Biographies-Kid-friendly biographies invite young readers to take a fresh look into the fascinating lives of famous Americans.
June 1, 2007
In simple sentences (though not always simple words), Slade briskly moves through Anthonys life, beginning with her Quaker upbringing, her stint as a teacher, her life as an advocate for temperance and abolition, and her revolutionary fight for womens right to vote. Sweeping double-page spreads usually focus on Anthonys public and personal lives, but there is one dramatic spread showing slaves and soldiers marching under a golden sky with a petition for abolition in the foreground. Surprisingly, one of the more potent moments in Anthonys lifeher arrest while attempting to voteis only discussed in an appendix of short facts called Did You Know? Like other entries in the Biographies series, this volume extends the text with a glossary, short bibliography of childrens books, and access to safe Web sites through a link called Facthound.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)
August 1, 2007
K-Gr 3-Without watering down difficult-to-explain topics such as the horrors of slavery, these writers keep the tone and scope appropriate for a young audience. All of the biographies focus on the subjects' childhoods, giving readers not only a person they can relate to but also the message that all great individuals were children once, too, thus reinforcing the idea that anyone can achieve greatness. Each title is illustrated in a different style, ranging from watercolor to pen and ink, and includes a photograph of the person on the first page. No sources are included. These books are excellent sources for first-time research projects, and they could help spark an interest in nonfiction that goes beyond encyclopedias or Web sites."Sarah O'Holla, Village Community School, New York City"
Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.