An inspiring story for readers of all ages and genders.
Thermes presents the tale of the first woman thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail.
Emma Gatewood always found a bit of an escape in rambling through the hills near her farm in Ohio, and with 11 children and the farm and house chores, she sure needed one. In 1955, at the age of 67, Emma headed out on the A.T. She had read in a magazine that no woman had ever hiked the whole thing and that it was easy. Alternating pages tell the tale of Emma’s thru-hike and facts about the trail, the backdrop double-page spreads of sectional maps of the A.T. pointing out notable sights and mountains and marking Emma’s progress. Dubbed Grandma Gatewood by the kindly people she met along the way, she was the recipient of much trail magic—she carried no stove, little food, and no tent, and she wore through five pairs of canvas sneakers. Thermes presents both the good and the bad about Emma’s hike: a bear, rain (a hurricane!), a few injuries, gorgeous scenery, and many new friends. Quite a few of the softly colored, cartoony, watercolor-and–colored pencil spreads will have readers packing their own backpacks, most notably those of McAfee Knob, the backwoods night sky, and the top of Katahdin. Emma is white; among a group of fellow hikers are some people of color. A text-heavy backmatter spread includes a biography of Emma Gatewood, the history of the A.T., and selected sources.
An inspiring story for readers of all ages and genders. (Informational picture book. 4-10)Pub Date: May 8, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4197-2839-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist.
Frida Kahlo’s strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography.
Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of “her life as a little girl.” The author’s note adds important details about Kahlo’s life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo’s style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo’s life.
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4269-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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