Charlotte, James and Baby John get up to all sorts of tricks in this amusing work of picture book historical fiction, based upon the 1796 visits of GeCharlotte, James and Baby John get up to all sorts of tricks in this amusing work of picture book historical fiction, based upon the 1796 visits of George Washington to the famous Philadelphia painter Stuart Gilbert, in order to have his portrait painted. The story is told through the letters of young Charlotte to Mr. Washington, as she apologizes for her and her brothers' various misdeeds, promises to copy out and learn the rules of civility sent to them by that great man, and urges him to smile for his portrait. The book concludes with an afterword setting out the history behind the story...
Dear Mr. Washington is the third picture book I have read from author Lynn Cullen, and is something of a departure, as the previous two (Godiva and The Mightiest Heart) were folkloric retellings. I approached it with some curiosity, recognizing illustrator Nancy Carpenter's work as well, as I have read a number of her books. In any case, I found this one quite entertaining, appreciating the madcap antics of the Gilbert children, described in Charlotte's letters and expanded upon in the artwork. I liked the way those letters incorporated some of the rules of etiquette to be found in Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior In Company And Conversation, purportedly given by Washington to the children in the story here. I recall reading in the Chernow biography of Washington how he, unlike so many of his peers, was largely self-educated, and how carefully he studied issues of manners and etiquette, copying out 110 rules of conduct by the time he was sixteen, as part of his campaign to better himself. Given that this is so, the inclusion here of some of these rules should be very enlightening for young people, I think, giving them an insight both into the mores of the time, and into a text important to the development of our first president's character. All in all, this was an entertaining and educational book, one featuring an. engaging epistolary narrative and expressive artwork that captures the humor of the story. Recommended to young history lovers, and to anyone searching for books about George Washington for children. This could be paired nicely with a good picture book about his life more generally....more
Prolific children's author and illustrator Gail Gibbons, who specializes in non-fiction for the picture book set, here turns to the subject of unicornProlific children's author and illustrator Gail Gibbons, who specializes in non-fiction for the picture book set, here turns to the subject of unicorns, setting out the history of belief in these single-horned creatures throughout time and around the globe. She covers possible prehistoric as well as contemporary animals who might have inspired the legend—monoclonius, rhinoceros, narwhal—as well as the Indian legend of Risharinga (a horned youth), the Chines story of the ki-lin (which introduced the first writing to the people), and the Persian and Arab tales of the Karkaddan. The ancient Greek Ctesias' writings—the first written account of any unicorn—are explored, as are medieval European traditions, as the unicorn became a symbol for Christians.
Behold... the Unicorns! was an engaging read, and is the perfect book to put in the hands of younger unicorn fans who want more information about the subject, but aren't ready for a longer, more in-depth history of this magical creature. Everything covered in the book is covered very briefly, and is accompanied by Gibbons' appealing artwork, which looks to be done in watercolor. The only critique I would make of the book would be that there is no list of resources or further reading, which is a lost opportunity, I think. So many creatures and figures that might be unfamiliar to the child reader are introduced here—one of my own favorites, the Unicorns Tapestries at the Cloisters Museum, get a few pages—and it would have been good to have some place for children to go next, in order to continue to learn more. Leaving that aside, this is a good title for young unicorn lovers who want to learn more about the history of unicorns in the real world....more
"I was a tree that love had planted. I had become a symbol that love will always conquer hate."
The story of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, in which "I was a tree that love had planted. I had become a symbol that love will always conquer hate."
The story of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, in which 168 people lost their lives, is told in this immensely moving picture book from the perspective of the American elm tree which survived the cataclysm. Planted on the prairie as the city around it was just starting to grow, the tree matured with the family that cultivated it, and endured after they left it behind. Eventually, in the 1970s, a large federal office building was built beside the tree, and it became a site for office workers to take their lunches, and children from the building's day care center to play. Then one terrible day, in April 1995, a truck bomb destroyed the building, killing many of those inside, including nineteen of the children in the day care. The tree, caught up as the people were in this terrible event, was a charred ruin of its former self. Many said it should be chopped down, especially as there was evidence from the blast in its seemingly dead branches. Despite this, it somehow survived, and the next spring it bloomed again, bringing hope to the people of Oklahoma City and America. A symbol of strength, resilience, healing and love, the tree was dubbed the Survivor Tree, and its seedlings were planted in all fifty states, including one on the grounds of the 9/11 memorial in New York City, where another famous survivor tree also stands...
