One snowy night, when a 19th-century traveler visits with the family who lives in a stone house on the Wisconsin River, he inspires them to make their fortune by bringing trade goods down the Santa Fe Trail. Lewis’s father leaves his wife and daughter to pack up a prairie schooner with goods—kegs of nails on the bottom, bolts of calico on top—and takes Lewis on the long journey to Santa Fe. Along the way, they encounter dust storms and grasshoppers, herds of buffalo and parched deserts. Lewis watches his father and the other men on the trail and learns what is required in the face of fear, and how crying can be manly, too. Richly textured paintings in the colors of the West fill the pages; Van Zyle uses tight close-ups of oxen and buffalo, panoramic views of stars and hills, and unusual angles (the circle of wagons is seen from above in one nighttime spread). The text is long for a picture book, and becomes sentimental; more gratifying are the historical details—map of the trail, notes, glossary, and an explanation of how the railroad running between Missouri to Santa Fe, completed in 1880, ended this mode of commerce. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: June 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-8118-1959-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1998
A young brother and sister can’t understand why their grandfather prays all the time, instead of telling them exciting stories about his past. When he finally explains his habits, they hear Grandpa Sam’s riveting tale, of the poverty and discrimination that forced him to leave his family and Poland, of emigrating to the US to find a new life, of scarce jobs, and of his decision to gamble for a living. He bought a home and raised a family, doing well until the day his wife became ill. The fear of losing her prompted his last bet—with God, to save his wife’s life—to trade in gambling for a life of prayer. Michelson’s story is both personal and universal, highlighting the discovery of family histories and hidden lives in people who are so much a part of every day. Moser’s skilled sepia illustrations add an intimate touch to this poignant tale. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-7614-5034-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
A deeply satisfying story of longing and hard work fulfilled, inspired by an obscure historical photograph. Bee loves the railroad: the sound and color, the sweep past the wide world into the cities, the wonderful engine names, such as True Heart and the Coyote Special. When her parents die, she finds that, with eight siblings to care for, loading freight for the Union Pacific in Cheyenne in 1893 pays far better than taking in wash. She’s strong, and gets hired to load the trains. But what Bee loves most is to pepper Ole Pete, the engineer, with questions; he lets her drive the train a bit, back it up, and couple it to other cars. When Bee gets the chance to drive a train, she takes two of her female crew to stoke the engines, “blowing my whistle for all the sky to hear.” The language is homespun and direct, with Bee’s desire and love for the railroad clear. The text faces the full-page illustrations; occasional double-page spreads float the text on top of the image, as in one dramatic scene where ghostly wagon trains parallel the train on its run. The mixed media paintings have a burnished quality, while the textures are beautifully tactile. The text never mentions Bee’s gender, but Moss provides a note about her inspiration and preserves another tessera from the mosaic of women’s history. A rousing and romantic tale. (Picture book. 5-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201344-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
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