Fargo, N.D. –  Prairie Public’s beloved radio series, “Dakota Datebook,” has been compiled into a book with a nugget of North Dakota history for each day of the year.

Prairie Public will debut the book with a launch party and sunset cruise on the Lewis & Clark Riverboat in Bismarck on Saturday, August 24, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the dock, and are available at prairiepublic.org.

The book was prepared for publication by a University of North Dakota publishing practicum led by David Haeselin, William Caraher and the UND Digital Press. The practicum students selected essays for the book from all the Dakota Datebooks written over the years—at least one essay for each county in the state.

Professor Bethany Andreasen, of Minot State University, wrote for the book’s back cover: “Elaborating upon events and developments from prehistoric times through the twentieth century, these stories introduce us to characters—unknown, famous and infamous—who are too prone to disappear within the broad strokes of the state’s history. To paraphrase an old advertising slogan, ‘Betcha can’t read just one!’”

Author and historian Clay Jenkinson also gave the new book a rave review: “When you listen to Dakota Datebook on Prairie Public, you are sometimes so taken with the audio performances that you forget how well these short explorations of North Dakota life are written.”

Prairie Public Broadcasting, headquartered in Fargo, is a non-profit member station of PBS and NPR that provides public television services throughout North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, southern Manitoba and parts of Montana and South Dakota; public radio service to North Dakota; and educational and technological services to communities and individuals across its coverage area.