Like so many others alive at the time, one of my most vivid memories of the Oklahoma City bombing was the iconic image, reproduced in so many different newspapers and television news programs, of a firefighter cradling the bloodied body of a tiny child, killed in the bombing. I have but to think of that image, to feel a lump in my throat, and a terrible sense of sadness. Although often overshadowed by the subsequent events of 9/11 in our national memory, the bombing of the Edward P. Murrah building was a terrible trauma for the country, and author Gaye Sanders, a fourth-grade teacher in the Mustang, OK schools, handles the subject beautifully. Her text is emotionally resonant, and deeply moving, following the life story of the tree and letting the events it witnesses speak for themselves. Its power is complemented and accentuated by illustrator Pamela Behrend's simple but expressive artwork, which looks to have been done in colored pencil or crayon. I had to obtain this one through interlibrary-loan, and I sought it out after being immensely moved by a number of picture books about the survivor tree at the World Trade Center—Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree, This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth, and Survivor Tree—and discovering this other survivor tree, from an earlier terrorist atrocity. I think that stories like this are an excellent way of approaching terrible events, when working with younger children, because they focus on hope and healing, resilience and strength, rather than on the hatefulness and evil that led to those events. Given the subject matter, I would recommend this one for slightly older picture books audiences, perhaps in the upper primary school range. It would make an excellent avenue for discussion with children curious about the Oklahoma City combing, and a good companion to one of the 9/11 survivor tree stories mentioned above....more
On a sunny day in September, when planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Twins Towers came tumbling down, hundreds of thOn a sunny day in September, when planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Twins Towers came tumbling down, hundreds of thousands of desperate people were looking for a way off of Manhattan. With the bridges, buses, subways, and commuter trains shut down as a security measure, it seemed they were trapped on the island. It was then that the captains and sailors of approximately 150 ships, summoned by a general call for assistance from the US Coast Guard, stepped in to help. From ferryboats to merchant ships, tugboats to party boats, these vessels helped to carry more than 500,000 people away from the smoke and chaos of New York City, and across the Hudson River to safety in New Jersey. It has been described as the largest maritime rescue effort in history...
The story of the maritime evacuation of lower Manhattan on September 11th, 2001 has been told in the immensely moving television documentary, Boatlift, narrated by Tom Hanks, which I highly recommend. I myself was well aware of the importance of maritime transportation on that day, far before I ever saw the film, as my mother escaped Manhattan on 9/11 thanks to these boats. She was taken to New Jersey with a coworker, who then kindly drove her all the way back home, to suburban New York state. So it is that when I happened upon Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 in the children's section of my public library, in their recent 9/11 book display, I immediately snatched it up. The story, written by Julie Gassman, who herself escaped Manhattan on that day thanks to the maritime evacuation, is simple but powerful, and I found myself tearing up, while reading it. The artwork from Steve Moors, in muted grayish tones that are sometimes relieved by a bright blue, didn't speak to me at first, but eventually felt just right for the story, capturing the contrast between the gray dust that coated everything and everyone that day, and the sparkling blue of that September sky.
In the end, this was a deeply poignant read for me, and I came away with a renewed respect and admiration for all of the civilian boat captains and sailors who made the choice to help their fellow human beings on that day, in the face of uncertainty and danger. I think this picture-book, which focuses on the goodness that was displayed that day, rather than on the evil committed, would make a good introduction, for younger children who may have encountered the subject for the first time, and who have questions....more
Born in Kansas in 1873, and named for P.T. Barnum by his circus-loving parents, Barnum Brown grew up loving old bones and fossils. Studying paleontoloBorn in Kansas in 1873, and named for P.T. Barnum by his circus-loving parents, Barnum Brown grew up loving old bones and fossils. Studying paleontology at the University of Kansas as a young man, he became an experienced and skilled fossil hunter. Eventually, in the employ of the American Museum of Natural History, he became the most prolific dinosaur hunter on the planet, helping to build the AMNH's world-renowned collection. Chief among his finds was the first Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, discovered in Montana in 1902...
I initially sought out Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World because I had read and enjoyed other picture-book biographies by Tracey Fern, including her Pippo the Fool and Howard and the Mummy: Howard Carter and the Search for King Tut's Tomb. I am glad that I did, as I ended up finding it both entertaining and educational, learning about a figure who was previously unknown to me, despite his status as one of the most successful dinosaur hunters in history. I particularly liked how Fern highlighted some of Brown's idiosyncrasies and personality quirks, and I appreciated the accompanying illustrations from Boris Kulikov, who also worked with Fern on her biography of Howard Carter. Recommended to young dinosaur lovers, and to picture-book readers looking for stories about that late 19th/early 20th-century period of dinosaur mania, when fossil-hunters were considered celebrities....more
Fascinated by mummies (and by all things Egyptian) since he was a little boy, Howard Carter set out to make discoveries of his own, taking a job as anFascinated by mummies (and by all things Egyptian) since he was a little boy, Howard Carter set out to make discoveries of his own, taking a job as an artist with the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1891, when he was seventeen years old. Teaching himself everything he needed to know to become an expert excavator, he was eventually the archaeologist who uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun, in 1922...
