Scan barcode
kristenremenar's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic biography from Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham. I love that the focus for this telling of Emerson's life story is on the home he created and shared in Concord. Very relate-able for all readers, this desire to make a home and be part of a caring community.
Nice to compare with other bios by the same team, and discuss how they take an angle on a subject's life instead of listing chronologically events that happened between birth and death.
Nice to compare with other bios by the same team, and discuss how they take an angle on a subject's life instead of listing chronologically events that happened between birth and death.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
5.0
Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=3741
My Review: I knew of Emerson’s work, but I didn’t know much about him. This picture book is a perfect introduction into learning about Emerson as a man. And you know what? If this picture paints his personality correctly, he was a wonderful man. He was an intellectual, but also cared about everyone around him. He wanted to listen and learn and be the best neighbor, friend, husband, father, writer, thinker, etc. he could be. Kerley does a great job of showing and sharing with us Emerson’s life.
Also, check out Alyson’s review of this book to see her visit to Mr. Emerson’s home: http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-frenzy/2014/7/15/nonfiction-picture-book-wednesday-a-home-for-mr-emerson
Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Since the book is about Emerson, my first thought would be to look at some of Emerson’s work and discuss his life and work including the quotes that are shared throughout the book. Journaling is also a theme throughout the book. Have students start a journal which they think about the world and other thoughts they have throughout the day. Finally, using Barbara Kerley’s website, students could look at how to write a extraordinary biography then pick their own historic person to write about.
However, the author’s afterword gives another suggestion. Use Emerson’s love of life to make your life the best it can be! Have students exam their lives (using the questions in the afterword), and talk about how to live a fulfilling life.
My Review: I knew of Emerson’s work, but I didn’t know much about him. This picture book is a perfect introduction into learning about Emerson as a man. And you know what? If this picture paints his personality correctly, he was a wonderful man. He was an intellectual, but also cared about everyone around him. He wanted to listen and learn and be the best neighbor, friend, husband, father, writer, thinker, etc. he could be. Kerley does a great job of showing and sharing with us Emerson’s life.
Also, check out Alyson’s review of this book to see her visit to Mr. Emerson’s home: http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-frenzy/2014/7/15/nonfiction-picture-book-wednesday-a-home-for-mr-emerson
Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Since the book is about Emerson, my first thought would be to look at some of Emerson’s work and discuss his life and work including the quotes that are shared throughout the book. Journaling is also a theme throughout the book. Have students start a journal which they think about the world and other thoughts they have throughout the day. Finally, using Barbara Kerley’s website, students could look at how to write a extraordinary biography then pick their own historic person to write about.
However, the author’s afterword gives another suggestion. Use Emerson’s love of life to make your life the best it can be! Have students exam their lives (using the questions in the afterword), and talk about how to live a fulfilling life.
librarianryan's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
This is a brief introduction to Ralph Waldo Emerson for children. It is very well done, even though when I look at it, I think of Mr. Lincoln. There is nothing wrong with this book per se I just found it a tad bit boring.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Another children's picture book biography. This one is on Ralph Waldo Emerson, someone who I knew very little about. A bit wordy for a picture book but well written. The art was adequate, not fantastic but it only added to the story, so certainly good enough. This one left me wanting to know more - to read some of Emerson, and the history of Concord. This book implies that Emerson helped build up the myth of the American character. And it ended with a kind of inspirational homework page for how to build a world of your own - which I liked better than I would have expected.
amynbell's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this children's picture book so much. After all, Emerson is one of my favorite writers. But it really doesn't do much as a children's book. The story line is too wordy to be interesting, there aren't enough good quotes, and the most interesting bits about Emerson are in the end notes instead of the story itself. Why is the focus on Emerson as an old man and his house being burned down? I'd have preferred something that would make my heart swell with my love of the author rather than a story that made me feel sorry for an old man who liked his house and his books.
I remembered to tell my daughter that this book is a story about a real person immediately after the page where Emerson is being carried over the ocean to Europe by birds. Oops. She took the birds literally for a second. I didn't even notice because I knew that it was meant figuratively.
The pictures in this book are beautiful, and the book is worth reading to your child if you're a lover of Emerson. But don't expect it to endear your child to the man. You'll need to follow it up with your own introduction to Emerson if you'd like to do that.
I remembered to tell my daughter that this book is a story about a real person immediately after the page where Emerson is being carried over the ocean to Europe by birds. Oops. She took the birds literally for a second. I didn't even notice because I knew that it was meant figuratively.
The pictures in this book are beautiful, and the book is worth reading to your child if you're a lover of Emerson. But don't expect it to endear your child to the man. You'll need to follow it up with your own introduction to Emerson if you'd like to do that.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderully illustrated with pen and ink, strong bold lines and bright swatches of color, bold graphic images for some scenes, such as the aftermath of the fire that destroyed Emerson's home. Book tells of Ralph Waldo Emerson's life as it revolved around his love for his home in Concord Mass. He read in the study, collected ideas in journals, toured to lecture but always longed to come home, had many guests over to discuss ideas. After the 1872 fire, his friends supported him, and while he traveled to Europe and Egypt with his daughter, they rebuilt his house for him! Full of quotes from Emerson, such as "Happy is the house that shelters a friend." Quotes are cited and sourced. Author's note has family photo of Emerson; includes writing prompts for students.
nairam1173's review against another edition
3.0
This has lovely illustrations and very nice text/quotes inclusion, but is essentially half of a biography. A little strange.
michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review against another edition
5.0
What a really well done bio of Emerson. Informational without being overwhelming. :)
m0rganh's review against another edition
4.0
Bright and engaging illustrations dressed up in bright citrus and deep blues; touching and inspirational quotes from Emerson himself; and an inspirational message to pursue the life of your dreams. What more could I ask for in a nonfiction picture book?
annieliz's review against another edition
3.0
Introduces young readers to Ralph Waldo Emerson in an accessible way. Nice.