| Title | : | Lady Liberty: A Biography (Candlewick Biographies) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0763671142 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780763671143 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 48 |
| Publication | : | First published May 13, 2008 |
"Soon America will be one hundred years old. I share my dream of a birthday gift."
It begins in 1865 as a romantic idea, but ten years later Édouard Laboulaye’s dream catches fire and takes shape. Sculptor Auguste Bartholdi gives the dream the form of a lady, holding a torch to "enlighten the world." Engineers, plasterers, carpenters, coppersmiths — many of them immigrants — work together to turn the lady into a monument over 100 feet tall. Joseph Pulitzer calls on readers to help fund a pedestal, and hundreds send in nickels, dimes, and even roosters for the cause. Doreen Rappaport’s historically accurate, poetic vignettes and Matt Tavares’s magnificent images remind us of the true origins of a national symbol — and show that it took a lot of people to make the Lady.
Back matter includes statue dimensions, a time line, an author note, an illustrator note, sources, and suggestions for further reading.
Lady Liberty: A Biography (Candlewick Biographies) Reviews
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Lady Liberty should be made into a movie. It would be totally fascinating and there could be some great drama in it right now.
This is a well done history of how we got the Statue of Liberty. The French people are an amazing people. A group of them wanted to give a gift to our country. They raised the money to build this statue for us. They felt this much toward our ideal of liberty. It’s amazing. They wanted us to raise the money for the pedestal and Americans balked at this. People made fun of the French. I don’t understand what was happening.
Luckily, Pultizer began a campaign in the newspaper where he shamed the wealthy class that would donate no money and he got normal people who gave nickels and dimes to build the base. It is the everyday American who understood the importance of this monument.
It was interesting to see all the planning and how they built the statue over 20 years that it took to make her. She has meant so much to so many. It is interesting to read this book while all the immigration horrors are taking place at the moment. Our country is in a moment of forgetting that we do stand for liberty. I think we will remember who we are eventually, at least I hope we will.
I love the poem on the statue: “ Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
That is powerful and not easy to really do. It’s a nice sentiment, but we know the immigrant story is a hard one. They came and they had to work. The worked so hard and lived in slums, but their children and grandchildren had the promise of this land. That is the story heard most often.
This was a long book for the nephew. He thought it was a slow story, but it was interesting. The niece enjoys a fact book and she has seen the statue, so she wanted to read this book with us too. She thought it was pretty fascinating. She gave this story 4 stars. The nephew gave this book 2 stars. He said the statue sort of looks like a monster because it’s so big, so it’s ok. -
I found this book on one of our weekly trips to the library. When I saw the cover I vaguely thought a book like this might blow on the fire of my five-year-old's patriotism. She was so proud when she could say the entire "Pledge of Allegiance" on her own last year. Little did I know that I would find such a gem of a book that I would want everyone, no matter their age, to pick it up. It took ten minutes out of my life to read it, but it touched me in such a way that it felt like scripture. This is a history book that feels like a first-person account. I feel like I was there and I am amazed that it took 20 years from conception to installation for "The Lady" to be a reality. The idea that our country could inspire a life-long dream for one man reminds me that this is the promised land. I'm ashamed that I don't think of our country that way now--not to the point of building a large homage to her. Indeed, most of the world loves America, but we get a lot of flack for the kind of stupidity and baseness we are capable of. It's like we don't even know where we came from anymore. This book reminds us to remember the sacrifices of others that made our country great. Like the illustrator, I never much thought about the history of the Statue of Liberty, but I'm grateful to learn more about this part of our history. The Lady is truly remarkable.
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A stunning historical overview of the Statue of Liberty and her path to creation. Told from different point of views the reader can see how the statue was first thought of, the process of building her from the first clay models to the statuesque beacon of freedom that she is today. Dazzling illustrations engage the reader and add to the book immensely.
Illustrator Matt Tavares says, "This story is told from several different points of view, and the characters all share a common bond: to them , liberty was not some abstract concept. America had just made it through the Civil War. Slavery had just been abolished. France was ruled by an emperor. They knew what it was to live without liberty. To them, liberty was very real, and it was something worth fighting for and something worth celebrating."
Included in the book a timeline, bibliography and further resources
I was spouting Statue of Liberty facts with enthusiasm all day. -
Good ole Pulitzer, dragging the millionaires (who wouldn't contribute to the statue's erection) through the cocoa and enlisting the readers to help, with their small change! I'm not the rah-rah patriotic sort, but stories like this are moving and show how much liberty meant to people coming to this country to us, who take it for granted having been born under it.
