Front cover of Stars in the Water, Written by Lesley Du Temple and illustrated by Jack Oyler.

Mudminnow Press is an independent publisher located in Copper Harbor, Michigan, on the shore of Lake Superior. Our harbor is guarded by the oldest lighthouse on the lake and Canada is just over our horizon. Copper Harbor is also located in Keweenaw County, Michigan’s largest, least populated, and most northern county—making us the most northern town in the state of Michigan. The winters are long, the summers are gorgeous, and we love living and working here.

Our first book—Stars in the Water, an illustrated storybook for children of all ages—was published in April 2011. Stars in the Water is written by award-winning children’s author Lesley DuTemple, and richly illustrated by Jack Oyler. The three stories in this volume—Coyote’s Star, The Fire Deer, The Water Star—were inspired by traditional First Nation tales as well as Lesley’s love of nature and sense of wonder.

Jack Oyler’s marvelous wooden illustrations were specifically commissioned for Stars in the Water and are a perfect pairing for all three tales. These original works of art were then photographed by local photographer Joe Kirkish, a retired professor emeritus at Michigan Technological University. Joe’s photographs have beautifully preserved the textures, colors, and three-dimensional aspect of Jack’s original art.