The second picture-book biography I have read from author Tracey Fern, following upon her Pippo the Fool, and the third picture-book overall, Howard and the Mummy: Howard Carter and the Search for King Tut's Tomb presents an engaging tale of discovery and hard work. The author emphasizes throughout how much Carter had to struggle, essentially educating himself in the field, and she also delves into her subject's prickly personality, which made him unpopular, despite his fame. She discusses how the excavation of King Tut's tomb was the most thorough and scientific archaeological dig ever conducted, up to that point, which is an interesting point, highlighting the importance, not just of Carter's discovery, but of his methology. The accompanying artwork from illustrator Boris Kulikov, who worked with Fern on a number of other picture-book biographies, is appealing, making excellent use of sepia tones and light to create a sense of mystery and excitement. A brief afterword gives more information, and a list of sources is included as well.
All in all, this is a book I would recommend to young biography and history lovers, and to all children fascinated by Ancient Egypt. It could be paired very nicely with James Rumsford's Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs—another picture-book biography about a pioneering Egyptologist....more
Author Traci Sorell and illustrator Frané Lessac, who previously collaborated on the bilingual picture-book We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, turn inAuthor Traci Sorell and illustrator Frané Lessac, who previously collaborated on the bilingual picture-book We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, turn in this present volume to the history of America's Native Nations, and their tradition of resistance to cultural, political and geographic encroachment on the part of the United States. Conceived as a series of twelve presentations given by the students at a Native community school on Indigenous People's Day, the topics explored include: Assimilation, Allotment, Indian New Deal, Termination, Relocation, Tribal Activism, Self-Determination, Indian Child Welfare & Education, Religious Freedom, Economic Development, Language Revival, and Sovereign Resurgence. The book closes with an extensive afterword including more information on each "presentation," from the facts presented to the meaning of the accompanying artwork; a timeline from the end of the Civil War to the present day; a glossary of terms; a list of sources; and an author's note.
Having greatly enjoyed this author/illustrator team's previous foray into the world of picture-books, as well as individual projects from both, I picked up We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know with great anticipation, particularly as I find the subject matter both interesting and important. Unfortunately, I found the book wanting in a few key areas, and was not favorably impressed. The paramount trouble, and it is an inescapably structural one, is that this is not really a picture-book. Or, put another way, there is great audience confusion here. Both the subject matter and the language used belong more to a middle-grade title, and I could see this making an excellent work of non-fiction for that age range, if the twelve presentations were expanded, and each made into a brief chapter. As it is, the presentations are little more than lists of points about the topic in question—they are in fact literally lists, with an ellipsis before each point—followed by the refrain "Native Nations say We are still here!" The after matter gives more details, but there is no avoiding the fact that this info-dumping structure lacks the power to engage young picture-book audiences, despite the very thin "framing" narrative of the students making their presentations. I came away with the impression that the choice of picture-book format may have been more driven by Sorell and Lessac's previous title, which was very well received, rather than by a thoughtful consideration of what would work best for different age groups. As it stands, this doesn't work as a picture-book, and is not fleshed out enough for an adequate middle-grade title. I am somewhat bemused by all of the praise the book has received in official reviewing publications. I can only conclude that these reviewers are so enthusiastic for the topic that they have suspended their critical judgement, which is no flattering reflection upon them.
Leaving that aside, the book has other, more subtle flaws. I was very disturbed to see that when unambiguously bad actions taken by the U.S. government were being discussed—Assimilation, Allotment—terms like "white men" and "white people" were used, but when more positive actions were taken–Indian New Deal, Self-Determination, Indian Child Welfare & Education—terms like "United States government," "Congress" and "non-Native families" were used. This may reflect unconscious bias on the author's part—negative actions are associated with white people as a race, while positive actions are associated with institutions, even when those institutions were (at that time) made up of people of that same race—but I think that it can be very harmful to young people to receive these kinds of subtle messages. I was also disturbed to see that, in the discussion of casinos—the Economic Development section—no mention was made of the great controversies and divisions that running casinos have brought to many Native Nations. I still recall the news about the so-called "Mohawk Civil War" that occurred in upstate New York and Canada, back in the 1990s, when I was in high school. If the author didn't wish to focus on something divisive in her main text, that's fair enough, but I find it astonishing that the indigenous community's mixed feelings about gambling and casinos was not raised anywhere in the back matter. To be clear, I am not personally opposed to casinos, and believe that they have brought benefit to various Native Nations, but the omission of any reference to the internal conflicts created by the issue feels intentional, and potentially even dishonest. Consider the language used in the timeline entry related to this specific topic: "Tribes have always had traditional games of chance, so some tribes decide to offer casino-style gaming." Is there anything in such a description that even hints that there might be more to the story?