The process is seen also through the eyes of the visionaries and people closely involved, such as Eduard de Laboulaye and sculptor's assistant. There's even a piece through the eyes of José Martí - I didn't know he was there (OMG! There's a statue of him in Central Park!). The illustrations were beautifully composed and executed as well as dignified. -
Short story that tells about how the Statue of Liberty came to be a gift from France to the United States
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This was an excellent book! Young and old can learn from this wonderful book. Beautiful illustrations. I highly recommend this one to all.
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Rappaport, Doreen. 2008. Lady Liberty A Biography. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-2539-6.
In this collection of poems, Rappaport chronologically tells the story of the creation of Lady Liberty, from the idea’s conception to the final unveiling in New York City. Using the comments and experiences of the people involved in the making of Lady Liberty as an inspiration and starting point, Rappaport not only conveys the factual information about the history of Lady Liberty but also the emotional aspect of people who valued the liberty she symbolizes. Each poem is titled with a person’s name, a person who somehow influenced the making of the Statue of Liberty, ranging from Charles P. Stone, the construction supervisor, to Florence De Foreest, a ten year old girl in New Jersey who mailed her roosters to support the construction efforts. Underneath the title the location and the date of the particular part of Lady Liberty’s story is listed. These added details support the idea that Lady Liberty and her symbolism spans time and place.
Told in free verse poetry, the poems are not fancy or risky. Instead of using the style or rhythm to make an impact, the author simply uses the words and the feelings liberty invokes to make a point with readers. Sometimes simple is better and more powerful. The pictures are a wonderful addition to the book. Most moving is the illustration for the poem “Jose Marti”, which is dark and gray, with the blue and the red of the American flag the only bright colors shining through.
Although the critics recommend this book for grades 3-8, it can be used in older grades as well. With revolutions happening in Egypt and Libya, the idea of liberty and its worth is current and relevant. The last poem of the book, which tells the story of the unveiling of the statue, embodies the idea of freedom. This poem could be used in a high school history class or even government class to spark a discussion about the current events in the world. A United States history class can use the poems in the book when learning about the American Revolution. Although the statue was made much later, it is a symbol of what the colonists were willing to risk their lives for. Sometimes students focus on the facts they need to learn for the test and forget the emotions and feelings of the people who lived during those events.
“Liberty! The most important word in the world.
I know that all too well.
I was deported from my country, Cuba
for fighting to free my people from Spanish rule” (Rappaport 26).
This section of a poem is a great warm-up question to get students thinking about exactly what Lady Liberty means not only to Americans but to people around the world.
www.laurathebookworm.blogspot.com -
The story of not only the Statue of Liberty, but of those people involved with her creation, as well as the millions of immigrants whose first vision of America was Lady Liberty greeting them upon their arrival in New York Harbor. The book is told from the perspective of many. From Edouard De Laboulaye who first proposed the erection of a statue as a gift from the people of France to the citizens of The United States in celebration of the centennial of the founding of the country, to Joseph Pulitzer who organized successful fundraising for the erection of the statue's base and pedestal.
The illustrations are superbly rendered and show in great detail the birth of the statue in Auguste Bartholdi's Paris workshop, the erection of the statue on Bedloe's Island, and all of the pageantry and spectacle of Liberty's dedication in October of 1886.
The book as a whole is extremely well done, and a pleasure to look at. -
This children's picture book is filled with real information about the Statue of Liberty and how it came to be. I would share this book in a history until as well since it talks about America and how it became a place for freedom for others coming into the United States looking for freedom. Since this book is based on real things that people did and said throughout history, I think that this would help grab the students attention and want to continue to read to see how other things in history persuaded other historical landmarks to be made. Even though this book is rather lengthy and filled with a lot of information that would be hard for a younger grade to comprehend, I think it would be a great read-aloud for a class that could be discussed as a group. This book has some amazing illustrations that make it a lot easier to understand exactly what is going on.
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A few of the illustrations are well executed -- the one on the constructing of the left hand, the one of Pulitzer intensely focused at his typewriter, the pull-out oversized portrait of The Lady. The rest of the paintings serve their purposes -- to present a scene from the matching text.
This is a perennial popular topic, with a nice concept in the presentation: from the perspectives of certain individuals involved in the creation of the statue. I do not, however, "hear" all of their distinct voices. The little girl, Florence de Foreest's voice definitely is different from that of Pulitzer's -- but his does not seem to be that distinct from the Poet's voice, or that of the author's own voice. -
Lady Liberty: A Biography is a beautifully illustrated book that would be a great addition to either a middle grade classroom library or your very own personal library. This biography is told by each person that had a part in creating, constructing, and delivering the Statue from France to the United States. The author begins by explaining about her grandfather coming to the United States and his feelings of seeing Lady Liberty for the first time. The book then goes back in time and introduces each person and their particular part in creating Lady Liberty from the idea of gifting it to the United States for its 100th birthday of being a free nation to the delivery of the Statue and what all it entailed.
