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mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully illustrated picture book set in the beginning of the 1800s in Tennessee. Angelica Longrider is born differently from everyone else in terms of size. Known as the Swamp Angel after she saved a wagon train logged in the mire, this is an American tall tale which competes our giant hero against the great bear known only as Thundering Tarnation (great name).
When none of the men in the land can defeat this great foe, Angelica decides to ignore the cruel jibes of the local men 'Shouldn't you be home, mending a quilt?' and goes head to head again the mighty bear. A great battle takes place (stunning to look at) in which she not only manages to defeat the beast but take his pelt with her too.
I am sure that there are a lot of cultural connotations within the text that I am missing with regard to how the men and women of 19th century Tennessee interact with each other but you cannot miss the fact that Angelica makes for a great female hero. Her physical strength as well as her strength of mind serve her well and help her overcome the beast. Zelinsky's illustrations are gorgeous and finished in a style that gives a sense of the historical to it.
When none of the men in the land can defeat this great foe, Angelica decides to ignore the cruel jibes of the local men 'Shouldn't you be home, mending a quilt?' and goes head to head again the mighty bear. A great battle takes place (stunning to look at) in which she not only manages to defeat the beast but take his pelt with her too.
I am sure that there are a lot of cultural connotations within the text that I am missing with regard to how the men and women of 19th century Tennessee interact with each other but you cannot miss the fact that Angelica makes for a great female hero. Her physical strength as well as her strength of mind serve her well and help her overcome the beast. Zelinsky's illustrations are gorgeous and finished in a style that gives a sense of the historical to it.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Caldecott Honor and silly. But its a folktale so being silly is somewhat appropriate. Basically a new figure written into myth - basically a woman who's part Paul Bunyan and part Daniel Boone and definitely all of herself. With good enough writing and good enough art.
bluenicorn's review against another edition
3.0
So one of my first reactions to this was, "Wait a minute- this isn't an original tall tale," which I thought quite snottily, before another part of me heaved a heavy sigh of exasperation at that other part of me. Because if we only read "original" anything, where would that leave us? Would we say, "This story of good and evil was totally already done in the Old Testament"? Like, don't bother ever writing anything because it's "already been done"? Moreover, what would that mean for girls and children of color- they should just be happy with the tall tales that only feature men or boys, or think of John Henry as the only hero they get? No way! So even though I don't like children's books where animals (especially those with speaking roles) die/are killed, and I wasn't super into the illustrations (not bad, just not my favorite style), I appreciate this for filling a void, which is that of a strong female heroine in a tall tale. I also think that if this were read by a Southerner or someone who could do an accent that wasn't terrible, it would be really fun to have read aloud.
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting tall tale in the style of Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox. Features a strong female lead.
bwluvs2read's review against another edition
5.0
Angelica Longrider was born to do big things. Even though she did build her first cabin until she was two years old, Angel, as she is nicknamed by fellow pioneers, quickly earns legendary status by rescuing mud-stuck wagons, putting out cabin fires, and preventing floods. However, when a fearsome beast, a bear named Thundering Tarnation, threatens the well-being of the community, Angel quickly takes matters into her own Paul Bunyan-sized hands and battles the bear to the death. Their land-altering conflict creates the Smoky Mountains and bear constellation, but ends with Angel defeating the bear and winning his majestic pelt. The story ends with a fabulous feast, and Angel’s celebration of her achievements.
Anne Isaacs’ first picture book, Swamp Angel, demands a giant amount of attention and consideration in her adaptation of an American tall tale. The story’s focus on a female character and female heroism is refreshing while the strength of the story lies in humorous exaggeration and breath-taking action. Readers will be entranced as Angel and the bear tangle back and forth. Isaacs’ use of idioms and expressions, such as “varmint” “Thundering Tarnation” “dewdrops on corn”, are fun to read and lend themselves to a pleasurably drawled read aloud. Overall, the telling of the story is authentic and refreshing, like a breath of Tennessee mountain air.
Paul Zelinski’s wood-veneer paints are a worthy companion to Angel’s broad story. Painted in a primitive American-style, the pages bring to mind detailed Colonial-style works as well as the calming Americana scenes of Edward Hopper. The pages are full of details that will engage and delight the reader: time should be taken in any reading of this book to fully appreciate the the expression of the characters and details of their lives. Period dress and pioneer culture find accurate representation: coonskin caps and prairie dresses abound.
Isaacs draws attention to tall-tale that deserves just as much attention as Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Pecos Bill. Angel takes the stage in a way that all readers will love younger readers will enjoy the illustrations and action while older readers will value the illustrations, action, and the story’s central message: having a big heart leads to big things.
Anne Isaacs’ first picture book, Swamp Angel, demands a giant amount of attention and consideration in her adaptation of an American tall tale. The story’s focus on a female character and female heroism is refreshing while the strength of the story lies in humorous exaggeration and breath-taking action. Readers will be entranced as Angel and the bear tangle back and forth. Isaacs’ use of idioms and expressions, such as “varmint” “Thundering Tarnation” “dewdrops on corn”, are fun to read and lend themselves to a pleasurably drawled read aloud. Overall, the telling of the story is authentic and refreshing, like a breath of Tennessee mountain air.
Paul Zelinski’s wood-veneer paints are a worthy companion to Angel’s broad story. Painted in a primitive American-style, the pages bring to mind detailed Colonial-style works as well as the calming Americana scenes of Edward Hopper. The pages are full of details that will engage and delight the reader: time should be taken in any reading of this book to fully appreciate the the expression of the characters and details of their lives. Period dress and pioneer culture find accurate representation: coonskin caps and prairie dresses abound.
Isaacs draws attention to tall-tale that deserves just as much attention as Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Pecos Bill. Angel takes the stage in a way that all readers will love younger readers will enjoy the illustrations and action while older readers will value the illustrations, action, and the story’s central message: having a big heart leads to big things.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
I have never heard of this story and I wonder if it is a real tall tale, but I sure liked it. I love stories about Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill as American myth. This is Swamp Angel. She is about 50 feet tall and she grew up in the wilds of Tennessee and she helped out the settlers. She is a great epic for girls out there. This is female Paul Bunyon.
There was a bear that was huge and needed to be taken care of as it ate up half of all the people’s stores of food in the state and people were starving. The state ordered a bear hunt and Swamp Angel joined the hunt. They fought all over the state and eventually Swamp Angel does best him. She does end up the winner and living in Montana. It’s a rhyming folk tale with some women power in it.
We had a lot of fun reading this. The nephew loved the fight the two had. He laughed at all the silliness of this story. He loved seeing the bear in the stars and his favorite was when Swamp Angel used a tornado to rope the bear. He gave this 5 stars. The niece thought this was funny to and she enjoyed it. She gave this 4 stars.
There was a bear that was huge and needed to be taken care of as it ate up half of all the people’s stores of food in the state and people were starving. The state ordered a bear hunt and Swamp Angel joined the hunt. They fought all over the state and eventually Swamp Angel does best him. She does end up the winner and living in Montana. It’s a rhyming folk tale with some women power in it.
We had a lot of fun reading this. The nephew loved the fight the two had. He laughed at all the silliness of this story. He loved seeing the bear in the stars and his favorite was when Swamp Angel used a tornado to rope the bear. He gave this 5 stars. The niece thought this was funny to and she enjoyed it. She gave this 4 stars.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
3.0
The only tall tale I've read that has a female protagonist - how refreshing!