A Spring of Stories: Daniel Bernstrom’s Season of Joy

Pursuing joy may have been intentional for Daniel Bernstrom, but becoming a picture book author happened entirely by surprise.
As a child who repeated first grade because he could not read, Daniel never expected that books would one day become his life’s passion. But years later, living in Red Wing, Minnesota, he discovered a calling he didn’t know he’d been searching for: crafting picture books that spark imagination, stir emotion, and radiate joy.
And this spring, that journey blossoms into three new books, each one humming with heart, humor, and hope.

Today, Daniel is a full-time English instructor at Minnesota West Community & Technical College. His books, including Big Papa and the Time Machine and Good Night, Little Man, and others, have been nominated for reading awards in several states. Rooted in his heritage and shaped by lived experience, Daniel’s storytelling offers readers young and old a glimpse into the soulful, joy-seeking world that shaped him.

In recent years, his work has earned both recognition and momentum.
In March 2024, he received a $4,000 SMAC Artist Equity Grant, supporting artists of color in advancing their craft. A month later, Song in the City was nominated for the 2025 Star of the North Award.

Now, with two Kirkus Starred Reviews and, as of this month, a BookPage Star for A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van, Daniel steps into the spring of 2026 with three fresh tales shining behind him and ready for readers.

A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Series: The Hungry Bear Series
Kirkus Starred Review
Bear is back, and this time, he’s hungry for something spectacular.
In the third adventure of the beloved Hungry Bear Series (A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree; A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish), Bear chases down the most irresistible treasure of all: DONUTS. What follows is a gorgeously illustrated, rhythmically perfect romp involving a bear, a man, and a donut van, proof that joy sometimes looks like a goofy, sugar‑dusted chase.
With Daniel’s signature rhyme and laugh‑out‑loud pacing, this book is a feast for families, classrooms, and, of course, hungry bears everywhere.

Habitat Heroes
Release Date: March 31, 2026
Think Bob the Builder meets The Octonauts, with heart.
In this imaginative new series starter, a team of young “Habitat Heroes” uses tools, facts, feelings, and teamwork to create dream homes for animals in their town.  This book blends STEAM concepts, emotional intelligence, and adventure.

It’s a celebration of creativity, kindness, and community problem‑solving, and a joyful gateway into a world where kids’ skills truly matter.

The Dumped Truck
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Kirkus Starred Review
Grumpy Monkey meets Little Blue Truck meets Toy Story.
Welcome to Toyville, where every toy has a job, and Dump Truck’s job is messy. He cleans up. He fixes things. He dumps stuff. And for that, the other toys cast him aside.

But Dump Truck isn’t broken. He isn’t dirty. He isn’t “less than.”
He’s essential.
Written with humor and heart and brought to life by Pura Belpré Award–winning illustrator Marcelo Verdad, this picture book explores belonging, purpose, and the power of doing the work that matters, even when others don’t see it.

This spring marks more than a publishing season for this internationally recognized Minnesota West English faculty member; it marks a rare chance for students to learn beside a writer actively shaping today’s literary landscape. Bernstrom embodies the Minnesota West belief that success can begin (and flourish) in Southwest Minnesota.