From School Library Journal
Grade 3-8-A look at the luxury airship and its infamous disaster of 1937. A fictionalized narrative of the voyage of two young people who were on board provides a serviceable story, but it is the illustrations-which include pictures of artifacts and a rare color photo of the crash scene-that are the draw here. Marschall's large-scale art is historically and technically accurate, amazingly detailed and dramatic, and informative and interesting. It succeeds in conveying the scope of both the airship's size and demise, featuring a foldout quadruple-page spread. Students will be able to tour the inside of the engine room, walk the catwalk beneath the gasbags and girders, and take a shower or play the baby grand piano in the passenger areas. The artist's talent allows for views of all of this, and the perspectives are fantastic. When the destructive flames begin, readers will almost be able to feel and hear them. For the in-depth picture, pair this with some of the other recent titles on this topic such as Patrick O'Brien's The Hindenburg (Holt, 2000) for younger readers, and Gina De Angelis's The Hindenburg (Chelsea, 2000) for older readers.
Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. Ken Marschall created both the words and the exciting, detailed paintings in his Inside the Titanic (1997). This time he contributes just the images in a follow-up that uses the same attractive, oversize format to describe the zeppelin's last trip before its tragic crash. The text takes some liberties in the telling, imagining the on-board experiences of two teenagers--one a passenger, one a crew member--who were aboard the fatal flight. The narratives are detailed and dramatic, with plenty of technical and historical information woven into the personal stories. But it's the realistic paintings that are most noteworthy. Fold-out pages reveal clear, cut-away floor plans and elevations of the aircraft, as well as from-the-ground views of the fiery crash and the skeletal ruins. Never too crowded or chaotic, this is an enticing, multiperspective design that really works, and it's backed by solid information to support reports or spark further interest. A brief glossary and further readings are appended. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
