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48 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2020
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-7994-1$17.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Richie Pope.
Mary Seacole was raised by a Jamaican Creole mother who taught her herbal medicine and a Scottish soldier father whose stories inspired her to see the world. After using her skills during a cholera outbreak, Seacole is determined to volunteer as a nurse in the Crimean War, but first in London and then again on the battlefield she is turned away--by Florence Nightingale herself--because of her skin color. But Mary Seacole is not easily stopped, and she becomes a familiar sight welcoming people to her guest house/hospital and bringing her supplies to the battlefield, where she becomes known as Mother Seacole and eventually gains fame when a British journalist tells her story. Rubin sprinkles Seacole's own words throughout the book, bringing in some of her larger-than-life personality. The text is longer than a typical picture-book biography, making this a good choice for readers who may be ready for but intimidated by chapter-book biographies. Pope's illustrations have the difficult job of showing the devastating circumstances Seacole often finds herself in as a battlefield nurse, and his soft, cartoony watercolors deftly walk that line. Back matter includes source notes and a brief bibliography.
Reviewer: Laura Koenig
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2021
(3)
4-6
Fact Finders: First-Person Histories series.
These slim volumes feature primary source accounts of the Civil War. Tillie Pierce helped nurse soldiers during the Battle of Gettsyburg, while Susie King Taylor, born a slave, worked with a troop of African American soldiers. The women's recollections are enhanced by an engaging, informative layout containing archival photos and illustrations plus relevant sidebars. Common Core–aligned questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Fact Finders: First-Person Histories titles: Memoir of Susie King Taylor and Memoir of Tillie Pierce.
(3)
4-6
Fact Finders: First-Person Histories series.
These slim volumes feature primary source accounts of the Civil War. Tillie Pierce helped nurse soldiers during the Battle of Gettsyburg, while Susie King Taylor, born a slave, worked with a troop of African American soldiers. The women's recollections are enhanced by an engaging, informative layout containing archival photos and illustrations plus relevant sidebars. Common Core–aligned questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Fact Finders: First-Person Histories titles: Memoir of Susie King Taylor and Memoir of Tillie Pierce.
229 pp.
| Chicago
| September, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-61373-437-7$19.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-61373-440-7
(3)
YA
Women of Action series.
After an intimate foreword by a female medical resident, engaging profiles of (mainly American) women in medicine are divided among three sections: pioneers who received formal medical training in the nineteenth century, important contributors to twentieth-century medicine, and current practitioners. Each bio emphasizes personal strengths and triumphs over adversities and ends with suggested resources. Historical photographs portray the women at work. Bib., ind.
(4)
YA
During WWI, fifteen-year-old Poppy leaves her job as a parlormaid at a UK estate in order to serve as a volunteer nursing assistant. Hardworking Poppy cares for her country's injured soldiers with diligence and optimism while entertaining some chaste romances. Her persistent guilelessness can be bland, but Poppy is a generally appealing Everygirl with a unique perspective on the historical period. Bib.
184 pp.
| Clarion
| November, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-544-53580-0$18.99
(2)
YA
Reef brings her keen eye for character to the "Lady with the Lamp." At a time when a woman was expected to "[obey] her husband," Florence Nightingale acquiesced to no one, finding meaning in her work and advancing the nursing profession like few before or since. Making fine use of primary sources, Reef paints a complete picture of the complex woman. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Sam Bloom
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2016
40 pp.
| Holt
| February, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-9729-0$17.99
(3)
K-3
A straightforward text of declarative sentences describes Florence Nightingale's childhood, training, service in Crimean War hospitals, and lifelong crusade to reform nursing and health care. The true draw of this clear picture book biography, however, is Demi's simple line-drawn illustrations with collage elements: close reader attention will reveal rats, chamber pots, leaky roofs, and other engrossing details. Reading list, timeline.
122 pp.
| Random
| January, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-307-98049-6$12.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-307-98050-2$15.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-307-98051-9
(3)
1-3
Magic Tree House series.
Illustrated by
Sal Murdocca.
Siblings Jack and Annie are off on two more time-traveling adventures for Merlin the Magician. They journey to mid-nineteenth-century Egypt in search of Florence Nightingale in High Time and to Coney Island at the turn of the last century in Houdini. The series' formula, which blends magic, adventure, sibling dynamics, and history, is successful in these fiftieth and fifty-first installments. Review covers these Magic Tree House titles: High Time for Heroes and Hurry Up, Houdini!
40 pp.
| Scholastic
| February, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-35477-6$17.99
(4)
K-3
American Red Cross founder (and Polacco's ancestor) Clara Barton's childhood is chronicled. Davie protects and teaches his little sister, especially when she's ridiculed for her lisp. But gentle Clara loves and understands nature and becomes recognized as a healer early on. Polacco's sunny illustrations underscore the sibling affection and Clara's compassion; invented dialogue and lack of concrete resources bring into question the sentimental story's validity.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Carlyn Beccia.
