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 MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Review
"
Joy Fisher Heins illustrations
will captivate readers of all ages.
" --
Austin American-Statesman"
a colorful and readable account
" --
Grand Rapids Press"
children will pore enthusiastically over her riotous, millefleur landscapes, each bloom
meticulously rendered
" --
Booklist"
colorful pictures add sparkle to the work." --
Dallas Morning News"Joy Fisher Heins illustrations for the picture book give readers an easy lesson in wildflower identification.
" --
Houston Chronicle"Joy Heins spectacular paintings veritably burst off the page." --
Orlando Sentinel"This warmly attractive volume tells a graceful braid of stories
Heins delicate pictures are in bright, clear colors
" --
Kirkus Reviews