Successful neither as biography nor sermon.
Our 16th president is presented as an activist for human and civil rights.
Lincoln resembles a doll with an oversized head as he strides through a first-person narrative that stretches the limits of credulity and usefulness. From childhood, Abe, bearded and sporting a stovepipe hat, loves to read, write and look out for animals. He stands up to bullies, noting that “the hardest fights don’t reveal a winner—but they do reveal character.” He sees slaves, and the sight haunts him. When the Civil War begins, he calls it a struggle to end slavery. Not accurate. The text further calls the Gettysburg ceremonies a “big event” designed to “reenergize” Union supporters and states that the Emancipation Proclamation “freed all those people.” Not accurate. The account concludes with a homily to “speak louder then you’ve ever spoken before,” as Lincoln holds the Proclamation in his hands. Eliopoulos’ comic-style digital art uses speech bubbles for conversational asides. A double-page spread depicts Lincoln, Confederate soldiers, Union soldiers, white folk and African-American folk walking arm in arm: an anachronistic reference to civil rights–era protest marches? An unsourced quotation from Lincoln may not actually be Lincoln’s words.
Successful neither as biography nor sermon. (photographs, archival illustration) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8037-4083-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2013
The advice to sing whenever life deals a difficult hand loses its impact due to a confusing and convoluted visual narrative....
Via the English-language lyrics of “Cielito Lindo,” a traditional Mexican song, a child fondly recalls her abuelo’s visits from Mexico.
After a serious childhood accident, his seemingly boundless optimism is epitomized by the song’s lilting refrain of “canta y no llores” (“sing and don’t cry”). Dominguez’ tribute to her grandfather and his love of music, however, falls short of engaging readers, its poignancy truncated before it is explored or developed, illustrations hinting glancingly at critical narrative moments. For example, late in the book, her grandfather is presumably shown meeting his wife-to-be. In the next frame, there is a photo alluding to the successful courtship. Then nothing. The curiosity teased forth by this sentimental thread is quashed with nary a transition to the remaining vignettes. Dominguez’ photo reproductions are exceptional, and her use of sepia wash is effective in differentiating the present from the past. However, the majority of the pencil-and–digital color illustrations fail to reinforce readers’ emotional ties to the highly elliptical story. The illustrations and text do not form a cohesive unit. Were it not for the biographical information included in the author’s note, readers would be in the dark.
The advice to sing whenever life deals a difficult hand loses its impact due to a confusing and convoluted visual narrative. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-62779-839-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
While not strictly biographical, the story captures the curiosity and courage of a woman who finally followed her dream.
This Swiss import introduces an intrepid woman whose world travels and writings were extraordinary for her time.
Ida Pfeiffer (1797-1858) was one of seven children in her Austrian family. One to three sentences per composition convey the narrator’s circumstances and intent, allowing the images to carry details and feelings. A collector of natural specimens and companion to her adventurous brothers, the protagonist was later reined in and married off by her mother. Two sons followed, but they grow and leave in the space of three pages. (The husband was already out of the picture.) The narrative emphasis is on Pfeiffer’s subsequent adventuresome voyage and exploration of flora, fauna, and other civilizations. (In reality, she made several; this story compresses them into one.) Readers will be amused that she had to tie herself to her bed during a storm at sea to avoid falling out. The vivid colors are emotive rather than natural; the shapes are stylized. Pfeiffer has lavender skin and green hair. Friendly jungle inhabitants are a slightly darker purple; wearing masks, they greet her and later include her in a firelit celebration. The book’s large trim size and panoramic spreads suit the scale of her childhood dreams and later escapades. The warm palette and teeming life of her new friends’ island contrast with the barren trees dotting the dark landscape the day her brothers left home.
While not strictly biographical, the story captures the curiosity and courage of a woman who finally followed her dream. (afterword, map) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4420-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
