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Actual Times
5 Reviews
Brown, Don
He Has Shot the President!: April 14, 1865: The Day John Wilkes Booth Killed President Lincoln
(1)
4-6
Actual Times series.
Brown introduces both major actors, Lincoln and Booth, and then begins the tricky task of chronologically following each man to his death. He does so successfully, switching back and forth with impeccable transitions. The text is matter-of-fact and detailed, and the illustrations, in Brown's slightly impressionistic style and rendered in somber shades of brown, blue, and gray, create drama. Bib.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2014
(2)
K-3
Actual Times series.
Brown turns his earthy palette and voice to the California Gold Rush. His unique tone is both larger-than-life and precisely detailed, and the treatment suits his subject. Well-composed watercolors convey action and emotion, giving just enough detail and variety. Combining pathos and humor, the book communicates much with an engaging and brief text, making it a first-choice introduction to the subject. Websites. Bib.
Reviewer: Nina Lindsay
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2011
(1)
4-6
Actual Times series.
Brown's approach is solid and journalistic, emphasizing the facts rather than causes or effects. The text is continuous, weaving the events of the morning with the experiences of some of the victims and survivors. Illustrated with line-and-wash pictures that are forthright but never sensational, the book is superbly focused and completely honest. An author's note supplies grim statistics. Bib.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2011
(1)
4-6
Actual Times series.
Brown recounts the complicated, compact last moments of the Titanic's only voyage. The glory of the book is in Brown's moody watercolors done with a brush dipped in stardust and frozen mist; they reach a terrifying crescendo as the ship upends before the final dive. The tale closes with some information about the survivors' later lives. Bib.
(2)
K-3
Actual Times series.
Brown creates an exciting, well-grounded narrative of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. His text moves swiftly among historical background, major actions, and quick profiles and anecdotes. Loosely drafted watercolors similarly shift between wide views of the opposing troops and images of individuals. This is a vivid account of a busy and important day. Bib.
Reviewer: J.L. Bell
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2009
5 reviews
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