Bibliography Kerley, Barbara. 2014. A Home for Mr. Emerson. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780545350884 Plot Summary The great writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, longed for a simple life in the country surrounded by the things he loved. In this picture book biography, the story of Ralph’s life in Concord is beautifully told and illustrated, along with an event that almost took his home away forever. Readers of all ages will enjoy learning more about the life of this inspiring and historically important American writer. Critical Analysis This award winning book about Ralph Waldo Emerson highlights his desire for a home and community that supported freedom of thinking, creativity, and friendship. Written by Barbara Kerley, this title focuses on the home that Emerson loved and the people that filled it. Kerley is known for her nonfiction/informational picture books and has won numerous awards for them. She uses careful research to develop her story and cites her sources at the end of the book. Kerley also includes an author’s note where she discusses Emerson’s life and the history around it in a succinct and easy to understand way. This biographical story is organized in picture book format. It feels more as if you are reading a story than a biography, which is engaging for younger readers. The story follows a clear sequence starting when Emerson was a young boy, to finding his home again after a devastating fire. The timeline is logical, easy to follow, and tells the story concisely in an entertaining way. The illustrations, done in digital media by Edwin Fotheringham, are fun, entertaining, and complex. Each illustration has emotion, color, and even some fantastical elements that play perfectly with Emerson’s personality and life. The illustrations really bring the story to life and make it that much more fun to read! Another feature of the book that was interesting was the use of quotes from Emerson inside the front and back cover. The quotes provide another way for readers to connect with Emerson and his life’s story. A Home for Mr. Emerson is entertaining and educational. It focuses on an important aspect of Emerson’s life; his home, family, and community. Readers of all ages will connect with Emerson’s love of the simple things in Kerley’s well-written and entertaining biography. Response I really enjoyed this nonfiction/biographical story! I have to admit that Ralph Waldo Emerson is not a writer I knew much about. After reading this book, I felt motivated to learn more about his life and his writing. Readers will easily connect to Emerson’s love of family and home, which come alive through Fotheringham’s entertaining illustrations. The illustrations were one of my favorite parts of story; each time I read it, I noticed a new detail in the pictures. This story was an enjoyable read that I will enthusiastically share with young readers. Honors A Junior Library Guild Selection 2014 Parents’ Choice Gold Award NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book 2014 Oregon Spirit Book Award for Nonfiction Best New England Books 2014, The Boston Globe Gold Award Winner, National Parenting Publications Awards “Trailblazers” Seasonal Showcase, The Children’s Book Council 2015 International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choices Reading List 2015 “Must-Reads” Picture Books, Massachusetts Center for the Book Reviews “This introduction to the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson will help readers begin to understand the thoughts and values of this great American thinker. Emerson grows up in Boston, but yearns to make a life closer to nature where he can surround himself with books and friends. He finds a perfect home in Concord, Massachusetts, where he and his wife raise a family. Emerson eagerly becomes a part of the community, even playing the role of hog reeve, gathering up the town's runaway pigs. After collecting his thoughts in journals, Emerson begins traveling across the country to lecture, attracting visitors from around the world to his doorstep. A house fire later in his life devastates Emerson, but allows the town to demonstrate their affection for him as they rebuild his home. Emerson, who is likely little known to younger students, is brought to life in an approachable biography. The colorful depictions of Emerson are warm, cheerful, and full of movement. Children will love the cartoonlike illustrations that make Emerson seem like a superhero as he dives into oversized books and flies through the sky on another giant tome. Quotes from his writings are liberally used to illuminate moments of his life, allowing readers to get to know the man through his own words. The author's note provides further information about Emerson and his philosophy of thought. An eye-catching, kid-friendly biography that is a wonderful addition to any collection.” – School Library Journal “Kerley and Fotheringham are known for their upbeat picture books about famous historical figures. This work about Ralph Waldo Emerson—someone who is probably not known to many children—is a tale of deep love for his home and community in Concord, Massachusetts. After a fire destroys Emerson’s house, neighbors rally around him, returning some of the generosity and affection received from his family over the years. This has the same format and style of Kerley and Fotheringham’s earlier works, with colorful illustrations featuring cartoon-style figures in a pleasing, open layout. The brief text focuses on the story of Emerson’s community life and doesn’t bother much with why he was famous, which works well for the storytelling even as it may leave some readers wondering just who he was. Some of his famous quotes are placed in the endpapers and woven into the story. Back matter includes a helpful author’s note and a page of suggestions to encourage readers to examine their own lives and values.” -- Booklist Connections
Other Notable Books by Kerley:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
Archives
July 2018
Categories
All
|