All in all, I think this is a book that explores an important and worthy topic, and I think it had the potential to do so well, if someone in the editorial process had had the wisdom to suggest a different, expanded format, and had been alive to some of these subtler points. As it is, despite appreciating the intention of the narrative, and the beauty of the artwork, this is not one I can recommend....more
Narrated by young Tibor, this poignant picture-book explores the life of one Hungarian family before and during World War II, and their relationship tNarrated by young Tibor, this poignant picture-book explores the life of one Hungarian family before and during World War II, and their relationship to the hippopotamuses in the Budapest zoo. Although the family enjoy Sunday outings every week, Tibor and his siblings, Gabor and Eva, particularly love to go to the zoo and see the hippos. Kept warm by the hot springs in the city, the hippos are a popular attraction, and none more so than Hanna, a friendly (and very hungry) female hippo. But then the war comes, with soldiers everywhere, and the family stop visiting the zoo. A terrible winter leaves the rivers frozen, and the hippos huddling in their indoor enclosure, in danger of slowly starving to death. Fortunately, Tibor's Papa has an idea, and soon the citizens of Budapest are donating their straw slippers, doormats and hats to keep the hippos alive...
Apparently based upon true events, related to author Trish Marx when she was visiting the Budapest zoo, Hanna's Cold Winter presents an engaging family story, and a deeply moving historical drama. Tibor's family are ordinary people—his father works at a paprika factory—who find themselves caught up in terrible times. Despite this, they think of the welfare of the animals that they love, and act to save them when they are threatened. I really enjoyed the story, from the loving closeness of the human family, to the happy outcome for the hippos. I also greatly appreciated the artwork (it looks to be done in watercolor) from illustrator Barbara Knutson, who visited the Budapest zoo in order to create the visuals here. I did find myself wondering about the nutritional value of old straw—can straw-eating animals subsist on straw hats and mats, in emergencies?—and discovered, in the course of online searching, that the fate of the Budapest zoo animals during WWII was rather grim. Apparently the zoo was bombarded during the siege of Budapest, destroying most of the buildings and killing the majority of the animals. In the aftermath of the siege, the starving citizens ate most of the survivors, with only 15 animals of an initial 2,000 surviving the period. I looked on the zoo's history page for any mention of the story of Hanna and the hippos, but was unable to find it.
Trish Marx's brief afterword here mentions that more than 9,000 straw items were collected from the citizens of Budapest, in order to feed the hippos, and that Hanna and the hippos survived the war, so perhaps they were among those lucky fifteen. I realize it is outside the scope of the fictional story here, which is meant to be more uplifting—hope in dark times, and so on—but I wish that the author has elaborated on the larger story in her afterword. I also wish that she had provided a written source, rather that just stating that the story was told to her. All that being said, I still enjoyed this one, and recommend it to picture-book readers looking for stories set during World War II, or featuring the sadness of people and animals caught up in conflicts....more
Author/illustrator Sean Rubin, native New Yorker and creator of the graphic novel Bolivar, about the adventures of a dinosaur in that city, turns Author/illustrator Sean Rubin, native New Yorker and creator of the graphic novel Bolivar, about the adventures of a dinosaur in that city, turns in this deeply moving picture-book to the subject of 9/11. This is the story of the terrorist attack that devastated the city that day, and the little Callery pear tree that once stood at the base of the World Trade Center, and that survived being buried by tons of steel wreckage, when the Twin Towers came down. Taken to a nursery in the Bronx, the tree was nursed back to health over the course of many years, and was eventually returned to its home in lower Manhattan, where it stands today, on the grounds of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum...
This past September 11th was the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and there has been a flurry of picture-book publications commemorating that terrible event, many of them focused on the story of the "Survivor Tree." Sean Rubin's This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth was published this past May, the same month as Ann Magee and Nicole Wong's Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree. In August, author Marcie Colleen and illustrator Aaron Becker brought out Survivor Tree, while in August of this past year (2020), Miracle of Little Tree: The 9/11 Survivor Tree's Incredible Story was released. The story appears to have first been retold in picture-book form in 2011, on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, in Cheryl Somers Aubin and Sheila Harrington's The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a True Story. It's interesting to note that there is another survivor tree in the annals of terrorist attacks on America. After the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995, a small elm tree survived the wreckage of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, eventually going on to thrive, and to be christened "the survivor tree" as well. That story is told for children in Gaye Sanders and Pamela Behrend's The Survivor Tree.
