Synopses & Reviews
As a young boy, Neil Armstrong had a recurring dream in which he held his breath and floated high above the people, houses, and cars. He spent his free time reading stacks of flying magazines, building model airplanes, and staring through the homemade telescope mounted on the roof of his neighbor's garage. As a teenager, Neil became obsessed with the idea of flight, working odd jobs to pay for flying lessons at a nearby airport. He earned his student pilot's license on his sixteenth birthday. But who was to know that this shy boy, who also loved books and music, would become the first person to set foot on the moon, on July 20, 1969. Here is the inspiring story of one boy's dream - a dream of flying that landed him more than 200,000 miles away in space, gazing upon the awesome sight of a tiny earth hanging suspended in a perfectly black sky. On the thirtieth anniversary of the moon landing, Don Brown's expressive story reveals the achievement of this American legend, Neil Armstrong, re
Review
"From its enticing, dramatic cover to its brown endpapers to a comical Grant Wood-esque final image, this is a worthy contribution to the nonfiction shelves."
—Kirkus, starred review
"A magnificent overview of this chapter in U.S. history."
—School Library Journal
"The tale of the decade-long drought that laid waste to American plains and ruined the lives of countless farmers is a somber read, but Brown devotes himself to telling it well."
—Publishers Weekly
Review
* andquot;From its enticing, dramatic cover to its brown endpapers to a comical Grant Wood-esque final image, this is a worthy contribution to the nonfiction shelves.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus, starred review
andquot;A magnificent overview of this chapter in U.S. history.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal
andquot;The tale of the decade-long drought that laid waste to American plains and ruined the lives of countless farmers is a somber read, but Brown devotes himself to telling it well.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
* andquot;Anyone looking for an exemplar of how comics can bring a true story compellingly to lifeandmdash;with depth and sophisticationandmdash;need look no further than Don Brownand#39;s account of the epic natural disaster of the 1930s, the Dust Bowl.andquot;
andmdash;The Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#39;s Books, starred review
* andquot;Concise and clear in imagery, text, and layout, Brownand#39;s nonfiction examination of the Dust Bowl contextualizes its genesis in geological and cultural history, the dynamics of its climatological presentation, and the affects on both the landscape and Depression-era High Plains farmers. . . . a complete visual package.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist, starred review
* andquot;This is a solid nonfiction graphic-novel debut.andquot;
andmdash;The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
andquot;[A] careful and grim account of an environmental catastrophe.andquot;
andmdash;The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Browns characteristically vigorous scrawls capture both the scrawny boy and the bulldog of a man, infusing his vignettes with a sizable helping of wit. All in all, this is a spot-on introductory book for lower grades."--Kirkus Reviews"Line and wash illustrations add movement and a playful tone to the serious text, which generously incorporates quotes from Roosevelt . . . An authors note concludes this brief overview and may well encourage youngsters to learn more about this fascinating figure."--School Library Journal, starred review
". . . vignettes of scratchy pen-work that capture humor and drama with equal easeand shows Teddys progression from a wispy twig into a big stick . . . a more kid-friendly hook in the young man whose determination trumped his boyhood shortcomings."--Booklist
"Browns signature watercolors follow the text and, on the final page, provide a potent instructional summation as President Theodore Roosevelt stands at the bully pulpit while a hand-lettered text proclaims his accomplishments."--Horn Book
Review
" . . . This testimony is a compelling insight into the wild." Horn Book
"A vivid real-life story with a memorable message." Kirkus Reviews
Review
Brown maintains a delicate tension between his accessible presentation and his extraordinary subject.
Horn Book, Starred
Humanely and humorously depicted... Kids won't need to understand relativity to appreciate Einstein's passage from lonely oddball to breathtaking genius.
Kirkus Reviews, Starred
Readers...will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy.
Booklist, ALA
Brown at his best as he zeroes in on those telling traits that trim a larger-than-life figure down to size.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man.
School Library Journal
Brown's narrative and appealingly quirky...art effectively illuminate the eccentricities and intelligence of Einstein the boy and the man.
Publishers Weekly
Library Media Connection
Review
"Brown continues to apply his understated humor and muted watercolors to larger-than-life personalities in picture book biographies." School Library Journal, Starred
"Beautifully constructedand#133;Brown's eloquent, old fashioned language echoes Twain's own words." Kirkus Reviews, Starred
and#147;The boyhood of writer Samuel Clemens is irresistible, with much of his youth inspiring scenes in his works that have become folklore in their own right. Brown does a spirited job of telling some of those stories.and#8221; Booklist, ALA
Review
"Dashing line-and-watercolor artworkand#133;A sure handed wedding of text and art that brings history to life." Booklist, Starred 9/1/07 Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
Pen and ink and watercolors effectively depict the simplicityand#133;of Colonial lifeand#133;Readers will enjoy this exciting picture-book biography...
