Cecil's Story (Orchard Paperbacks) [Paperback]

George Ella Lyon (Author), Peter Catalanotto (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Orchard Paperbacks

A boy thinks about the possible scenarios that exist for him at home if his father goes off to fight in the Civil War.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A boy awaits his injured father's return from the Civil War; PW commended this picture-book treatment of the consequences of war as "unusual and timely." Ages 5-7.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531070638
• ISBN-13: 978-0531070635
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,373,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible illustrations in a touching story., December 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cecil's Story (Hardcover)

Catalanotto's illustrations bring so much depth to this story of a child missing his father. His use of overlapping images to show the passage of time is beautiful. A moving book to have and treasure.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, October 21, 2000

By 

K. Reed (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cecil's Story (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Cecil's story was written by the sister of my English professor. It is simple but extraordinarily powerful. The book deals with a young boy's reaction as his father is wounded in the war, though I think it would be appropriate for any child who's parent has suffered an illness or injury. It concludes with the understanding that in the face of debilitating circumstances, we are fortunate simply to have each other.

Both the writing and the artwork are extraordinary--I would recommend it for any child.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Illustrations, Relevant Story, December 1, 2008

By 

A. Holwerda (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cecil's Story (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Cecil's Story tells a the hypothetical story of what might happen if your father was a Civil War soldier and went off to fight. What might happen if he was injured, and your Mama had to go and fetch him. What might happen if you had take care of her, the house, the farm. Lyon tackles the issues of war, wounds, and bravery with delicacy and respect while not skirting the issues and engaging young readers, through their imagination, to emotionally connect with Cecil and his story.

Catalanotto's full-spread paintings mimic Lyon's muted tone and he creatively employs layered images of a chick growing in its shell, and a young boy - at various positions - working the field to show the progression of time as both parents are missing. His paintings utilize warm browns and yellows to show the coziness of home, vibrant greens and blues to display the beauty of nature, and smoky charcoal and navy shadows for the scenes of soldiers smoking cigarettes, and Cecil's loneliness on the farm. Unfortunately relevant again today, Cecil's Story is a must for children and classrooms in which the young must struggle with loved ones away at war, the emotions surrounding their well-being, and hopes for a safe return.