Praise for Bur Bur and Friends®

iParenting Media Award

Winner – Best Products

  • Anna Goes Hiking
  • Anna doll

Winner – Greatest Products

  • Bur Bur's Boating ABC's
  • Bur Bur's Fishing Adventure
  • Bur Bur Throws out the First Pitch
Mom's Choice Award

Winner - Children's Picture Book Illustrated Series

  • Bur Bur and Friends Series
Teacher's Choice for the Family Award

Winner – For the Family Award

  • Bur Bur's Boating ABC's
Nickelodeon Parents' Pick — Best Local Blog

Winner – Best Local Blog

  • Minneapolis

Selection – CRAVE Minneapolis St. Paul

  • The Urban Girl's Manifesto

JoAnne meets Bill Clinton
Clinton Letter

JoAnne Pastel and her son met President Bill Clinton in October of 2007. President Clinton's letter to the left states:

"Dear JoAnne, Thanks so much for your fun children’s books and the puzzle. It’s a message that needs to get out. Sincerely, Bill Clinton"

Bur Bur and Friends® Book Series

"Must have, must do, must buy!"

Parent's® Magazine

"My daughter, who is a reluctant reader, grabbed the books and never put them down. I credit Bur Bur and Friends with spearheading her desire to explore reading as well as her race, since the characters are those she can relate to as a biracial child. This matters to her!"

Amy Bowllan, blogger at The School Library Journal and Emmy Award Winning Journalist

"I've enjoyed reading the Bur Bur and Friends books with children at our school. There are not many picture books that depict multicultural images of children, and they seem to identify with and enjoy the character of Bur Bur. A Hmong student enjoyed Bur Bur's Fishing Adventure because he and his family go fishing regularly. Bur Bur Throws Out the First Pitch caught the interest of other children who have had experience playing ball in their neighborhood…. Thank you for sharing the Bur Bur books with our school. I know they'll continue to be read again and again."

Linda Becker, Literacy Coach, Cherokee Heights Elementary School, St. Paul

"People of color [are] broadly absent from representation in textbooks at all levels, and in all media. As one result, I found that [biracial and multiracial] students were often confused about their identities, their true fit as members of American society, and that they frequently lacked full self-esteem…. You have taken an extremely important step toward correcting this oversight."

Dr. Sherri Mazingo, Professor and Cowles Media Fellow, University of Minnesota

Bur Bur's Boating ABCs

"I have never seen another book that offers young children an introduction to the world of boating. We are on the lake every weekend in the summer and this was a perfect addition to our library for our young daughter."

iParenting Media Awards reviewer

"I loved the diversity in this book. It also offers questions on many pages, which promotes interaction between parent and child while reading."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

"My kids were very interested in the active role they were able to play as this book was read. The details in the pictures amazed them!"

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

Bur Bur's Fishing Adventure

"We read a couple hundred library books each month and I have yet to run across a similar book that describes the informational process of fishing."

iParenting Media Award reviewer

"How nice to finally find a book that has a biracial family! What a relaxing book to read about a little boy and his father having a great time together without involving a video game or computer!"

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

"Our grandchildren love to go fishing with Grandpa, so this was just the right book at the right time of year."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

"The section at the end of the book with the descriptions of everything needed for fishing is a good starter for putting together a real or imaginary fishing trip for children."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

Bur Bur Throws out the First Pitch

"The story line of this book is a dream come true for every little baseball fan. The simple picture definitions, along with the more in-depth rules of the game at the end of the book were a great addition."

iParenting Media Awards reviewer

"There is an important lesson that is taught here...practice and try your best."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

"This book teaches facts about baseball - everything from the gear to the aspects of the field. It [also] teaches the importance of family bonds and respect."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

Anna Goes Hiking

"There was a lot of science learning packed into an enjoyable read-aloud! Great story line and age-appropriate content, especially the questions and answers and animal facts."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

"The way Anna's dialogue could be read in first person would allow the students to feel as if they were hearing a true account of one of their own classmate's adventures."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — Children's Books reviewer

"I love the animal track information in the back of the book. It's always nice to read about a family having a nice time together doing something very worthwhile like hiking."

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer

"I would recommend it to parents as a way to engage their children in a story, followed by a family hike of their own! Everyone can use the fresh air!"

Learning Magazine Teacher's Choice Awards — For the Family reviewer