Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People [Hardcover]

Bonnie Christensen (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

Woody Guthrie spent his life putting into words and music what the rest of America was thinking. He roamed from coast to coast and captured the despair of those displaced by the Great Depression and the dust bowl, eulogized workers, and celebrated the great natural beauty of America. This is an introductory biography presented as a picture book with a brief lyrical text and powerful, hand-tinted, woodcut-like illustrations. It includes the complete lyrics to “This Land Is Your Land” and excerpts from his other songs. A book for all ages, it makes this talented and tragic man accessible to young children and will please his older folksinging fans with its stunning art.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This simple, beautifully illustrated biography of folk legend Woody Guthrie is also a social history of the tough times he lived in. Bonnie Christensen has a folksy yet elegant painting style reminiscent of woodblock work, and the muted blues and browns are enormously evocative of a tragic family history, a hardscrabble life in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, and of a boy kept afloat by hope, compassion, and sheer musical talent. The story takes us all the way to Guthrie's relatively settled life as a married man with kids on Coney Island's Mermaid Avenue. It's a pity, perhaps, that the book encompasses the lyrics of only Guthrie's most famous song, "This Land Is Your Land." But it's the kind of story that sends a reader scurrying for more lyrics---and tapes, of course--and perhaps a borrowed guitar. (Ages 6 to 12) --Richard Farr

From Publishers Weekly

Seemingly tapping into the tone of Guthrie's own lyrics, Christensen's (Breaking into Print) folksy, sometimes plaintive narrative offers a resonant profile of this songwriter's life and work. Born in Oklahoma in 1912 to parents who were both fond of singing, Guthrie throughout his childhood "heard the songs that swept across the prairie wind and rain songs, thunder rumbling, lightning crackling songs." The author incorporates snippets of Guthrie's lyrics as she follows his peripatetic path, first to west Texas where he learned to play the guitar and gravitated toward "old-time country music that got people laughing and forgetting their worries" and later to California. Christensen deftly reveals how Guthrie's songwriting was propelled by the issues of his era; he sang his "Dust Bowl ballads" on the radio in Los Angeles and, moved by the plight of unemployed migrant farm workers, coal miners and factory hands, he "became their voice, and songs were his way of speaking." His articulate and far-ranging voice rings clearly through these pages, which feature the full lyrics to "This Land Is Your Land" sprawled in oversize hand lettering across the top of each spread. Reminiscent of woodcuts, the mixed-media, earth-toned illustrations creatively evoke the period and the variegated landscapes of this gifted performer's life. All ages.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375811133
• ISBN-13: 978-0375811135
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #899,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Voice of the People....., November 20, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People (Hardcover)

Bonnie Christensen celebrates the life of Woody Guthrie, a true American original. From his meager beginnings in Okemah, Oklahoma, he grew up during hard times, surviving tragedies and hardships, often with only his music for comfort. While still a teenager, he took to the road, crisscrossing the country and listening to the plight of farmers, the homeless, migrant workers and others left in desperate circumstances by the Great Depression. He soon became the voice of the people, using his songs to bring America together, and to speak out for justice, equality and peace. He was an inspiration to many, and a powerful voice for change. Ms Christensen's gentle and lyrical text, full of history and drama, is complemented by her quiet, yet powerful and evocative illustrations. Together word and art create a moving biography that introduces Woody and his music to a whole new generation of fans. Perfect for youngsters 8-12, Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People includes the lyrics to several of his best know songs, and a chronology of important events at the end to augment discussions and send kids out to their library, bookstore, or on-line retailer, looking for more about this amazing American.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine illustrations accompany this lively survey, February 4, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People (Hardcover)

Good reading skills or parental assistance will be required of youngsters in grades 3-4 for appreciation of Woody Guthrie, an American folk poet and musician who sung out for peace and civil rights. Fine illustrations accompany this lively survey of Woody Guthrie's travels and times.