A deeply satisfying, accessible illumination of the green world that inspired Dickinson’s intriguing, intimate poems.
A young Emily Dickinson excitedly explores the natural world.
As familiar as the American literary giant may be, many are still stumped and stymied by her uniquely phrased poems. Even well-known verses—“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” and “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”—may leave readers with questions. In this beautiful, soft-edged story full of sylvan sprawl, the poet—here an adolescent girl enamored with botany—sets out to study flora on its home turf. With her shaggy dog Carlo in tow, she ambles far from home and sets her sights on woodland wonders. She admires “how soft a caterpillar steps,” gazes in awe at an orchid, and converses quietly with a snail. Dickinson’s prolific verse is elegantly interposed with equally mesmerizing visual poetry. An image of Emily taking in the summer breeze is paired with the verse “a soft Sea washed around the House / a Sea of Summer Air”; in her imaginings, the waves of a golden ocean engulf a glistening field. As her outing ends, evening approaches and its “Vastness…Wisdom…Peace” are framed by mellow hues of purple-pink twilight. Corry’s delight in illustrating botanical imagery with soothing colors and rich textures shines through in every step Emily takes and every specimen she observes.
A deeply satisfying, accessible illumination of the green world that inspired Dickinson’s intriguing, intimate poems. (more information on Dickinson and Carlo, further reading) (Graphic biography. 7-12)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781250868213
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Godwin Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A striking glimpse into Chinese girlhood during the 1970s and ’80s.
Beginning with a breathtaking dream of riding a golden crane over the city of Wuhan, China, Liu Na, recounts her subsequent waking only to discover that Chairman Mao has passed away. The 3-year-old finds this difficult to process and understand, although she is soon caught up in the somber mood of the event. From there, her life unfolds in short sketches. With this intimate look at her childhood memories, Liu skillfully weaves factual tidbits into the rich tapestry of her life. In the section titled “The Four Pests,” she explains about the four pests that plague China—the rat, the fly, the mosquito and the cockroach (with an additional explanation of how the sparrow once made this list, and why it is no longer on it)—and her stomach-turning school assignment to catch rats and deliver the severed tails to her teacher. In “Happy New Year! The Story of Nian the Monster,” she explains the origins of Chinese New Year, her favorite holiday, and her own vivid, visceral reflections of it: the sights, sounds and smells. Extraordinary and visually haunting, there will be easy comparisons to Allen Say’s Drawing from Memory (2011); think of this as the female counterpart to that work.
Beautifully drawn and quietly evocative. (glossary, timeline, author biography, translations of Chinese characters, maps) (Graphic memoir. 9-12)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8115-0
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A light, comical approach to biography and history that makes it more palatable for those who find more traditional...
From the creators of Action Philosophers comics comes this first in a series of graphic biographies about American presidents beginning, appropriately, with George Washington.
With the assistance of two kids, a black boy and a white girl, and a muscular turkey who move readers in and out of the historical storyline, Van Lente and Dunlavey cover the whole of Washington’s life, with highlights on his roles as a slave owner, officer in the French and Indian War, commander of the Continental Army in the War for Independence, and first president of the United States. Amid the jokey narrative is solid biographical information about Washington and historical facts about his times. Particularly insightful is the depiction of Washington’s presidency, which readers might be surprised to find had plenty of detractors. The creators reveal that partisan politics has been a part of America from the beginning. The black-and-white art is exaggeratedly cartoonish and fun. Readers who appreciate a goofier approach to history, such as Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, will enjoy this graphic biography. One unfortunate oversight is the omission of recommendations for age-appropriate further reading.
A light, comical approach to biography and history that makes it more palatable for those who find more traditional approaches hard to swallow. (maps, timeline, glossary, bibliography) (Graphic biography. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-239405-7
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2017
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