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lovememybooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
obrill's review against another edition
Title: Eleanor
Author: Barbara Cooney
Illustrator>: Barbara Cooney
Genre: Biography (Picture Book)
Theme(s): Childhood & Youth, First Ladies, Biography, Eleanor Roosevelt
Opening line/sentence: From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother. She was born red and wrinkled, an ugly little thing. And she was not a boy.
Brief Book Summary: This is a retelling of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. From her birth and being an undesirable girl to her early adulthood this story shows all of Eleanor’s joys and struggles. Readers gain a sense of loss when Eleanor and her brother become orphans. This is a good chronology of this First Lady’s life.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Sept. 15, 1996 (Vol. 93, No. 2)) There are many biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, but this one is special. Not only does it boast Cooney's artwork, but it also gets to the heart of a young girl, which in many ways is as interesting as Roosevelt's later, well-known accomplishments. "From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother." So begins Eleanor's story, in which the child with the beautiful mother quickly realizes that she is not pretty and feels less worthy because of it. Despite the love of her father and the affection of her family, young Eleanor continues to feel alone, and, after her father's death, even more desolate. Children will respond viscerally to the longing for affection, to the fear and insecurity that accompanies loss, and they will be uplifted by Eleanor's eventual realization of her own special talents, especially her capacity for compassion. Cooney also re-creates an era of mansions and balls that, despite the grandeur, mean little without love. Cooney is at her artistic best here, with full-page pictures, winding spreads, and half-page scenes that use intriguing perspectives and superb detail to excellent advantage, all the while keeping Eleanor, usually alone or set apart, as the pictures' focus. Cooney also ably sets Eleanor's story as fairy tale, one that as far as this book goes, has a happy ending. Category: For the Young. 1996, Viking, $15.99. Ages 5-8.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1996) Powerful visual design and skillfully understated text combine to introduce young readers to Eleanor Roosevelt before she became one of the most influential women of the 20th century. In paintings that brilliantly echo the emotional tenor of the story while capturing a sense of the time and place in which she lived and the economically privileged class to which she belonged, Eleanor is pictured as a small, almost incidental figure in many of the illustrations. It is the way she felt while growing up, but when she leaves her family and America to attend boarding school in England at the age of 15, Eleanor begins a transformation. Under the guidance of her headmistress and mentor, Mademoiselle Souvestre, and in the loving, supportive, challenging atmosphere that her school, Allenwood, provides, she gains assuredness and self-esteem. "Mlle. Souvestre had opened the world to Eleanor." And Eleanor had opened herself to the world, as Cooney's paintings reflect, carrying herself with dignity into whatever the future would bring. CCBC categories: Biography and Autobiography; Fiction for Children; Easy Fiction; Picture Books. 1996, Viking, 40 pages, $15.99. Ages 7-10.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews look at his book in a positive light. The first one talks about its literary features, and the second one discusses the illustrations. Both say that it is appropriate for children in elementary school Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations go with the events going on in the text. Happier events are lighter colors with less shadows, and sad events are dark colors, almost cloudy on the page. This book has a real turning point in action when Eleanor comes back from boarding school.
Consideration of Instructional Application: During a unit on famous people or biographies this book would be a read aloud. Since it reads like a fiction book students would be able to connect to it and understand it. After reading students would create a timeline of Eleanor’s life. The book would then be placed in the classroom for student use.
Author: Barbara Cooney
Illustrator>: Barbara Cooney
Genre: Biography (Picture Book)
Theme(s): Childhood & Youth, First Ladies, Biography, Eleanor Roosevelt
Opening line/sentence: From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother. She was born red and wrinkled, an ugly little thing. And she was not a boy.
Brief Book Summary: This is a retelling of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. From her birth and being an undesirable girl to her early adulthood this story shows all of Eleanor’s joys and struggles. Readers gain a sense of loss when Eleanor and her brother become orphans. This is a good chronology of this First Lady’s life.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Sept. 15, 1996 (Vol. 93, No. 2)) There are many biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, but this one is special. Not only does it boast Cooney's artwork, but it also gets to the heart of a young girl, which in many ways is as interesting as Roosevelt's later, well-known accomplishments. "From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother." So begins Eleanor's story, in which the child with the beautiful mother quickly realizes that she is not pretty and feels less worthy because of it. Despite the love of her father and the affection of her family, young Eleanor continues to feel alone, and, after her father's death, even more desolate. Children will respond viscerally to the longing for affection, to the fear and insecurity that accompanies loss, and they will be uplifted by Eleanor's eventual realization of her own special talents, especially her capacity for compassion. Cooney also re-creates an era of mansions and balls that, despite the grandeur, mean little without love. Cooney is at her artistic best here, with full-page pictures, winding spreads, and half-page scenes that use intriguing perspectives and superb detail to excellent advantage, all the while keeping Eleanor, usually alone or set apart, as the pictures' focus. Cooney also ably sets Eleanor's story as fairy tale, one that as far as this book goes, has a happy ending. Category: For the Young. 1996, Viking, $15.99. Ages 5-8.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1996) Powerful visual design and skillfully understated text combine to introduce young readers to Eleanor Roosevelt before she became one of the most influential women of the 20th century. In paintings that brilliantly echo the emotional tenor of the story while capturing a sense of the time and place in which she lived and the economically privileged class to which she belonged, Eleanor is pictured as a small, almost incidental figure in many of the illustrations. It is the way she felt while growing up, but when she leaves her family and America to attend boarding school in England at the age of 15, Eleanor begins a transformation. Under the guidance of her headmistress and mentor, Mademoiselle Souvestre, and in the loving, supportive, challenging atmosphere that her school, Allenwood, provides, she gains assuredness and self-esteem. "Mlle. Souvestre had opened the world to Eleanor." And Eleanor had opened herself to the world, as Cooney's paintings reflect, carrying herself with dignity into whatever the future would bring. CCBC categories: Biography and Autobiography; Fiction for Children; Easy Fiction; Picture Books. 1996, Viking, 40 pages, $15.99. Ages 7-10.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews look at his book in a positive light. The first one talks about its literary features, and the second one discusses the illustrations. Both say that it is appropriate for children in elementary school Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations go with the events going on in the text. Happier events are lighter colors with less shadows, and sad events are dark colors, almost cloudy on the page. This book has a real turning point in action when Eleanor comes back from boarding school.
Consideration of Instructional Application: During a unit on famous people or biographies this book would be a read aloud. Since it reads like a fiction book students would be able to connect to it and understand it. After reading students would create a timeline of Eleanor’s life. The book would then be placed in the classroom for student use.
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful picture book about the early life of Eleanor Roosevelt.
banana83854's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars- all about Eleanor Roosevelt childhood. Very interesting.
kellyjcm's review against another edition
3.0
The focus of this story was more about the girl Eleanor, which is refreshing. I enjoyed reading about her early years. The illustrations were nice, but did not stir a strong reaction with me.
alexandraidonea's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't realize this was biography and not fiction when I pulled it off the shelf. The illustrations are magnificent and I loved the way the story was told. There is a lot there for adults and not only children.
azajacks's review against another edition
4.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
nairam1173's review
3.0
A bit bleak, though the ending is encouraging. I'm not sure how much appeal it would have for children.
swarnickjr's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful children's book that doesn't dumb down history or candy coat death and struggle. I learned a lot and there is enough in this book to keep my four year old asking questions. The age says five and above for recommended ages and this is pretty spot on depending on your child. My 4.5 year old was intrigued but this would be a " look at the pictures and skim the story" book for my tree year old.