The Lady in the Blue Cloak - Hardcover

Kimmel, Eric A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0823417387 ISBN 13: 9780823417384

Publisher: Holiday House, 2006

Synopsis

A collection of stories depicts the history of four Texas missions from the 17th century to the 19th century, including the title story from the Missión de San Francisco del los Tejas in which a mysterious woman in blue visits the Teas people to prepare them for the missionaries' arrival.

About this title

About the Author:

Eric A. Kimmel is professor emeritus at Portland State University and a celebrated children's author, known especially for his masterful writing, retelling, and adapting of folktales and legends from all around the world. He is a frewuent lecturer and storyteller at school and conferences. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the National Jewish Book Award and the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award. You can find out more by visiting his website at www.erickimmel.com.

From Booklist:

In this picture book, Kimmel collects stories from the Texas missions that were built during Spain's colonial rule. In the title tale, a Spanish nun appears in realistic visions to a group of Tejas Indians; in "Rosa's Window," a Spanish artisan leaves his sweetheart behind to travel to Texas, where he will help build mission churches; and in "The Christmas Vine," a priest helps a young boy choose an offering for Jesus. The short stories flow easily, but they present a mostly uncritical picture of the Christian mission experience (bringing "these new Christians closer to God"), and the narrow viewpoint may jar readers seeking a more balanced portrayal of colonists and indigenous people. However, there are very few collections of these stories available for the age group, and the mysticism, faith, and magic--captured in reverential oil paintings bordered with angels, saints, and other religious imagery--will resonate with some children, particularly Catholics and Texans, for whom the symbolism and history may be more familiar. An introduction offers more background, and an afterword cites sources. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0823417387
• ISBN 13: 9780823417384
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Guevara Susan