by Stephen Krensky & illustrated by Wil Clay ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2008
Krensky tells the remarkable story of George Washington Carver with humanity and grace. Born into slavery and orphaned young, Carver and his brother were raised with love by the white couple who once owned them. For inquisitive, intelligent George, they hired a tutor—since he couldn’t attend the local whites-only school. At age 12, George struck out on his own, always in pursuit of more knowledge. Krensky’s language, quiet and strong, hits all the right notes, describing how setback and recognition seemed to come in tandem for Carver. Booker T. Washington asked him to head the agricultural institute at Tuskegee, but an utter lack of supplies left him scavenging the town dump. Throughout his life, Carver’s gentle persistence and boundless curiosity led him from strength to strength. Bathed in sunlight and warmth, Clay’s illustrations invest Carver’s face with quiet determination. A top-notch introduction for schoolchildren of any age. (chronology) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-06-027885-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Collins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2008
Share your opinion of this book
More by Stephen Krensky
BOOK REVIEW
by Stephen Krensky ; illustrated by Alette Straathof
BOOK REVIEW
by Stephen Krensky ; illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
BOOK REVIEW
by Stephen Krensky ; illustrated by Amélie Graux
by Barbara Cooney & illustrated by Barbara Cooney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1996
"From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother," Cooney (The Story of Christmas, 1995, etc.) begins in this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. She is a plain child, timid and serious; it is clear that only a few people loved her. After her parents die, she is cared for in the luxurious homes of wealthy relatives, but does not find acceptance until she arrives in a British boarding school, where she thrives on the attention of the headmistress, who guides, teaches, and inspires her. Cooney does not gloss over the girl's misery and disappointments; she also shows the rare happy times and sows the seeds of Eleanor's future work. The illustrations of house interiors often depict Eleanor as an isolated, lonely figure, her indistinct face and hollow eyes watching from a distance the human interactions she does not yet enjoy. Paintings reveal the action of a steamship collision; the hectic activity of a park full of children and their governesses; a night full of stars portending the girl's luminous future. The image of plain Eleanor being fitted with her first beautiful dress is an indelible one. Readers will be moved by the unfairness of her early life and rejoice when she finds her place in the world. An author's note supplies other relevant information. (Picture book/biography. 5-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-670-86159-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
Share your opinion of this book
More by Barbara Cooney
BOOK REVIEW
by Barbara Cooney & illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
BOOK REVIEW
adapted by Ruth Sawyer & illustrated by Barbara Cooney
BOOK REVIEW
by Opal Whiteley & edited by Jane Boulton & illustrated by Barbara Cooney
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2015
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
Share your opinion of this book
More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
BOOK REVIEW
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Christy Webster ; illustrated by Brigette Barrager & Chiara Fiorentino
BOOK REVIEW
by Tom Lichtenheld & Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
BOOK REVIEW
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ; illustrated by Mike Yamada
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
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.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.