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Patricia Zelver

Frane Lessac

The Wonderful Towers of Watts (Reading Rainbow Books) Paperback – September 1, 2005

by Patricia Zelver (Author), Frane Lessac (Illustrator)

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The incredible artwork of an Italian immigrant who followed his dream of monumental proportions in the impoverished Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles is revealed in this fascinating and engaging true story.

Simon (Sam) Rodia had no formal engineering or architectural training. Yet, over the course of three decades, he constructed an artistic masterpiece in his own backyard – the Watts Towers. Using all kinds of things other people had thrown away, such as broken bottles and tiles, pieces of mirror and glass, seashells, and bits of pottery, he adorned the collection of 17 interconnected sculptural towers. His imaginative salvaging and perseverance can be seen today, as people from all over the world still come to marvel at Sam’s dream.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Will intrigue readers, and the artwork has a charm all its own." --Booklist

"The fascination of collecting and creating, of turning garbage into something splendid, shines through the book. . . . As well as being a story of individual human achievement, this could serve as an inspiration for some classroom art projects." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The book can stand on its own, but could also spark an interesting discussion on art and its role in our society." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Patricia Zelver has written several books for children, including The Wedding of Don Octavio. Her stories have been selected eight times for Prize Stories: The O'. Henry Awards and have appeared in many anthologies. She and her husband live in Montana.

Frané Lessac has illustrated and written many books. Her own My Little Island was a Reading Rainbow Features Selection. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries throughout the world. She lives in Fermantle, Australia, with her husband, their two children, a cat, and some fish.

Product details

Lexile Measure : AD650L
Grade Level : 1 - 5
Item Weight : 5.5 ounces
Paperback : 32 pages
ISBN-10 : 1590782550
ISBN-13 : 978-1590782552
Product Dimensions : 8.56 x 0.11 x 11 inches
Publisher : Boyds Mills Press (September 1, 2005)
Reading level : 2 - 5 years
Language: : English

Best Sellers Rank: #506,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #176 in Children's Recycling & Green Living Books
- #256 in Children's Sculpture Books (Books)
- #320 in Children's Art Biographies (Books)

Customer Reviews:
10 ratings

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5 star		59%
4 star		22%
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2 star		19%
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Cheryl Crane

Great story!

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

I used this book in my 2nd grade classroom to compare and contrast with another story about the Watts Towers. My kids loved it.

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Kim Banks

Really good true story for kids.

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great book, fair price.

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Ramon Gallego, M.D.

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2015

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nice

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zmama

Damaged book.

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

The package was in good shape when it arrived but the book was waterstained and dented. I never would have chosen this copy had I been in a store, and paid the same price. Returned for a replacement.

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Roslynne Levine

Dream the Big Dream.....

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2002

"...Old Sam's real name was Simon Rodia. He was a small man who dressed in ragged overalls, a shirt with the sleeves cut off, and a greasy hat. His arms and face were always covered with dust..." So begins Patricia Zelver's fascinating and engaging true story of an Italian immigrant, with no formal engineering or architectural training, who over a thirty-three year period constructed the Watts Towers in his backyard. Sam lived in a poor neighborhood called Watts, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Over the years he collected all kinds of things other people threw away...broken bottles and tiles, pieces of mirrors and other glass, seashells and bits of pottery. He spent most of his money on cement, sand, and steel. Neighbors could hear him working behind his tall fence, and wondered what Sam was doing with all that junk. "One day, to the neighbors' amazement, something strange and beautiful rose up over the fence in Sam's backyard..." Ms Zelver's simple and straightforward text is captivating, and complemented by Frane Lessac's bold, bright, and magical artwork, done in an almost childlike style. Excitement builds with each page turn as the Towers grow taller, more intricate and beautiful. Perfect for youngsters 5-10, The Wonderful Towers Of Watts is an evocative treasure that is sure to inspire readers, pique their interest, and send them out looking for more. As Ms Zelver tells us at the end of the story..."Watts is still a poor part of Los Angeles. But no other place has the Watts Towers. Every year people come from all over the world to marvel at Old Sam's crazy dream."

5 people found this helpful

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mcHaiku

WHAT CREATIVE ENERGY !!

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2002

Patricia Zelver tells the story of Simon (Sam) Rodia, an Italian immigrant who 'grew' a dream of monumental proportions in the impoverished Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. It took him over 30 years to build the three amazing towers he named "NUESTRO PUEBLO." In this century it could be called a fantasy dedicated to recycling. When people asked Sam "Why?" he answered "I just felt like it." What creative energy in his imaginative salvaging of mosaic tiles, pieces of pottery, anyone's discards! And there is energy, too, in the colorful paintings of Frane Lessac, all demonstrating the hope symbolized by Rodia's art.

One person found this helpful

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wakeningdreamer

we're all lying in the gutter, but some of us see the stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2001

thanks to oscar wilde for the above quote & paticia zelver for the book that brings it to life!
i grew up with reading rainbow & still watch it whenever i get the chance ~ i don't believe we ever truly outgrow enjoying being read a wonderful tale, and this book will give you a tale worth telling. it has a powerful & positive message & even better is that it's true! i've used it in classes to spur students into researching different topics, and everyone i've shared it with (regardless of age or ability) has been glad i did.

4 people found this helpful

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Ulyyf

Good and straight-forward

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2008

This is a direct, straight-forward book about, as the title says, the Watts Towers.

It doesn't condescend to the reader (or listener). The story is told without any cloying sweetness, and without any enforced sympathy.

I can't say how refreshing this treatment can be :)

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