Obviously, this aspect of the 9/11 story, and of other stories of terrible events - for another example, see Sandra Moore and Kazumi Wilds' The Peace Tree from Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story - speaks to us, and is considered a good entry to the subject, for younger children. Perhaps because this part of the story is about hope—about the resilience and regrowth mentioned in Sean Rubin's sub-title here. In any case, I found the narrative here deeply moving—I was crying throughout—and the artwork lovely. The book does not delve into the actual events of 9/11 over the course of the story, although they are covered in the author's note at the rear, rather the focus is on the experiences of the tree. I liked this, because it allows parents and educators the chance to discuss the larger subject with the children in their care in a way best suited to their individual needs and comprehension levels. Highly recommended to picture-book readers looking for a gentle, thoughtful way to introduce the subject of 9/11 to younger children....more
Co-authors James F. McCloy and Ray Miller, Jr. explore the legend of the Jersey Devil in this immensely engaging folkloric study. Opening with a descrCo-authors James F. McCloy and Ray Miller, Jr. explore the legend of the Jersey Devil in this immensely engaging folkloric study. Opening with a description of the Devil's native habitat - the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey - they move on to a discussion of the various legends surrounding the Devil's first appearance in the world. The most common of these is that he was a deformed, demonic thirteenth child, born to one Mrs. Leeds in the 1730s, but the authors give other, less well-known origin stories as well. Considerable attention is paid to the week in 1909, when there were dozens of Devil sitings across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, leading to widespread public panic, and subsequent sitings are also discussed. The book closes with some speculations about what the Jersey Devil really is - everything from a Sand Hill Crane, to the product of mass hysteria - as well as a bibliography and index.
I currently live in New Jersey, but I did not grow up here, and I was not aware of the legend of the Jersey Devil until my adulthood. I mourn that loss, as I loved folklore and mythology of all kinds as a girl (and as a woman), and would have been fascinated by this story. Too often, in my opinion, American children are given the folklore of every nationality and group except their own, and this seems a great shame. In any case, I recently did discover this cryptid from the Euro-American tradition, and have enjoyed a few books on the subject, most notably the picture-book retelling from Trinka Hakes Noble, The Legend of the Jersey Devil. I found The Jersey Devil, first published in 1976, to be immensely informative, giving far more information about the subject than the brief Noble retelling. I also found it engaging and well-written, and plan to track down James F. McCloy and Ray Miller Jr.'s subsequent Phantom of the Pines: More Tales of the Jersey Devil, as well as many of the books listed in the bibliography here. It is fascinating to me, that this creature has been seen by so many people over the years, some of them very prominent citizens - Joseph Bonaparte, Commodore Stephen Decatur, numerous police officers, mayors, other prominent citizens - and that is was seen by large groups of people during the incidents in 1909. I appreciated the inclusion of various illustrations of the Devil, over the years, as well as the detailed maps chronicling his sitings.
Highly recommend to all readers interested in the creatures of folklore and myth in general, or in the folklore of New Jersey and the Middle Atlantic in particular....more
Shirley Raye Redmond explores the history and legend of the Jersey Devil in this informational book for children. A creature said to haunt the Pine BaShirley Raye Redmond explores the history and legend of the Jersey Devil in this informational book for children. A creature said to haunt the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey, the Devil is a portmanteau animal, and has been described in a variety of ways. It is commonly said to have a horse or dog-like head, be bipedal, and have wings and a forked tail. Folktales about its origin claim that it was the thirteenth child of one Mrs. Leeds, of Leeds Point, New Jersey, born in 1735. It has been sighted many times over the years, in the centuries since, sometimes by very prominent people, has been blamed for depredations on livestock and companion animals, and has caused public panic, during one series of incidents in 1909. Redmond discusses this history, as well as the different contemporary theories about what the Devil truly is, and how the legend came to be. The book closes with notes, a glossary, a list of further reading, and an index...
Part of KidHaven Press' Monsters series, exploring "weird, creepy, and mysterious creatures from movies, mythology, and maybe even real life,"The Jersey Devil is a title I might never have picked up, in the ordinary course of events. It's the sort of publication created explicitly for the juvenile library market, and was most likely never widely available in stores. In any case, the librarian in the children's room at my public library pressed it upon me, when I came in to pick up Trinka Hakes Noble's picture-book, The Legend of the Jersey Devil, and I decided to give it a try. On the whole, I found it engaging, and I think I would have enjoyed it as a young person. I appreciated the chance to learn a little bit more about this creature of New Jersey folklore, and the different theories as to its origin. I was surprised to discover that the list of people claiming to have seen it included so many prominent people - Commodore Stephen Decatur, Joseph Bonaparte, entire police departments - and was interested in the different real-world animals that could explain the legend. Although very basic to adult eyes, this provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject for children, perhaps ages seven and above. There are some disturbing elements - including a photograph of a dead lamb, killed by an unknown predator - so the parents and teachers of more sensitive young people might want to beware. Otherwise, I'd recommend this to young folklore lovers and cryptid hunters....more
First-time author Jasmine A. Stirling and illustrator Vesper Stamper team up in this lovely picture-book biography of Jane Austen, chronicling some ofFirst-time author Jasmine A. Stirling and illustrator Vesper Stamper team up in this lovely picture-book biography of Jane Austen, chronicling some of her major life events, and the gradual maturation process whereby the famous writer discovered her narrative voice. Raised in a comfortable and loving family, Austen grew to womanhood in rural Hampshire, indulged and encouraged by her father in her storytelling and writing. The loss of her childhood home, and then of her father a few years later, led to a period of intellectual inactivity, but eventually Austen did find her voice, penning some of the best-known novels in the English language...
