All By Herself [Hardcover]

Ann Whitford Paul (Author), Michael Steirnagle (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Amelia Earhart, Golda Meir, Pocahontas, Rachel Carson, Wanda Gág, Wilma Rudolph, and other determined young women--both famous and less familiar--took risks and made sacrifices to do brave things. Each of these inspiring poems proves that every girl, no matter who she is or where she lives, is capable of making a difference.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Paul (The Seasons Sewn) surfs through history, emerging with an assortment of 14 plucky young heroines--some famous, some not--to commemorate in verse. In "Ida Lewis," one of the strongest poems, the poet's use of repetition and rhythm mimics the pounding of the waves from which the 16-year-old daughter of a lighthouse keeper single-handedly rescues four men whose boat has capsized. Other poems highlight such galvanizing girlhood incidents as Amelia Earhart rocketing off the toolshed roof in a homemade roller coaster she fashioned from a wooden crate; more contemplative poems reflect cerebral heroines such as nature writer Rachel Carson and educator/activist Mary Jane McLeod (later Bethune). From Wilma Rudolph, who discarded a painful leg brace and went on to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics, to fourth-grader Golda Mabovitch (later known as Golda Meir), who encouraged her classmates to donate money for books for poor children, the poems describe telling moments from these inspiring lives. A few poems may be difficult to decode without a context, but an afterword fleshes out the historical details. Paul keeps the flow lively by employing a range of poetic styles, including free verse and rhyming couplets, while the broad, energetic brush strokes and intense hues of Steirnagle's (Billy Lazroe and the King of the Sea) oil portraits reflect the fierce determination of his subjects. An intriguing hybrid of history, poetry and art, this book may well prod readers to find out more about these strong role models. Ages 6-9. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-This handsome gallery of girls features 14 episodes of heroism conveyed in poetry and oil paintings. Ida Lewis's daring rescue of men foundering in a stormy sea and Wanda G g's late night drawing of greeting cards to support her impoverished family are among the brave ventures, each set on double-spread view. Some of the subjects-Sacajawea, Amelia Earhart, Pocahontas-are nearly legendary. Others are well known-Maria Mitchell, Wilma Rudolph, Rachel Carson. Harriet Hanson of the Lowell Mills and Frances Ward of the Westward Movement are less widely recognized though certainly heroic in their time. "Jabbed by splinters, ripped by nails,/she crawled along the planks-across a span, five hundred feet" is a partial description of Kate Shelley's dramatic rescue of two men after a train crash. Nearly a page each in length, the narrative verses are uneven in rhyme, meter, and vitality. The broadly sketched paintings vividly render key moments of each girl's story, whether it's of bold action or more subdued, personal achievement. Concluding notes, titled "About the Girls," offer a short picture glossary with portraits and brief accounts of the major adult accomplishments of each young woman. Teachers and librarians will find many opportunities here for making connections with other books, introducing curriculum units, or sparking discussion.
Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (October 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152014772
• ISBN-13: 978-0152014773
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,604,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann Whitford Paul graduated from the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University School of Social Work. She became inspired to write picture books after years of bedtime reading to her four children. She's published 19 different award-winning books. Now she gets story ideas from her three grandchildren. For ten years she taught picture book writing through UCLA Extension. She still enjoys teaching how to write picture books. When she isn't writing or teaching, she loves listening to her cat purr, watching spiders spin their webs and following snails' trails. You can learn more about her, download writing tips and classroom activities, and contact her through her web-site www.annwhitfordpaul.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish my girls had this inspiration when they were children!, November 4, 1999

By 

E. J. Marine (Williamsville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All By Herself (Hardcover)

The best book I have ever read for making the link between wonderful acts of imagination and/or courage in childhood and the larger than life heros these women became.This has got to be a christmas or birthday book for reading to or by girls from 5 to 10.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a treasure!, January 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: All By Herself (Hardcover)

As a parent and teacher of young girls, I found this book to be an inspiration. My 8 year old daughter enjoyed all of the poems and reading them together sparked several discussions about some of the heroines, especially the lesser known women.The illustrations are beautiful. What a great gift for a young girl!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All by Herself: 14 Girls Who Made a Difference, December 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: All By Herself (Hardcover)

Story of 14 young women, who are heros, some famous, some not. Poems are wonderful, and explain just why each girl is a hero. Illustrations are beautiful and in color. This is an excellent biography book and I would recommend it for students from the 4th grade up, and to the teachers and parents, alike.