Customer Reviews

N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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The lush, romanticized illustrations--in the same tradition as Norman Rockwell--by renowned American artist N.C. Wyeth, are what first draws young readers to this book. While the paintings taken from Wyeth's murals may not always line up with the clear, concise writing of Robert San Souci, it doesn't detract from the narrative.

This is a classy book for middle grade students, providing a readable account of the Pilgrim's journey aboard the Mayflower and first year in New England. While the illustrations may be idealized, San Souci leaves no doubt that life was difficult for the settlers of Plymouth.

Notes at the end of the book provide interesting and helpful background on the writing of the book and information about the artist, who died in 1945, and the murals that are the source of these illustrations.

This is a nice addition for information on New England colonial life, as well as the feast of Thanksgiving.

I thought that this book was a really good book. The best part about it was that it had to do with history. I think it will still keep the interest of kids while teaching them about what happened back then. It also had great pictures. While I was reading it, the pictures jumped out at me. It wasn't too lengthy either. I found that to be quite nice. I would recommend it to children if they are looking for an interesting and educational book. With this book, you can not only enjoy it, but you can also learn. That is why I gave it 5 stars.

This book is more than a children's book because it is illustrated with images from 12 large murals that N.C. Wyeth created for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. This commission was the largest in N.C. Wyeth's career and unfortunately he died in an automobile accident before the entire project was completed. As a children's book telling the stories of the pilgrims, it is a great book with Robert San Souci's text that never talks down to children. However, for those interested in the visual arts, the book is also a record of these grand murals that Wyeth created to honor the experiences of the pilgrims. Wyeth selected not to paint all the frostbite and hunger and danger but instead created a robust, warm, glowing vision of the pilgrim experience in the new world. I do find the influence of Howard Pyle in the work of N.C. Wyeth, his most famous pupil. Both used a crisp outline to define shapes and the relationships between shapes, both were attracted to idea forms and images and created stunningly beautiful men and women. A beautiful painting of a young muscular handsome pilgrim courting a young women at her spinning wheel will illustrate my point. Within the outlined contour, Wyeth modulates the color to great effect. If you are interested in artists and their production, this is a nice collection of Wyeth's paintings around a single theme. If you have children, this is a beautiful book about the pilgrim experience from an idealized, romantic perspective.

These beautiful illustrations enhance the Thanksgiving story. Hints of Longfellow's "The Courtship of Miles Standish" are there. It's a book to savor during Thanksgiving and really all year.