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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FROM A TO Z

Name: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FROM A TO Z
Author: Laura Crawford
ISBN: 978-1-58980-515-6

by Laura Crawford and illustrated by Judith Hierstein ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2009

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Simultaneously presenting Revolutionary War people and events in both alphabetical and—roughly—chronological order, Crawford pulls off a neat trick that compensates, at least in part, for the artificiality of it all. Between “A is for American Revolution” and “Z is for Betty Zane” (a heroine of one of the war’s final battles), she introduces prominent figures like Washington and Jefferson, such lesser lights as Henry Knox, Molly Pitcher and Lydia Darragh, several battles, the Declaration of Independence, the Liberty Bell and Old Glory—the last properly attributed to Francis Hopkinson rather than Betsy Ross. The brief comments for each entry are seldom so revealing, however, and Hierstein’s watercolor figures tend toward the generic, without much individuality of expression. Not the first word on the subject by any means, nor the last, but this once-over merits a spot in the middle somewhere—as a quick topical review, maybe. (Nonfiction. 9-11)

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2009

ISBN: 978-1-58980-515-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Pelican

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2009

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY

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WHY THE WEST WAS WILD

by Wayne Swanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2004

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Swanson invites readers to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when “pioneers” hot for gold or land invaded the “untamed lands in the West,” drove fierce, faceless “Natives” into submission, transformed into cowboys or badmen (or both), and proceeded to either drink and gamble their meager wages away in saloons frequented by “hurdy-girls,” or to be strung up by vigilantes. Illustrated with a mix of melodramatic Charles Russell paintings and oddly sedate old photos, here is the Myth of the Wild West at its most romanticized—or nearly so, as the author does at least refer to female non-floozies, African-Americans, and racism. Readers after a truer picture would do better to decline his invitation in favor of studies closer to primary sources, such as Michael V. Uschan’s Westward Expansion (2001) or Russell Freedman’s Cowboys of the Wild West (1985). (Nonfiction. 9-11)

Pub Date: June 1, 2004

ISBN: 1-55037-837-6

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Annick Press

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2004

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY

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WACKIEST WHITE HOUSE PETS

by Gibbs Davis & illustrated by David A. Johnson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2004

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Opening with the arguable notion that “pets make a house a home,” Davis identifies 15 unusual members of the sizeable menagerie (about 400 strong, so far) that presidents or their families have kept. Stars of the show range from Andrew Johnson’s mice and Woodrow Wilson’s lawn-cropping sheep to a pair of grizzlies sent to Teddy Roosevelt, elephants given to James Buchanan (“the first White House pets to arrive with their own trunks!”), and that Thanksgiving turkey pardoned by Abe Lincoln. All are illustrated with pale, witty scenes—picture Wilson dressed as Bo Peep—that add droll side commentary. Davis is addicted to exclamation points and given to padding the often scanty record with simplistic historical nuggets—“Madison adopted the Bill of Rights,” Kennedy “launched the space race”—but his enthusiasm is engaging, and his topic sheds an unusual sidelight on life within our first families. (source list) (Nonfiction. 9-11)