Eleanor Makes Her Mark

September 15, 2020
"Candid. Compassionate. Courageous." Eleanor Roosevelt comes alive in this energetic depiction of her experiences and accomplishments. Lively textual description portrays her empathy, intelligence, pragmatism, warmth, and humor while dynamic illustrations give a sense of Roosevelt's exuberance and sincere dedication to helping those who were struggling. Beginning just before her husband's inauguration, the plot then flashes back to her childhood and moves forward to her achievements as an adult, providing a sense of her formative experiences and tying them to the beliefs she developed and acted on in later life. The text takes care to mention the time she spent developing relationships with the people she sought to help as well as the unique role she played as first lady and partner to FDR, providing advice, knowledge, and information throughout his political career. Though her family life is mentioned, the emphasis here is on the work she did for others: investigating prisons, hospitals, and asylums; helping FDR's government "serve the good of the people" (her words, quoted by Kerley); fighting for equality and against discrimination; and her participation in UNICEF and the U.N. Fotheringham includes people of color in some scenes illustrating his White protagonist's civil rights work and outreach. Endnotes showcase an impressive array of photos and provide a framework for young readers to bring about positive change themselves. A compelling celebration of Eleanor Roosevelt that will inspire children to follow in her footsteps. (photos, questions for reflection, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

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November 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-Kerley and Fotheringham (What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!) team up again for this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. Kerley sprinkles the narrative with sourced quotes, including, "Government, Eleanor believed, 'should serve the good of the people, ' so she encouraged everyone to write to her and share their struggles, hopes, and fears." Fotheringham's cartoon-style illustrations are digitally rendered in a colorful, realistic palette. He depicts a likable Roosevelt, highlighting her pronounced cheekbones and ready smile. Motion lines show her constant activity-riding in a coal mine car, visiting with construction workers, flying to World War II field hospitals. Some pages even show multiple Roosevelts, representing her whirlwind of activity. A recurring theme is a paper doll chain-a reminder of Roosevelt's connectedness to all Americans and her humanitarian efforts. A scrapbook, sources, and engaging activities are included in the back matter. Although secondary characters are drawn as predominately white, the illustrations show Roosevelt meeting with African American citizens and leaders to discuss how to end discrimination. VERDICT There are many titles about Eleanor Roosevelt, but with its encouragement for readers to make their own marks upon the world, this book could be a necessary source of inspiration.-Lisa Taylor, Florida State Coll., Jacksonville

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November 1, 2020
Grades 2-4 After telling the exuberant stories of Mark Twain, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and other historical figures, Kerley and Fotheringham turn to American icon Eleanor Roosevelt in another successful picture-book biography. An opening scene with Eleanor overseeing her husband's inauguration ceremonies (with hot dogs for lunch!) conveys her role as First Lady. But it's childhood experiences with both tragedy and empathy that influence her humanitarian work as First Lady and guide the counsel she gives her husband supporting compassionate social reform. As in their previous biographies, Kerley incorporates cited quotes into her short, upbeat narration, and Fotheringham reinforces the tone with respectful and energetic cartoon illustrations filled with red, white, and blue. Old-fashioned paper-doll chains overtly and sometimes subtly spotlight Eleanor's desire to unite Americans and leave her mark on the world, by encircling such scenes as volunteering in soup kitchens and holding civil rights discussions. A concluding scrapbook depicts photos from Eleanor's life, as well as events referenced in the text, and offers prompts for young readers to consider their mark on the world. Enthusiastic and inspiring.Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020

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