Northern Minnesota is under a new alert until Friday at 7 p.m.

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Alan Page did not think the title of ‘children’s book author’ would be on his long resume after retiring from the Minnesota Supreme Court. But the NFL Hall of Famer’s fifth book, written with his daughter Kamie Page, highlights one of his most important jobs yet: being a grandfather. 

“That’s sort of what it’s grounded in. With the grandkids, we pretty much — if it can be baked, we do it,” Page said. 

 follows a young girl, Esther, who is supposed to bake cupcakes with her mom for an after-school event. When her mother is nowhere to be found, Grandpa (who bears a striking resemblance to the former Vikings player) steps in. 

“The book is about intergenerational connections,” Page said. “Being a part of family means doing things together. That’s where the joy comes in.”

In the story, Esther and her grandfather bake up a tray of Mississippi Mud Cupcakes. A recipe that’s featured at the end of the book and was a favorite of Page’s late wife, Diane Sims Page. He said it’s a combo of chocolate, sugar and butter with a little flour to hold it all together. 

But in the book, Grandpa includes another ingredient: love.

“It’s even good when I make it. It was spectacular when Diane made it.” Page said. 

Tom Crann

Host

Lukas Levin

Author

NFL Hall of Famer, former Vikings player and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page talks about his new book, “Baking Up Love,” a story he wrote with his daughter, Kamie Page, about a girl who bakes with her grandpa.  

NFL Hall of Famer, former Viking and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page talks about his new book, “Baking Up Love,” a story he wrote with his daughter, Kamie Page, about a girl who bakes with her grandpa.  

Alan Page’s ‘Baking Up Love’ draws on his joy of baking with his grandchildren

Go Deeper.

Like this?