Customer Reviews

My Great-Aunt Arizona

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Beautifully done! My 2 yr old and I like this one, the illustrations are gorgeous.The story is sweet, a real-life story for a change! It was given to us by the most inspiring person, she inspired my love of books and now her grand daughters, my mother.(who happens to be a teacher, the best!) This book is a keeper!

From the moment I was introduced to this book, I knew I had to have it. It is such a wonderful story of a woman who enjoyed learning and dreamed of travelling to the places she read about only to have circumstances prevent it. She did the next best thing - she became a teacher and inspired countless students to live their dreams. Every teacher should read this - it will reinforce the reasons you entered the profession.

This is a wonderful book. As an elementary teacher I especially enjoy reading it with my students and own a classroom set. It is a beautiful story of a teacher and contains lovely illustrations. It is a sweet depiction of schools and life long ago.

This is one of my favorite children's books. It is a simple and beautiful story--no matter how many times I read it, I have a hard time getting through it without tearing up. It's also a great way to introduce young children to biography and to one-room schoolhouse days. I recently donated this book to my grandmother's hometown library as a very appropriate tribute to her memory--as she was also a teacher who touched many lives, in school and out, as most true teachers do.

I use this book in both my reading and writing workshops for fifth graders. It's an excellent book that could be useful to 3rd-6th grade students. It's a great example of characterization.

My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston, and illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb is a true tribute to teachers everywhere. I have seldom been touched by a book for young men and women as much as this one. The story is simple, but it is one of the most sincere works that I have seen for some time now.

The author's Great Aunt, Arizona Houston Hughes was born on Henson Creek in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She attended a one room school house and from the very start, dreamed of visiting far away places and seeing wonderful sights. The story follows the little girl, Arizona, as she grows from a young girl to a woman, a wife, mother and teacher. Yes there were hardships, obstacles placed in front of her, but her obvious determined spirit prevailed. Through sheer stubbornness and will, Arizona does indeed receive her teaching certificate and begins her life long teaching career teaching in the little one room schoolhouse where she herself attended.

The story follows the author's aunt through marriage, the birth of her child and her final retirement from a profession in which she excelled. Mrs. Arizona Houston Hughes ended teaching several generations of fourth grade students and having a great impact on their lives. She lived to the age of 93.

This is a well written work. The author's low keyed, yet precise and poetic prose is almost hypnotic at times. You feel and see what the young teachers feels and sees; through her eyes and the eyes of those around her and knew her. Her wish to see far away places was never actually fulfilled literally, but was fulfilled through the wonderful gift of knowledge, curiosity and wonder that she was able to passes on to her many students.

The illustrations in this small work are wonderful and perfectly executed. Each frame fits the story line perfectly. This team of Houston and Lamb is a winner by any standard. The background, dress, details and feeling of the Blue Ridge Mountains are captured perfectly.

As a side note; I have read this same story to the same group of third graders four times now. After this lat reading I had three little girls come up after class and inform me that they wanted to be teachers just like the "lady in the book." I have to admit that I got a bit choked up over that.

This is a wonderful read for children, either on their own, or as a group read. It is a strong, strong tribute to teachers, those in a profession which I personally feel is one of the most important we have. Not only should teachers read this one, but all those that are interested in their child's education and it is a good reminder to all of us that one person can indeed make a tremendous difference in many, many lives.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Read this book to your kids because it's a great story. Read it because it'll help them appreciate what their teachers do for them. And then, maybe give a copy to their teacher as a gift. This wonderful book is a tribute to those who pour their lives into children who can then go forward with dreams and the ability to do anything.

this is the most wonderful book, everyone who loves to travel and has dreams of travel.
It is a childrens book with beautiful illustration and a tribute to all teachers. If you
love a teacher it would make a wonderful gift.

Several years ago, I first read this book to my second grade class, for the purpose of focusing on illustrations. I never anticipated this book would have meant so much to my students and to myself as a long-time educator. I have given this book many times as gifts for: young teachers entering the profession, fellow teachers who have re-located, and lately to colleagues who are retiring. It's a perfect gift!

My Great Aunt Arizona is a beautifully-written, beautifully-illustrated book based on a real person, the author's great aunt Arizona. We loved the book so much we took a family vacation some years ago to see the area. The artist obviously went there and saw Henson Creek and the real places, just as we did. We saw Great Aunt Arizona's grave site, too, and met the author's mother.

We love this book so much we have donated it to a couple of libraries and given it as gifts many times. Top notch!