From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 11:15:16 -0800 (PST)

I was pleased to see two picture book format biographies on the Sibert list. This genre has come a long way since the 1980's, when about the only ones I remember were David Adler's "Picture Book of..." series. These were serviceable and very well used, but so much more has been attempted since then. Rumford's book is deceptively simple, but you read it and you really feel you understand Sequoyah, his people, and the magnitude of his accomplishment in just a few pages. Kerley picks just the right parts of Whitman's life to introduce him as a real person, not just a famouse poet
(though the quotes she includes are perfect too). Selznick's illustrations make you feel like you're stepping back in time with Whitman, not just observing. Just as the illustrations clearly play a huge part in making both of these short biographies successful, the photos in "Marian Anderson" and "Tarantual Scientist" are equally crucial. In all four cases, the illlustrative material adds to the depth and scope of the information, and also makes the books eyecatching and even more booktalkable.
 
- Steven Engelfried, Senior Librarian
  Beaverton City Library
  12375 SW 5th Street
  Beaverton, OR 97005
  503R6%99
  sengelfried at yahoo.com

                
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Received on Wed 23 Mar 2005 01:15:16 PM CST