That Book Womanby Heather Henson
Syndetic Solutions - [Book Review for 9781416908128] Book Review : School Library Journal
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Gr 2–5—A simple and heartfelt paean to the Pack Horse Librarians of the 1930s who were part of a WPA program founded to take books to remote areas. Cal and his family live high in the Appalachian hills. He's proud to be a hard worker and scorns his sister, who'd read all day if allowed. When a stranger appears on horseback to deliver books, Cal wants nothing to do with her until one winter evening when she braves the snowy mountain to deliver her goods. Her courage and strong will make him realize that her job must be very important, so he asks his sister to teach him to read. Henson's free-verse narrative is peppered with colloquialisms and authentic-sounding language that might be tricky for some readers, but lend immediacy and atmosphere to the story. Done in pale browns and greens, Small's signature ink-and-watercolor illustrations depict an austere mountain home and the hardscrabble lives of family members who have little to spare. Cal's expressions of resentment and anger, and then his acceptance and enjoyment of reading, are shown with simple yet effective lines. Pair this poignant book with Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer's Down Cut Shin Creek (HarperCollins, 2001) for an excellent unit on these dedicated women and for a great discussion starter on the importance of books.—Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Syndetic Solutions - [Book Review for 1416908129] Book Review : BookList
: From BookList, September 15, 2008, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. : Cal describes his way-up mountain home-"So high / we hardly sight / a soul"-but that changes when the Book Woman, a traveling librarian, rides up to the house. The Book Woman is a boon for Cal's sister, Lark, "the readenest child you ever did see," but no use to Cal, who is not "born / to sit so stoney-still / a-starin at some chicken scratch." However, he is impressed by the librarian, who rides in all weather; finally, he asks Lark to teach him to read. This tribute to the Pack Horse Librarians of Appalachia has a lyric, simple style that lends itself to reading aloud. Henson, a Kentucky native, creates a reliable narrator in Cal, whose journey to reading is gentle and believable. There are a couple of stereotypes here (Mother is pregnant and barefoot), but overall, the mixed-media illustrations (ink, watercolor, pastel) support the text's genial flow. Mountains and sky achieve a lofty spaciousness that makes the Book Woman's ride even more impressive. An author's note gives background on the WPA's Pack Horse Librarian program. Del Negro, Janice. : | distributed by Syndetic Solutions, LLC.: |
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