For those who want to know the inspirations of Mankato people and locations from Lovelace's many Deep Valley books. This well-researched book includes photos, biographies and clippings of Mankato/Deep Valley's people and places. It's good to read before taking a Betsy/Tacy visit.

Minnesota

Very fun to page through this just after having seen many of the Betsy-Tacy sites for myself this past weekend in Mankato.

Oh, this gorgeous gorgeous book – I love it so much. It contains some of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen of the real-life people who inspired the characters in my beloved Betsy-Tacy books. I love reverently paging through it! Highly recommended for any Betsy-Tacy fan.

A really excellent read for all fans of the Betsy-Tacy series; conveniently laid out in one- and two- page sections by character or building/place with blurbs on the real people or place, and complimented by period photographs (late 19th or early 20th century) and recent photographs where available.

Additionally, I was very excited to find such a good model for a similar work of my own that I someday hope to complete, based on my extended family and our life in Phoenix.

This book was actually my favorite in the several I read recently about the life of Maud Hart Lovelace. Great photos and details on the lives of the real people behind the beloved Betsy-Tacy books. I loved every page and can't wait to own a copy someday. (I was so thankful to be able to read it through inter-state library loan.)

2015: Exactly what it says on the tin. Which made the organization weird, since it goes geographically and that's not something I'm familiar with. One day, I will get there. The info wasn't new or particularly exciting, but I loved the old photographs.

2017: Reread as I get ready for my Very First Mankato Visit!!!! I am a little disappointed that I read this after I booked my hotel--I didn't remember that the Holiday Inn was built on the site of the Melborn hotel! Oh, well. Looking forward to the houses (duh), the Historical Society, cemetery and slough especially. We'll see where else we get to go!

“Step into the pages of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Deep Valley during the early 1900s. This book details the people and places Maud Hart Lovelace so accurately described when writing the Betsy-Tacy books. Filled with photographs of the real-life characters and places as they looked at the turn of the century as well as current photos. Quotes from the books correspond with each person or place along with a detailed history or biography.”

Exactly what I needed! A comprehensive guide to “what happened to” and lwho’s who” and “where’s what” for the beloved Betsy-Tacy books. Not a need-to-read for anyone who isn’t a mega fan. But great for those of us who are!

As a massive Betsy Tacy fan, this was such a pleasure to read. I can't wait to visit Mankato myself.

This book is AMAZING. It is for any and every true fan of the Betsy-Tacy books. This book gives you the real story behind every single person, place and thing mentioned in the BT books. I LOVED this book! There are so many pictures and so much trivia!