Although I have read all of Austen's novels, as well as a healthy smattering of her juvenilia, I have never read any biography of her, and am therefore ill equipped to judge how accurate of a picture Stirling creates here. That said, from a literary perspective I found A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice quite convincing. When reading that Austen laughed at the over-the-top Gothic novels of her day, I immediately thought of Northanger Abbey. When seeing Austen at the dinner table with family and friends, I thought of some of her dinnertime scenes, in novels like Pride and Prejudice. One really gets a sense of Austen, and of the world that created her in this title, just as one gets a sense of how the events of her life shaped her vision of that world, and the stories she wanted to tell about it. I really appreciated Stirling's afterword, in which she discusses her aim in this book, which is to explore Jane Austen's genius, and where it came from. I have had a number of conversations of late, about the weaknesses of so many recent picture-book biographies about women, so when I read Stirling's statement that: "So many of our narratives about women in history revolve around them being the first to do one thing or another. In this book, I wanted to tell a different kind of story," I wanted to cheer.
The accompanying artwork here from Vesper Stamper is beautiful. I particularly liked the decorative endpapers, which my library thoughtfully kept viewable by glueing the dust-jacket to the book at the book edges, but leaving the flaps liftable. The use of color here was particularly well done, with Austen's childhood depicted in full color, and her middle years in shades of grey. I also liked all of the little historical details - things like Jane's writing desk, which was a gift from her father - that Stamper got right. All in all, a wonderful first introduction to this key figure of English literature, one I would recommend to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, or are interested in writers....more
Prolific children's author Tracy Nelson Maurer, whose previous forays into the world of picture-book biography include John Deere, That’s Who! andProlific children's author Tracy Nelson Maurer, whose previous forays into the world of picture-book biography include John Deere, That’s Who! and Noah Webster's Fighting Words, returns to the form in this look at the life of Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the thirty-sixth President of the United States. Born Clara Alta Taylor, Lady Bird - so nicknamed by her childhood friends - was a shy girl who grew up to become an important public figure, notable not just for her relationship to LBJ, but for her active participation as a citizen in her own right. A campaigner for the beautification of American's parks and motorways, and for the protection of our green spaces, she was the first First Lady to have her own chief of staff, and she worked tirelessly for the ecological causes she espoused...
Although Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who!: The Story of a Cleaner and Greener America is the first book I have read from Maurer, it is the second picture-book biography of Lady Bird Johnson that I have encountered, following upon Kathi Appelt and Joy Fisher Hein's Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America. Although on the whole I think I prefer the Appelt/Hein title, this was still an engaging, educational book, one that pairs an informative, friendly narrative from Maurer with cute, appealing artwork from illustrator Ginnie Hsu. I liked the focus here on Lady Bird overcoming her shyness - as one might imagine from the title, the focus in Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America was its subject's love of wildflowers and how this influenced her life - and think many young children will find something to identify with, in this theme. If half stars were available, this would garner a 3.5 star rating, but as they are not, I have settled on 3 stars. Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, are passionate about conservation, or are interested in First Ladies....more
The Iroquois legend of the prophet Deganawida (the Peacemaker) and his disciple Hiawatha, who together brought unity and peace to the warring IroquoisThe Iroquois legend of the prophet Deganawida (the Peacemaker) and his disciple Hiawatha, who together brought unity and peace to the warring Iroquois tribes in precolonial North America, is retold for children in this beautiful picture-book from Mohawk and Cayuga-descended musician Robbie Robertson, and Caldecott Honor-winning Euro-American illustrator David Shannon. Consumed by grief and rage at the killing of his wife and children by the forces of the terrible Onondaga chief, Tadodaho, Mohawk warrior Hiawatha is set on revenge, until the arrival of the mysterious Peacemaker, a quiet man who travels in a stone canoe, and speaks of the Great Law of Peace that will unite all mankind under one tree. Won over to this new vision, Hiawatha becomes the Peacemaker's spokesman, and together they travel to the different Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nations, convincing them one by one to join their new league. Eventually, only the Onondaga are left to convince, but first the snake-bedeviled Tadodaho must be cured and forgiven. When this is accomplished, the members of the new Iroquois Confederacy - Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca and Onondaga** - bury their weapons underneath a great pine tree, and usher in a new era of peace and cooperation...
