Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America [Hardcover]

Kathi Appelt (Author), Joy Fisher Hein (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Bluebonnets and lady's slippers, larkspurs and blazing stars, black-eyed Susans and Granny's nightcaps.

From a lonely childhood in the Piney Woods of East Texas to an exciting life in the White House, Lady Bird Johnson loved these wildflowers with all her heart. They were her companions in her youth, greeting her everywhere as she explored wild forests, bayous, and hills. Later, as First Lady, she sought to bring the beauty of wildflowers to America's cities and highways. She wanted to make sure every child could enjoy the splendor of wildflowers.

In this warm, engaging look at the life of a great First Lady, Kathi Appelt tells the story behind Lady Bird Johnson's environmental vision. Joy Fisher Hein's colorful wildflowers burst from every page, inviting us to share in Lady Bird's love for natural beauty.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Causes celebres are as commonplace among First Ladies as red suits and pearls, but few are as accessible to children as the wildflower-planting campaigns of Lady Bird Johnson. Appelt traces Johnson's botanical passions to her rural, East Texas childhood, finding parallels between the solace her subject drew from nature after her mother's death and her launch of the Highway Beautification Act to soothe a nation grieving for JFK. Psychological correlations of this sort appear throughout, and Appelt doesn't provide specific evidence to back them up; however, source citations for quotations and bibliographic resources are listed. Newcomer Hein's figures are awkwardly handled, but children will pore enthusiastically over her riotous, millefleur landscapes, each bloom so meticulously rendered that bluebells can be distinguished from bluebonnets by using the identification key provided. This is ideally suited for children lucky enough to attend schools where gardens are part of the curriculum; elsewhere, a stroll through Hein's stunning gouache meadowlands may be the next best thing. An endnote describes the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center that Johnson founded in 1982. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“ … children will pore enthusiastically over her riotous, millefleur landscapes, each bloom… meticulously rendered … ” (Booklist )

“This warmly attractive volume tells a graceful braid of stories … Hein’s delicate pictures are in bright, clear colors … ” (Kirkus Reviews )

“ … a colorful and readable account … ” (Grand Rapids Press )

“Joy Hein’s spectacular paintings veritably burst off the page.” (Orlando Sentinel )

“ … colorful pictures add sparkle to the work.” (Dallas Morning News )

“Joy Fisher Hein’s illustrations for the picture book give readers an easy lesson in wildflower identification.…” (Houston Chronicle )

“ … Joy Fisher Hein’s illustrations … will captivate readers of all ages.…” (Austin American-Statesman )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (February 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060011076
• ISBN-13: 978-0060011079
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > U. S. Presidents & First Ladies
  • #90 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Flowers & Plants

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars like wildflowers?, March 21, 2005

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America (Library Binding)

This is a picture book type biography of First Lady Bird Johnson. First we learn of her childhood. We learn that her nanny gave her the nickname ladybird. She was playing with her one day and said she was as pretty as a Lady Bird and the name stuck. We then learn that her mother died after a tragic accident. She fell down the stairs and never recovered from her injuries. Her father then tried to raise Lady Bird on his own but he wanted a better life for his daughter. He asked one of her aunts to come and help take care of her. Aunt Effie came and shared her love of flowers with Lady Bird. As Lady Bird grew up she meet and married Lyndon Johnson who later became the president of the United States after Kennedy was shot. As First Lady she worked hard to help the nation heal from the shock of losing Kennedy. She knew how much flowers meant to her and how much join they brought to her life so she decided to share them with the world. She set our on a campaign of her own to plant wild flowers along the interstates.

What did you like or not like about the book?

At the end of the book were pictures and titles of various wild flowers. Some of them I had never heard of before. I learned a lot about wildflowers through this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making young gardeners for our future, January 11, 2007

By 

Jan Weeks "retired media specialist" (Lake Ozark, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America (Hardcover)

Another excellent best of '06 selection from American Horticulture Society. Our garden club gave this book to a 3rd grade classroom in an effort to encourage our youth to take care of the earth. The illustrations are a joy and the message is what we need to be spreading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this book!, October 28, 2006

By 

M. J. Podzielinski (The Woodlands, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America (Hardcover)

When the Bluebonnets bloom in the spring, is a wonderful time to read Miss Ladybird's Wildflowers. Almost forgotten, Lady Bird Johnson had a huge impact on our environment. This would be great for EARTH DAY. Kathi's writing reads beautifully, and I have used this book in my library for a read aloud. I was surprised how many of our young teachers didn't know who Lady Bird was. Lady Bird helped to beautify our highways by eliminating billboards and seeding wildflowers. The real bonus in the book is the chart of wildflowers on the last page, and then to have students find them on the pages, as they are woven thoughout the splendid illustrations. You will not be disappointed and I hope it will be a must for all libraries.