School Library Journal
"Brown continues his string of exemplary biographies...In the watercolor illustrations, [Dolley's] smiling good nature and exotic attire come through clearly in brighter days, and in darker, she radiates a sturdy presence even in plainer garb." Kirkus, Starred 9/15/07 Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"Historical figuresand#133; come to life with a few spidery lines and generous dollops of translucent watercolor..."--The Bulletin Nov.2007 The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A sure-handed wedding of text and art that brings history to life." Book Links STARRED November 2007 Book Links, ALA
Review
* andquot;An excellent chronicle of the tragedy for a broad audience; children, teens, and adults will all be moved.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus, starred review
Review
"Elegant phrasing and seamless narration complement pastel watercolors. The paintings are especially effective in conveying the mood of the text. Quiet, lovely scenes of the forest are in contrast to the lively scenes of the children carrying out chores." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"This picture-book presentation of the exploits of a little-known figure in aviation history introduces a new heroine to young adventure fans. Brown's enthusiasm for and knowledge of his subject are clearly evident, and he includes several fascinating details in his brief account of Law's record-breaking feat of flying nonstop from Chicago to New York . . . An intriguing glimpse at a bygone era." School Library Journal
Review
"A grand introduction to the woman and an inspiring story about perseverance, this is an uncommonly good book about an uncommon traveler." and#151;Booklist, starred review (7/00) Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"Brown brings each detail to life through vivid imagery." and#151;The Bulletin, starred review (7and#150;8/00) The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred
"Readers will welcome Brownand#8217;s unflappable Mary Kingsley to the growing number of picture books about newly-recognized female explorers." and#151;Horn Book, starred review (Sept/Oct 2000) Horn Book, Starred
"Brown manages to get a lot into a few graceful vignettes, and he does the same with his watercolors, using a blue-green and gold-brown palette to evoke London and jungle, desert and heat." and#151;Kirkus Reviews (6/15/00) Kirkus Reviews
"Mary emerges as an intrepid and admirable character." and#151;Publishers Weekly (8/21/00) Publishers Weekly
Review
"From Brown, a pithy look at one of the national heroes of the space age. Recurring vivid dreams of floating high above his neighborhood sparked Neil Armstrong's fascination with flight and led ultimately to a life spent among the clouds and stars. The first half of this brief biography showcases Armstrong's childhood, his hobbies, part-time jobs, and determination to earn a pilot's license. The second part highlights his historic flight to the moon and the thrill of being the first human to set foot on its surface. Brown's text is simple enough for very young children to enjoy, while the accompanying illustrations skillfully use perspective to capture the world through a child's eyes. The story has been told many times, but perhaps never with so much heart and spirit." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Brown combines succinct language, dramatic storytelling, and beautiful, spare watercolor art to describe his subjectand#8217;s remarkable lifeand#133; Brown perfectly balances his atmospheric words and pictures in an exciting account." Booklist, ALA, Boxed Review
"Even now, children mostly seem to hear about wild adventure as the purview of men and boys: to have Don Brown's series is a bracing antidote to that misconception. Brown's signature watercolors are impressionistic, almost calligraphic. Heady, powerful stuff." Kirkus Reviews
"Brown's present-tense narrative uses simple but riveting language, and, as in his previous biographies, he interjects the subject's own words to further dramatize the story... What encouragement to readers to find their own way 'beyond the garden gate.'" Horn Book
and#147;[Brownand#8217;s] work appears regularly in the biography section of elementary-school libraries because of his apt choice of subject matter and his eye for telling detailand#133;Open the book to see why Brown is popular in schools.and#8221; The New York Times Book Review
and#147;A welcome edition to most collections.and#8221; School Library Journal
Review
Brown (One Giant Leap, 1998, etc.) opens with the thrilling incident from Mary's infancy: while her nursemaid and two companions died under a tree struck by lightning, Mary survived. Taught by her father to hunt for fossils on the rocky beaches and cliffs near Lyme Regis, Mary continued to do so after his death, to help support herself and her family. Without formal education, she studied and read and always pursued fossils, despite physical danger. Richard Owens, the scientist who coined the word dinosaur,' came to hunt fossils with her. Brown's prose has a light and poetic touch, and his watercolors, with their dramatic vistas, small figures, and fossil sketches, suit the tone nicely. He effortlessly imbues a small, appealing package with a lot of information, and a little inspiration besides. Kirkus Reviews
"Aspiring scientists will be encouraged by this inspiring portrayal of a woman who made a childhood passion into her lifes work.” Publishers Weekly
A vibrant piece of nonfiction.” The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
Brown paints an interesting, accurate portrait of 1960s life and culture
this is a satisfying read, with the river journey offering a microcosm of society at that time.” Booklist, ALA
Prosaic writing does not hinder the narrative but strengthens Stevens voice, that of a 14-year-old boy keenly aware that his brother may soon die in a war.” School Library Journal
Brown paints a convincing picture of brotherly bonding and of a complex era.” Publishers Weekly
Brown paints a convincing picture of brotherly bonding and of a complex era.” Publishers Weekly
This engaging story will appeal to readers who seek adventure and a fastmoving plot.” VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Synopsis
Don Brown brings the Dirty Thirties to life in this gripping graphic novel account of one of America's most catastrophic natural events: The Dust Bowl.
