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Schanzer, Rosalyn
8 Reviews
(3)
4-6
Schanzer (How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark) turns her attention to the Salem Witch Trials to powerful effect. Her small book, complete with scratchboard illustrations and vivid red accents, recounts the horrors of the witch-hunting hysteria. Good organization and effective illustrations are helpful for keeping the complex material manageable for the audience. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth
(3)
4-6
Schanzer uses a cartoon-panel format to good effect in this picture book, drawing readers into Darwin's famous voyage and groundbreaking discoveries. Well-chosen quotes from Darwin's books, journals, and letters are set in a different font to distinguish them from Schanzer's explanatory paragraphs. Colorful acrylic illustrations depict the animals and people that Darwin encountered and help to explain his theory of natural selection. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(2)
4-6
Schanzer calls explorer John Smith "probably the greatest escape artist on the planet" in his day. She organizes her account by his various "escapes," revealing a restless, quick-thinking spirit. The economical text gives just enough background to contextualize Smith's experiences. Comic-strip panels summarize some of his exploits, while traditional spreads relate others in more detail. A larger-than-life figure well worth rediscovering. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Vicky Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2007
(2)
4-6
Although the father of our country receives more text time than his British counterpart King George III, the contrasts and comparisons between the two create a full picture of the causes, events, and immediate aftermath of the American Revolution. Maps, charts, and detailed scenes depicting the action further enhance the clear text. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2005
(3)
K-3
While many know the story of Franklin's kite flying experiment (here recast as "stealing" lightning), they may not be aware of the amazing range of his talents. Schanzer's lively tale of Franklin's accomplishments is accompanied by a jolly, miniaturized Ben character who appears in nearly all the amusing illustrations. Highlighted are Franklin's inventions--his political contributions are not the focus of this book.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
(3)
K-3
Superman in coonskin, the Davy Crockett presented in this whopper of a tall tale wrestles and defeats an evil-looking cartoon Halley's Comet (with jagged teeth and lightning shooting from its menacing red eyes) before it smashes into the United States. The folksy tone and plentiful, humorous exaggeration in both the illustrations and text make this a good choice for reading aloud.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
(4)
K-3
As he herds his cattle from Texas to Kansas a cowboy recounts his woes in rhyming verse: storms, cattle rustlers, Indians, and outlaws. The text is supposedly based on versions of cowboy songs about the Chisholm Trail, but the book as a whole is more strung-together clichés than a fresh interpretation of the past. Acrylic on wood veneer illustrations are cartoonish without being especially funny. A melody line is appended.
Reviewer: Jim St. Claire
(4)
4-6
A lively narrative describes a family's decision to leave Poland and travel to America following World War I. While informative and entertaining, the recounting lacks the emotional undergirding that underscores the magnitude of the decision to emigrate. Cheerful, colorful illustrations and a generously sized format add appeal.
Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn
8 reviews
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