Many readers might be familiar with the name Hiawatha from Longfellow's famous poem, The Song of Hiawatha, but the story told there is almost completely the poet's own, and bears little resemblance to the stories told by the Haudenosaunee themselves. I myself have never read the Longfellow, although I would like to at some point. I am familiar with this story however, having read the fuller, adult version in Paul A.W. Wallace's 1946 White Roots of Peace: The Iroquois Book of Life, which is cited by Robertson in his back matter as a source. I therefore went into Hiawatha and the Peacemaker already knowing the story, and curious to see how it would be retold for children. What I discovered was an absolutely beautiful book, one which retold the story in such a way as to make the Peacemaker's message most powerful. By focusing on Hiawatha, and his journey from grief and anger to acceptance and forgiveness, Robertson demonstrates how the Peacemaker's vision has both personal and political aspects to it. As I commented in my review of the Wallace retelling, "this is a story whose political and religious components are inseparable," and it is clear that although it is a tale about the founding of the Iroquois Confederacy - a powerful tribal alliance whose structure would provide inspiration to the founding fathers, in their creation of a new form of government in the American state - it is also a tale about the individual's struggle to find the right way through life. There are interesting elements of the story that have been left out - the fact that Deganawida is often thought to have been Huron, an outsider and potential enemy to the Iroquois peoples, for instance, or that some retelling claim he was (like Jesus) the product of a virgin birth - but that makes sense, as the narrative focus here is on the disciple, rather than the prophet. Although I would have liked to see more information in the afterword, about these matters, or about the eventual structure of the Iroquois Confederacy - the name Tadodaho, for instance, has continued to be used to this day for the traditional leader chosen to preside over the Grand Council of the Iroquois League - I also wasn't terribly exercised by their absence.
As poignant and powerful as Robertson's retelling is, the artwork here from Shannon is equally moving. Done in oil paint, the illustrations are vividly colorful and immensely expressive. I got a shiver down my spine, looking at the image of Hiawatha speaking, with Deganawida behind him, and am little appalled that this didn't receive a Caldecott nod. In any case, this was simply a wonderful book all around, with a fascinating story and beautiful artwork. It explores an aspect of American history - the founding of the Iroquois Confederacy - that many young people may be unaware of. It's fairly long and text-heavy for a picture-book, so I would recommend it to readers who are on the older end of the picture-book audience. Perhaps ages 7 and up.
** The Iroquois Confederacy is now also known as the Six Nations, as they were joined by their linguistically-related cousins, the Tuscarora, in 1722....more
On a bright, sunny morning in September, when two skyscrapers came crashing down in lower Manhattan, brought low by one of the worst terrorist attacksOn a bright, sunny morning in September, when two skyscrapers came crashing down in lower Manhattan, brought low by one of the worst terrorist attacks in human history, the mounds of charred metal and debris buried a small Callery pear tree, formerly standing at the base of the World Trade Center. Astonishingly, this tree survived, clinging to life amidst the wreckage. When its few remaining green leaves were noticed by a rescue worker, the tree was excavated and evacuated, taken to a nursery in the Bronx, and slowly nursed back to health. Then, in 2011, on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it was returned to its former home, incorporated into the memorial park built to honor the victims of that terrible day...
It's hard for me to believe, but this coming September 11th will mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As notable dates and anniversaries tend to find their way into children's publishing, it is less surprising that a number of picture-books have either recently been published, or are forthcoming on the subject. Quite a few of them address the story of the survivor tree - a symbol of hope in dark times. May of this year saw the release of this title from author Ann Magee and illustrator Nicole Wong, as well as author/illustrator Sean Rubin's This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth. This coming August will bring author Marcie Colleen and illustrator Aaron Becker's Survivor Tree. In August of this past year (2020), Miracle of Little Tree: The 9/11 Survivor Tree's Incredible Story was released. Although quite popular recently, the story seems to have first been retold in picture-book form in 2011, on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, in Cheryl Somers Aubin and Sheila Harrington's The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a True Story.**
Obviously, the tale of the survivor tree is an aspect of the larger 9/11 story that is considered very powerful, and particularly suitable for children. Perhaps this is because it symbolizes, not just the terrible hurt and damage done by the terrorist attack and its aftermath, but also the strength of survivors, their resilience, courage and gradual healing. It is a story of hope, and Magee and Wong capture that sense of hope here. I found myself weeping on more than one occasion, as I read this one, and I found both story and artwork immensely moving. This appears to be Magee's debut, which makes it particularly impressive. I wasn't sure at first that I cared for the opening scenes, in which the calamity of 9/11 intrudes, with no explanation given in the text as to what is going on, but then it occurred to me that this was a story from the tree's perspective, and that human actions and affairs would seem well-nigh incomprehensible to our arboreal friends at the best of times. This realization made the opening scenes even more powerful to me, and I appreciated how the narrative from the tree's perspective was paired with visuals that depicted both the events surrounding the tree, and the life of a family experiencing 9/11 and its aftermath. The artwork here from Wong, whose illustrations I know from Kate Milford's Bluecrowne and The Raconteur's Commonplace Book, was just lovely, and I appreciated the fact that a mixed-race family was depicted.
