstate New York that has hosted an outdoor Thanksgiving feast in the woods on their farm for over twenty years.
“A heart-warming autobiographical story of the kind of Thanksgiving that families and the planet can share with equal pleasure. Sure to find a home on every Thanksgiving-lover's holiday shelf.”
~Jane Yolen, author of Owl Moon and the How Do Dinosaurs series.
IT'S MILKING TIME
Illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher | MN Historical Society Press, 2019
A lyrical and visual treasure—perfect for reading aloud to any child who’s ever asked: Where does milk come from? As the sun sets over the fields, a little girl and her father begin the evening milking. They work side by side, fanning out beds of straw, bringing in the cows, and hooking up the milkers. Soon they’ve filled milk can after milk can for the creamery truck that will arrive in the morning. It’s Milking Time is a must-have for any picture book collection.
“A lovely, poetic picture book.”
~Kirkus Review