Vivid details about the life of a hardworking blacksmith artist will inspire readers in this engrossing biography from the author of Painting Dreams (1996), etc. The poor, industrious descendant of a slave, Philip Simmons was captivated by the men who fired up iron and bashed it into form. He started to work with Charleston's premier blacksmith at the age of 13 and grew into one of the country's ``national treasures'' of esteemed artists. Simmons went from shoeing horses and fixing wagons, to repairing automobiles and sculpting wrought-iron fences. Now, his elaborate gates and fences decorate the city of Charleston, South Carolina. In nine short chapters told from Simmons's point of view, Lyons shows the arc of Simmons's development, from a dedicated kid with a dream to an accomplished artist. His commitment to his art, and his ability to adapt to changing times despite setbacks, is impressive and heartening, and his attitude—never giving up on the work he loves- -resounds. Garcia's full-color photographs show many of Simmons's marvels; the work also includes a good bibliography, but no glossary to help readers more clearly grasp the blacksmithing process. Even without it, readers will come away with respect for hard work combined with creative pursuits, and will surely never look at wrought iron the same way again. (notes, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-395-72033-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1997
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A convincing and charming portrayal of a woman who made a difference.
A free-verse, first-person fictional account told from the point of view of Rachel Carson that relates her remarkable life.
From childhood, Carson was encouraged by her mother to appreciate but not meddle with the natural world. Life was never easy in the Carson household, but the future biologist found a way to combine science with her love of writing. Over time, she would encourage millions of readers to admire and protect our world through several influential and acclaimed books, including her best-known work, Silent Spring (1962), published two years before her death. Burg’s narrative follows the events of Carson’s life closely, but her relationships with her family members receive the most attention. They, as well as Dorothy, the intimate friend and kindred spirit she finally found, share her love for the natural world. (That there may have been more to the women’s relationship than friendship is not explored.) Gracefully written in short, rhythmic lines, the text is pleasing to the eye and ear. Many pages of this beautifully presented celebration are enhanced by Blackall’s tiny, hand-labeled, grayscale drawings of butterflies, birds, pond-water creatures, and more, reminding readers of Carson’s own sense of wonder. In an appended author’s note, Burg notes her sympathy with her subject and explains her choice to tell her story as fiction, so that she could “capture Rachel’s indomitable spirit.” Her sources are outlined in the acknowledgments.
A convincing and charming portrayal of a woman who made a difference. (Verse fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781338883381
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
The irrepressible New Zealander strikes again with a comic tale (coming to the US long after its 1981 publication) about twin brothers—Jasper, who dedicates himself to villainy, and sanctimonious Julian—and their rebellious progeny, loath to emulate their parents. Jasper's seven sons (Caligula, Tarquin, Ghengis, et al.) fail miserably to excel in a school with courses like "Despicable Treason" and "Utter Selfishness," while Julian's daughter Prudence, scorning roles like goody-goody or heroine, likes to fix TVs. Escaping their zealous fathers, the eight set up a remarkable business incorporating their several talents—a garden/restaurant/library also offering fortunetelling and TV repair. Meanwhile, the dads are dogged by robots that carry their doctrines to the ultimate—a blue-eyed, candy floss- haired doll that harasses Julian with improving stories, and the larcenous "Nadger," whose depredations keep the police hot on Jasper's trail. All of this is served up in ebullient wordplay, especially with the vocabulary (and cliches) of iniquity and righteousness, which will be most hilarious to those already familiar with it. As Mahy neatly ties up the rambunctious events, the Nadger observes that "They made us too simple in the wrong way...we are their thoughts...we go on and on for ever, unchanging." Indeed; and these shenanigans illustrate this serious thought with notable wit. Stevenson's comical drawings, on almost every page, add substantially to the fun. (Fiction. 9- 12)
Pub Date: Feb. 22, 1993
ISBN: 0-87951-469-8
Page Count: 94
Publisher: Overlook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1993
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