Issacs, A. (1994). Swamp Angel. Puffin Books.
Caldecott Honor Book – 1995 (illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky)
This picture book entitled Swamp Angel, is written by Anne Issacs and has illustrations created by master artist, Paul O. Zelinsky. From the moment that you look at the cover, it is clear why this book was honored for its distinction in artistic interpretation with a Caldecott honor in 1995. In this particular book, Zelinsky elected to create illustrations which were indicative of the flavor of the time period, with earth tone, natural colors with oils on real wood veneer backgrounds of cheery, birch, and maple, with folkart stylings of figures and landscapes. All of these elements are combined to give the pictures a home crafted feel to them. Even with traditional and handcrafted feeling, Zelinsky still also manages to incorporate exaggerated, tall tale renderings of characters and events. Combining all of those concepts into successful illustrations is a clear sign of a master artist at work.
The storyline is a new tall tale, although spun to sound as if it has been retold and passed down orally through generations of pioneers of long ago. Think of it as a newfangled, feminist version of a woman with Paul Bunyan stature. Although a brief review of her childhood is given in the first few pages, the story stays the course of once it sets the stage of her character traits by focusing on the story’s adventure and main problem. This main character, named Angelica Longrider, is a very likeable, confident lady who grows up to save those out in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee from the great bear called Thundering Tarnation (how “tall taleish” is that name?) She saves the day, of course, with pride and steadfast determination, and my kids loved cheering her efforts and spunky spirit on throughout the book. My students also noticed how in some picture spreads, you could see several different events taking place, and that their eyes followed from the first thing that happened in the scene to the next, but that they could also review the whole scene again in all of the steps of action before they turned the page. A crowd pleaser read aloud, and a welcome addition to a unit of study on tall tales as a type of fantasy genre, and serves as a refreshing break from hearing retellings of classics since it is new and fresh!
This picture book entitled Swamp Angel, is written by Anne Issacs and has illustrations created by master artist, Paul O. Zelinsky. From the moment that you look at the cover, it is clear why this book was honored for its distinction in artistic interpretation with a Caldecott honor in 1995. In this particular book, Zelinsky elected to create illustrations which were indicative of the flavor of the time period, with earth tone, natural colors with oils on real wood veneer backgrounds of cheery, birch, and maple, with folkart stylings of figures and landscapes. All of these elements are combined to give the pictures a home crafted feel to them. Even with traditional and handcrafted feeling, Zelinsky still also manages to incorporate exaggerated, tall tale renderings of characters and events. Combining all of those concepts into successful illustrations is a clear sign of a master artist at work.
The storyline is a new tall tale, although spun to sound as if it has been retold and passed down orally through generations of pioneers of long ago. Think of it as a newfangled, feminist version of a woman with Paul Bunyan stature. Although a brief review of her childhood is given in the first few pages, the story stays the course of once it sets the stage of her character traits by focusing on the story’s adventure and main problem. This main character, named Angelica Longrider, is a very likeable, confident lady who grows up to save those out in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee from the great bear called Thundering Tarnation (how “tall taleish” is that name?) She saves the day, of course, with pride and steadfast determination, and my kids loved cheering her efforts and spunky spirit on throughout the book. My students also noticed how in some picture spreads, you could see several different events taking place, and that their eyes followed from the first thing that happened in the scene to the next, but that they could also review the whole scene again in all of the steps of action before they turned the page. A crowd pleaser read aloud, and a welcome addition to a unit of study on tall tales as a type of fantasy genre, and serves as a refreshing break from hearing retellings of classics since it is new and fresh!
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