All in all, an immensely powerful and poignant book, one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for 9/11 stories that emphasize hope and healing. For my own part, I plan to track down some of the other titles mentioned here, to see how they handle this tale.
** Readers might be interested to know that there is another survivor tree in the annals of terrorist attacks on America. After the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995, a small elm tree survived the wreckage of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, eventually going on to thrive, and to be christened "the survivor tree" as well. That story is told for children in Gaye Sanders and Pamela Behrend's The Survivor Tree....more
Author/illustrator team Marcie Colleen and Aaron Becker team up to tell the story of the Callery pear tree which survived the destruction of the WorldAuthor/illustrator team Marcie Colleen and Aaron Becker team up to tell the story of the Callery pear tree which survived the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11 in this deeply moving picture book. The spare text focuses on the seasonal life of the tree—the white of spring blossoms, green of summer leaves, red of fall foliage, and bare limbs of winter—the cataclysmic interruption of that life the day it was buried in steel and rubble from the collapsed towers, and the slow healing process after it was removed to a nursery in the Bronx. The beautiful watercolor artwork depicts all of this, while also capturing a parallel story of a young boy, photographed in front of the tree in happier times, and then visiting it, and the 9/11 Memorial, as an adult with his own child...
Survivor Tree is an immensely poignant and powerful book, and I found myself close to tears on more than one occasion, while reading it. The text is minimal but emotionally resonant, and the artwork beautiful. The book was published in August of 2021, shortly before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and is one of several which addresses the subject of the Callery pear survivor tree. These other titles include Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree by author Ann Magee and illustrator Nicole Wong, This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by author/illustrator Sean Rubin (both published in 2021), as well as the 2020 Miracle of Little Tree: The 9/11 Survivor Tree's Incredible Story, by Linda S. Foster. Of course, anniversaries and significant dates do tend to produce a rush of books on the same topic, in the children's book world, so that is not surprising. That said, I think this specific subject is particularly fitting for a children's book, as it offers a fairly gentle and hopeful entree to a difficult and dark subject, one which emphasizes resilience and healing, rather than focusing on atrocity. As it happens, the subject of a tree's survival of human conflict can also be found in such titles as Gaye Sanders and Pamela Behrend's The Survivor Tree, which tells the story of an elm tree which survived the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995, as well as Sandra Moore and Kazumi Wilds' The Peace Tree from Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story.
In any case, this was a beautiful and heartbreaking book, one I would recommend to picture book readers looking for 9/11 stories that emphasize survival, resilience, healing and hope....more
Lakota artist and children's book author S.D. Nelson, whose previous forays into the world of picture-book biography include Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota artist and children's book author S.D. Nelson, whose previous forays into the world of picture-book biography include Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story and Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People, returns to the form here, telling the story of Makhpiya-luta, or Red Cloud. A Lakota warrior and eventual war chief, Red Cloud fought against the encroachment of Euro-American settlers on his land, leading and organizing a series of attacks from 1866 through 1868 that came to be known as Red Cloud's War. Eventually realizing the futility of the conflict, and the suffering it was causing his people, he signed a treaty with the U.S. government in 1868. He lived the rest of his days on a reservation, although he traveled east to Washington, D.C. at one point. He died in 1909, having converted to Catholicism. Like his other titles in this vein, Nelson's book concludes with a detailed timeline, an author's note, a list of sources, a bibliography and an index...
I found Red Cloud: A Lakota Story of War and Surrender both informative and engaging, and I thought Nelson's illustrations, done in ink, watercolor and colored pencil on ledger paper, were beautiful. I did think that the narrative here, although told from Red Cloud's perspective, was somewhat less immediate than in titles like Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story and Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People, where more of the subject's childhood and personal life was explored. Here the focus seemed almost exclusively upon the historical developments, which were labelled and dated in the text, with sections having titles such as "1855 - The Pipe Dance," or "1868 - Third Fort Laramie Treaty." Still, I do think Nelson captures Red Cloud's sense of responsibility to his people, even if other leaders, such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, considered him a traitor for his actions in signing the treaty, and ceasing hostilities. I continue to be impressed by Nelson's storytelling, and by his illustrations, and look forward to his latest effort, Crazy Horse and Custer: Born Enemies, due out later this year.
Although a picture-book, this one is far too advanced in text and subject matter for very young children, and would be more suitable for upper primary and middle-school pupils, who are interested in the history of the American West, the conflicts between Euro-American settlers and Native American nations, and the life story of Red Cloud....more
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