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40 pp.
| Holt/Ottaviano
| September, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-1-250-17373-7$18.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Craig Orback.
From Schulz's kindergarten teacher predicting he'd be an artist to his sketch of childhood dog Spike (Snoopy's inspiration) being published in the newspaper, Wadsworth uses biographical moments to emphasize Schulz's lifelong love of drawing and comics, leading up to the creation of Peanuts. Orback's acrylic and gouache art pays tribute to Schulz's love of comics, using thick-black-lined frames and sometimes incorporating panels to mimic a comic-strip layout. Back matter includes additional biographical information, character list, and places to visit. Bib.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2019
(2)
4-6
Some dogs perform a critical task for wildlife ecologists and biologists: animal scat detection. The fecal matter of many animals provides clues to their health, and studying poop allows researchers to avoid trapping or killing animals to obtain this data. Wadsworth conveys her fascination with the topic through excellent photographs, copious asides and text boxes, and resources for further investigation. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2017
210 pp.
| Clarion
| November, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-547-24394-8$17.99
(2)
4-6
In 1912, Low founded the Girl Scouts--a pioneering organization designed to help empower girls of all races and ethnicities. Information is provided about the organization (e.g., origins of cookie-selling) and its continued success after Low's death in 1927. Wadsworth captures Low's stubborn but charismatic spirit by blending facts and humorous sketches in this winning biography. Numerous archival photos supplement the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2011
48 pp.
| Millbrook
| February, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-8225-7892-5$25.26
(3)
K-3
On My Own History series.
Illustrated by
Craig Orback.
In 1844–45, seventeen-year-old Moses Schallenberger heads west to California with a wagon train but ends up spending a long, brutal winter alone in the mountains. Independent readers will find this simply told story of survival riveting. An afterword provides more information about Moses's life after his rescue. Orback's serviceable illustrations help break up the sections of text. Reading list, websites. Bib.
32 pp.
| Boyds/Calkins
| September, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-497-6$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Karen Dugan.
Wadsworth ably chronicles Theodore Roosevelt's 1903 camping trip with John Muir in Yosemite National Park. Incorporating a number of documented quotations from primary sources, in addition to less convincing invented conversations and interior monologues, she conveys Roosevelt's enthusiasm for Muir's work and the president's love of nature.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Patricia J. Wynne.
Wadsworth covers the life cycle of the garden spider, beginning with the hatching of hundreds of spiderlings. The text is informative and poetic ("Finally this sister spills out, followed by her siblings, tiny dots almost too small to see. Hungry spiderlings wobble into the welcoming sun"). Close-up mixed-media illustrations provide an additional level of detail. An informative author's note is appended.
(4)
K-3
On My Own Biography series.
Illustrated by
Mark Schroder.
These brief easy-to-read biographies introduce independent readers to three historical figures. The dry overviews cover each subject's childhood and adult accomplishments, discussing how each came to be a leader. The short lines of text and competent color illustrations on every page are appropriate for the reading level. Timeline. Review covers these On My Own Biography titles: Leif Eriksson, Sojourner Truth, and Cesar Chavez.
193 pp.
| Clarion
| October, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-618-23475-6$$18.00
(4)
YA
This history of the settling of the American West uses excerpts from journals written by young pioneers (including those in the ill-fated Donner Party). The excerpts provide perspective, but young readers will have a hard time relating them to the larger picture of change in nineteenth-century America. Feature inserts highlight topics covered in the main text, supplemented by captioned archival images. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind.
(4)
K-3
On My Own Biography series.
Illustrated by
Craig Orback.
Considering vocabulary and sentence limitations, these authors adequately present the lives of their subjects: Banneker pioneered as a black farmer, surveyor, and almanac writer; Coleman as a black woman pilot; and Nightingale as a wealthy Englishwoman who founded a nursing school and corps. The biographies' illustrations are colorful if somewhat static. Afterword, timeline. [Review covers these On My Own Biography titles: Benjamin Banneker, Bessie Coleman, and Florence Nightingale.]
48 pp.
| Lerner
| September, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-8225-0199-6$$23.93
(4)
K-3
History Maker Bios series.
Each book in this series presents basic biographical material about an important figure in science or industry. The lackluster text is enhanced by plentiful black-and-white archival photos and period reproductions; unnecessary cartoonlike illustrations in color detract from the overall design. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these History Maker Bios titles: George Eastman, Albert Einstein, Milton Hershey, The Wright Brothers, Marie Curie, and Thomas Edison.]
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Paul Kratter.
Short narratives about the wildlife near or in rivers present a portrait of activity over the course of a day. Each double-page spread focuses on one animal, such as moose, trout, red-winged blackbirds, and salamanders, and features a full-page watercolor of the animal in its habitat. The informative text is choppy at times, and the discussion question about each creature is unnecessary. Glos.
(4)
K-3
Carolrhoda On My Own Books series.
Illustrated by
Shelly O. Haas.
Designed with an easy-reader format, this short book will be of most interest to those already familiar with the Little House books. The first half describes a few scenes from Laura's childhood without offering many details or facts, which limits the book's usefulness. The latter half, however, offers some information about Wilder's adult life that may intrigue her young fans. Airy watercolors accompany the text. A time line is included.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
James M. Needham.
From one growling tiger to twenty croaking frogs, this book lists twenty different animals and the sounds they make, briefly describing why they make them. Many of the animals in the gouache illustrations are realistically portrayed, while others are more cartoony with sweet facial expressions.