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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
ISBN 0439357918
Review:
This biography give a brief overview of the life of Walt Whitman and insight into his motivation for writing poems that sing America and American's praises. It begins when Walt began work as a printer's apprentice, tells that he was always scribbling in journals on his travels around America, and of the poets experiences during the Civil War as he spent time at hospitals with soldiers who'd been wounded.
This biography is liberally sprinkled with excerpts from Walt Whitman's poems, journals, and letters. The picture it paints of Whitman is perhaps too saintlike, but it really drives home the motivations Whitman had for writing brilliant works like Leaves of Grass and Drum-Taps! This biography also captures the hardship suffered during the Civil War. Especially poignant is placing the beginning of the poem "O Captain! my Captain!" after the part that tells of Whitman and the nation's grief after the assassination of President Lincoln. The end of the book features an author's note, an illustrator's note, notes on the poems, as well as a bibliography of sources used to create this book.
Deserving equal attention in this book are the illustrations, which are very bold, vibrant and imaginative. Two in particular are cleverly done. The first is the page opposite the title page, which is made to look like an old newspaper typeset of the title page. The relevance to the story of course is that Whitman's first job was as an apprentice printer. The second is the illustration that has open books in the night sky like so many stars, with each carrying a different word for the poem it is quoting. An extremely well done biography that is well suited to readers 4th or 5th grade and above.
Awards/Reviews:
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2005
American Library Association Notable Books for Children (WON AWARD) 2005
California Book Awards (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2005
Bluegrass Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2006
Volunteer State Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2007
School Library Journal: Starred Reviewed. "An exuberant picture-book biography that focuses on Whitman's formative years and his selfless work as a Civil War nurse."
Booklist: "Lines of poetry elucidate Whitman's thoughts about the war, with the full text of the poems or sections of poems appearing at book's end."
Publisher's Weekly: "Copious quotes from his poems and correspondence let Whitman's eloquent voice resonate through the pages."
Connections:
Have the students read some of the poems mentioned in the book.
Draw connections between the poems and life in America at that time: immigrant cultures, Civil War.
Other books:
Levin, Jonathan. Poetry for Young People: Walt Whitman. ISBN 9781402754777
Rappaport, Doreen. Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. ISBN 1423104080
Image credit: www.lookingglassreview.com
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