Alcott's experience as a Civil War nurse is recounted in this candid picture-book biography with realistic, somewhat static digital oil paintings that reflect the hardship and horror of a run-down makeshift hospital. Her own near-death illness provides impetus, following Alcott's long recovery, for her successful writing career, first with the publication of letters before her greatest achievement, Little Women. Reading list, websites.
24 pp.
| Sea to Sea
| March, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59771-392-4$25.65
(4)
K-3
History Makers series.
This series of introductory biographies offers very young readers the broad details of these historical figures' lives and impacts. In addition to archival photographs, each simple text is supplemented by a running timeline; although many events on it are not mentioned in the narrative, the format is visually appealing. Overall this series provides decent jumping-off points for further research. Glos., ind. Review covers these History Makers titles: Anne Frank and Her Diary, Florence Nightingale and a New Age of Nursing, Martin Luther King and the Fight for Equality, Nelson Mandela and His Struggle for Freedom, and Winston Churchill and World War II.
295 pp.
| Bloomsbury
| April, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59990-565-5$16.99
(3)
YA
Gutsy sixteen-year-old parlormaid-turned-nurse Molly Fraser ministers to wounded soldiers in a Crimean hospital run by the no-nonsense Florence Nightingale. Despite arduous toil and abominable conditions, Molly finds herself falling in love with both a doctor and a soldier. Molly is a believable character in this engaging work of historical fiction that pays homage to Nightingale's groundbreaking accomplishments.
32 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| April, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7613-5399-7$17.95
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mark Oldroyd.
Sarah Edmonds, disguised as a man, fought alongside and spied for Union troops during the Civil War. Jones enumerates these feats with touches of humor, and she continues Sarah's story throughout the war and her subsequent marriage. Oldroyd makes effective use of broad, rough-hewn brush strokes, particularly in creating an impressionistic background that frequently allows a detailed illustration of Sarah to take center stage. Bib.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2011
48 pp.
| Abrams
| March, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8109-9735-6$18.95
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
John Hendrix.
During the Civil War, Sarah Edmonds, disguised as a man, fought for the Union. Her dedication and bravery also made her the perfect spy. Moss emphasizes Sarah's early work and initial mission, concluding the biography before war's end. Hendrix's art, heavily shaded in orange for battle scenes or somber blue for makeshift field hospitals, emphasizes the horror and drama of war. Bib., glos., ind.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2011
112 pp.
| ABDO
| January, 2010
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-60453-960-8$32.79
(4)
YA
Military Heroes series.
Filled with photographs and archival illustrations, this series presents a range of famous and lesser-known people involved in U.S. military history. In addition to standard biographical details, the texts also examine controversies and career flops as well as successes; sidebars provide historical context. Though the writing is on the bland side, the texts are useful for reports. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Military Heroes titles: Samuel Houston, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., George S. Patton, Clara Barton, John McCain, and Colin Powell.
165 pp.
| Philomel
| May, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-24781-1$14.99
(3)
4-6
A Morse code message embroidered on a crinoline leads Enola Holmes to a kidnapper--and Florence Nightingale. Once again, the feisty fourteen-year-old detective matches wits with her older brother, and for the first time, Sherlock rethinks his "proper and traditional" plans for his "daredevil, oh-so-clever" sister. This fifth book in Springer's series is a riveting read, and it's Enola's strongest outing yet.
24 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| August, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3281-1$21.26
(4)
K-3
Amazing Americans series.
With minimal, easy-to-read texts, these biographies touch on a few key points in each notable American's career. Roosevelt focuses on his early life, so it's not obvious what made him an "amazing" president; the contributions of Barton and Carson are clearer, though greatly simplified. Stock photographs (some oddly colorized) are featured opposite the text on each spread. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Amazing Americans titles: Amazing Champion of the Earth Rachel Carson, Amazing Civil War Nurse Clara Barton, and Amazing President Theodore Roosevelt.
128 pp.
| Enslow
| May, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3024-4$31.93
(3)
4-6
Americans--The Spirit of a Nation series.
Archival photographs, maps, primary sources, and well-documented citations combine with comprehensive texts to provide worthy biographies of two American icons. These titles sort fact from fiction and show the passionate determination that established Barton's and Poe's places in history. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Americans--The Spirit of a Nation titles: Edgar Allan Poe and Clara Barton.
32 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| June, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2602-7$22.60
(4)
K-3
Heroes of American History series.
Although their brevity sometimes interferes with a nuanced interpretation of history (as when Ford maintains that "FDR did not want America to go to war"), these books tell enough of the story for elementary school students to grasp the importance of their subjects. Many captioned illustrations break up the text, helping young readers better visualize the historic events. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Heroes of American History titles: Clara Barton and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
136 pp.
| Chelsea
| September, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 0-7910-8029-3$23.95
(4)
YA
Women in Medicine series.
Four of these text-heavy books follow the same format: an initial dramatic scene; eight to ten chapters of text; chronological approach; a section of black-and-white photographs following chapter three. Mahoney is more a history of African American nursing than a biography, as there is little known about the subject. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Women in Medicine titles: Margaret Sanger, Mary Eliza Mahoney and the Legacy of African-American Nurses, Karen Horney, Rita Levi-Montalcini, and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.