Paying handsome tribute to the doughty crew that brought the rule of law to some of the wildest parts of the Wild West, Spradlin profiles such prominent Rangers as William A.A. “Big Foot” Wallace and Captain Leander McNelly. He also highlights achievements from the battle of the Alamo to the capture of John Wesley Hardin and the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde. A sense of the wide-open spaces they patrolled comes through clearly in Munro’s outdoorsy scenes. Mustachioed and well-armed Rangers face Comanche raiders, Mexican soldiers, bands of desperados and oil boomtown rowdies in a variety of settings with the same air of calm competence. Though the modern Rangers get a nod at the end, the focus here is really on their first century of existence (they were founded in 1823)—still, they seldom get their due in titles for younger readers, and this makes the best short introduction since Stephen Hardin’s Texas Rangers (1991). (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: March 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8096-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2008
The ``Iceman'' was found in 1991 in the ôtztal Alps on the border between Austria and Italy. When two mountain climbers came upon the body, they suspected that it was a dead—perhaps murdered—mountaineer. They contacted the authorities, who nearly destroyed the body removing it from the ice. Luckily, more informed people arrived and realized that this was no ordinary accident victim. They suspected the body was extremely old. Little did they dream that the Iceman was actually over 5,000 years old—the oldest, best- preserved human body ever discovered. Through studying the body, scientists have learned much about the late Stone Age. Not only was the Iceman himself recovered, but also his tools, clothing, food, and gear. A find like this is a bonanza for archaeologists. Because of the circumstances of the Iceman's death—the time of year, the protected location, etc.—scientists now have a record of how our ancestors used to hunt, dress, prevent disease, and more. Getz (Almost Famous, 1992, etc.) explains the incredible story of the Iceman clearly and concisely, simply enough for a child to understand but in enough depth to satisfy a curious lay adult. (Index; glossary; bibliography) (Nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-8050-3261-4
Page Count: 68
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1994
Avi's first entry in the I Can Read chapter-book series tells the true story of Roger Williams's 1635 flight from arrest for "preaching dangerous new ideas." He heads into the wilds of colonial New England, eventually sending for his family to join him in founding a new settlement where religious freedom is allowed, which his daughter, the narrator, names Providence. The story covers only his decision to flee and the highlights of his subsequent journey, an odd time frame that leaves out the events leading up to Williams's trial, his life with the Indians, the rigors of founding a new settlement, or even much detail about the Puritan intolerance from which he fled. During the trial, only the gasps of spectators indicate the contrast between their views and his, the latter of which will seem right and just to contemporary readers, and therefore unfathomable as the basis for prosecution. The illustrations are soft and pale, lacking drama; many of the characters share the same expression, looking as if they are whistling. A complement to other sources on Williams's life—this is neither interesting enough for general readers, nor specific enough for those not already grounded in the facts. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Feb. 28, 1997
ISBN: 0-06-025179-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1997
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