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An American symbol, the Statue of Liberty is recognized by most everyone. What we find in the book are the stories of so many individuals who worked hard to make the Lady possible. Architects, journalists, artists, and poets all represent peoples of all kinds believing in something that will unify us in the new world America.
I adore this book. I got goosebumps on most pages. I loved how the author tied each person with the next to illustrate the oneness of the story.
I would use this in a classroom after we learned about different American monuments. I think it solidifies the idea that hope should be given a name and a pedestal, so everyone can see it and be welcome. Highly recommend. -
I read this book with tears in my eyes. The story of how Lady Liberty came to be - a gift from the French and a sculptor's life dream. The French people raising money so that it could come to fruition while America denied funds for it. Joseph Pulitzer puts a call out to Americans to send money to help with the building of the statue and Americans heed the call, a little girl even sending two chickens for Mr. Pulitzer to sell for the cause. The hope people felt upon seeing her is palpable in this book. Perfect for older kids to teach how great this country is.
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After hearing and loving the song "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears", my 7-year-old became fascinated by the Statue of Liberty and what she stands for. A book blog I love (
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/) reviewed this book, so we checked it out from our library. So worth it! The story of how the Statue of Liberty came to be is told from the standpoint of the different people involved, and the illustrations are amazing. Geared for ages 7 and up. (My 2 year-old had no interest, and my 5 year old, just barely, 'tho she loved the illustrations.) -
Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport tells the story of the Statue of Liberty from many different perspectives. She tells the story through many different people who were involved in all aspects of planning or construction. This is an incredibly powerful book. The illustrations are beautiful and the creative way she tells the story is very interesting. She concludes the book with quotations from people viewing the Statue of Liberty for the first time and I found this to be particularly moving. I would definitely want this book in my classroom.
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Stunningly warm, intimate illustrations and eleven candid first person accounts capture the crescendo of Lady Liberty's creation, from idea to unveiling, and give us an enduring appreciation for the landmark, her creators and the many lives she has touched.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our
Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast. -
This has been an emotional day. I nearly bawled my eyes out watching the inauguration, and it hit me again as I opened the full page spread of Lady Liberty in Doreen's book.
Many people responsible for the statue find their words and viewpoints expressed in this book. This would be a nice choice for families planning a trip to NYC. It may even move a few cynical adults (myself included) to think again on all the good things our country represents. -
I always knew that the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the U.S. from France, but thanks to Doreen Rappaport, I now know all the work, from so many different people that went into creating this monument. The story is told in poems, each from the point of view of a different person involved--from the designer to the construction manager, from Joseph Pulitzer to a young farm girl. Beautiful illustrations make this a book to treasure.
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I was preparing a fun Ipad/Non-Fiction text application for my GT students last week and grabbed this book for its cover. Once inside I was so pleased to see it was a biography of the many people involved in the creation of the Statue of Liberty. It is written in verse and carries a mass of details about the process. Dates, people, politics,structural details and personal emotions are presented in beautiful verse and gorgeous illustrations.
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I find this unassuming book fascinating for all it is doing. Well researched, it talks across multiple perspectives (all in poems) of people who were a part of Liberty's development and construction. Illustrations are beautiful and add as much factual information as the text. A challenging text for students to read independently, I think, but one that would make a great class read aloud and study of unique ways to publish nonfiction.
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Lady Liberty is a beautifully illustrated story about a few of the thousands of people who contributed in some way, great or small, to make this beautiful monument and symbol of freedom come to fruition. Each page has a brief telling from the point of view of the person with the original concept, the designer, frame workers, foundation layers, fundraisers, promoters, and newly arriving immigrants. This would be a nice addition to any school or public library.
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This fascinating book shares the "not so popular" history of how the Statue of Liberty came to be. It goes into detail talking about the different people who played a part in putting her together.
I thought this book was amazing! I love how the author put the book together! The illustrations were fascinating and really made the book come to life.
I will definitely have this book when I have my classroom! It would be perfect for a unit on American history. -
A beautifully written and illustrated snapshot into the lives of some of the key players responsible for envisioning this special lady and making her a reality. Students old enough to be familiar with French and American relationships during the Revolutionary War and beyond (esp. grades 4-6) will appreciate this powerful look at all that went into her creation during the late 1800's.
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I read this a long time ago but neglected to log it. This is a beautifully told and illustrated account of the creation/construction of the Statue of Liberty. It's told in alternating free verse and more advanced, in-depth background notes, so both independent readers and young listeners can enjoy it.
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This is a good book to use to show different points of views of the creation of the Statue of Liberty. In my placement, this was the book of the month. The teacher then had the students compare/ contrast this book to A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting. This book also contains math facts about the Statue Of Liberty (height, weight) and important events in the creation of the Statue.
