The Literary Adventures of Washington Irving: American Storyteller - Hardcover

Harness, Cheryl

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1426304382 ISBN 13: 9781426304385

Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books, 2008

Synopsis

Cheryl Harness once again pours the full range of her creative talents into another compellingly illustrated mix of history and biography. This time the result is an inspiring true-life account of the life of one of America’s first celebrity authors.

Follow the narrative from Washington Irving’s birth in New York City to his meeting with his namesake George Washington. Learn of his years as a businessman, lawyer, traveler, and a diplomat representing the views of the United States in the courts of Britain and Spain. Discover what inspired such classics as Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Witness the excitement generated by this American publishing phenomenon as his books are devoured by readers of all ages on both sides of the Atlantic.

Cheryl Harness’ lively narrative traces the development of both Irving's life and his literary imagination. The book’s vivid illustrations invite readers to step back in time and find out how his creations helped lay the foundation for American folklore—the tales and traditions that help define the spirit of America. Along the way, readers meet other authors and their legendary characters, including Longfellow’s Hiawatha and Evangeline, Davy Crockett and the heroes of the Alamo, Johnny Appleseed, Daniel Boone, Pecos Bill, Jesse James, Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox, John Henry and his hammer, Casey Jones, Clement Moore and many more.

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About this title

About the Author:

Cheryl Harness is the author and/or illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including several picture book biographies for National Geographic. She has a natural talent for making history fun for kids, injecting the "wow" factor into the lives of America’s historical heroes and heroines. Harness has won multiple awards, and now lives in her historic hometown of Independence, Missouri. To learn more, visit cherylharness.com.

From Booklist:

Pairing insightful text with paintings organized into comic-book-style frames, Harness captures with exuberance everything that made Irving’s life so exciting: his Revolutionary War upbringing, his early encounter with his presidential namesake, his world travels, and the ideas that made him famous, including Rip Van Winkle, the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, and the transformation of Sinterklaas into jolly old St. Nick. The busy artwork will be what initially captures fancies—there’s a surprising amount of depth to each painting, and many of the frames are encircled by literary quotes that will have readers rotating the book upside-down. Most captivating are the maps of Irving’s various tours across America and Europe: the garish colorings and twisted arrows marking his routes are often nearly illegible, yet fun to decipher with the accompanying key. The sharpness of the text provides proper balance; when teasing the secret of one of Irving’s stories, Harness simply writes, “Read the story. Get the shivers.” And readers will. Grades 2-5. --Daniel Kraus

About this edition

• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1426304382
• ISBN 13: 9781426304385
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48