Synopsis
A speck of dust is a tiny thing. In fact, five of them could fit into the period at the end of this sentence.
On a clear, warm Sunday, April 14, 1935, a wild wind whipped up millions upon millions of these specks of dust to form a dusterand#8212;a savage stormand#8212;on America's high southern plains.
The sky turned black, sand-filled winds scoured the paint off houses and cars, trains derailed, and electricity coursed through the air. Sand and dirt fell like snowand#8212;people got lost in the gloom and suffocated . . . and that was just the beginning.
Don Brown brings the Dirty Thirties to life with kinetic, highly saturated, and lively artwork in this graphic novel of one of America's most catastrophic natural events: the Dust Bowl.
Synopsis
This graphic novel tells the story of young Ben Franklinandrsquo;s quest for moral perfectionandmdash;and relies primarily on his own words to do so! Adapted from The Autobiography and using additional text from Poor Richardandrsquo;s Almanac, readers are visually transported into Ben Franklinandrsquo;s world of printing presses, quills, and beer steins. Franklin undertakes an experiment to try and live out thirteen andlsquo;virtuesandrsquo; and achieve moral perfectionandmdash;with mixed results.
Synopsis
Teedie was not exactly the stuff of greatness: he was small for his size. Delicate. Nervous. Timid. By the time he was ten years old, he had a frail body and weak eyes. He was deviled by asthma, tormented by bullies. His favorite place to be was at home. Some might think that because of these things, Teedie was destined for a ho-hum life. But they would be wrong. For teeedie had a strong mind, as well as endless curiosity and determination. Is that all? No. Teedie also had ideas of his own--lots of them. It wasn't long before the world knew him as Theodore Roosevelt, the youngest president of the United States.
Synopsis
My father and I settled in Africa in 1906. . . . And it was there, as a small girl, I was eaten by a lion.
So begins a true story from aviatrix Beryl Markhamand#8217;s autobiography. Here young Beryl and a and#147;tameand#8221; lion called Paddy come together in an encounter that challenges our notions of wild and docile, trust and duplicity, punishment and forgiveness. Coupled with Don Brownand#8217;s expressive watercolors, The Good Lion is a powerful story that will leave readers wondering about the true natures of man and beast.
Synopsis
When he was born in 1879, Albert was a peculiarly fat baby with an unusually big and misshaped head. When he was older, he hit his sister, frustrated his teachers, and had few friends. But Albertand#8217;s strange childhood also included his brilliant capacity for puzzles and problem solving: the mystery of a compassand#8217;s swirling needle, the intricacies of Mozartand#8217;s music, the secrets of geometryand#151;set his mind spinning with ideas. In fact, Albert Einsteinand#8217;s ideas were destined to change the way we know and understand the world and our place in the universe.
In spare, precise text filled with graceful detail and accompanied by sometimes humorous, sometimes lonely portraits, Don Brown introduces us to the less than magnificent beginnings of an odd boy out. The result is a tender rendering of the adventures of growing up for one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century.
Synopsis
Our popular image of Mark Twain is of a gruV, gray-haired eccentric, the outspoken literary giant who created enduring novels such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
But once upon a time, Mark Twain was a boy named Samuel Clemens. His birth on November 30, 1835, coincided with the appearance of Halleyand#8217;s comet streaking across the sky. A dreamer, a prankster, a lover of great tales, Sam Clemens spent his boyhood years and#147;in high feather,and#8221; living out adventures along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. His beloved river would eventually carry Mark Twain far beyond Hannibal, Missouri, but he would return to the freedom, innocence, and vitality of his youth again and again in his writing.
In glowing watercolors and spirited text, Don Brown reveals the glad morning of Twainand#8217;s life, now the classic American boyhood, and the forces that inspired his funny, irreverent, insightful, and groundbreaking works of fiction.
Synopsis
Dolley was a farm girl who became a fine first lady when she married James Madison. She wore beautiful dresses, decorated her home, and threw lavish parties. Everyone talked about Dolley, and everyone loved her, too. Then war arrived at her doorstep, and Dolley had to meet challenges greater than sheand#8217;d ever known. So Dolley did one thing she thought might make a difference: she saved George Washington. Not the man himself, but a portrait of him, which would surely have been destroyed by English soldiers. Don Brown once again deftly tells a little known story about a woman who made a significant contribution to American history.
Synopsis
Marking the10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, this companion to The Great American Dust Bowl combines lively drawings and authoritative memoir in graphic novel formand#160;to recount one of the most destructive and devastatingand#160;natural disastersand#160;in our Americanand#160;history.
Synopsis
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrinaand#39;s monstrous winds and surging water overwhelmed the protective levees around low-lying New Orleans, Louisiana. Eighty percent of the city flooded, in some places under twenty feet of water. Property damages across the Gulf Coast topped $100 billion. One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three people lost their lives. The riveting tale of this historic storm and the drowning of an American city is one of selflessness, heroism, and courageandmdash;and also of incompetence, racism, and criminality.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Don Brownandrsquo;s kinetic art and as-it-happens narrative capture both the tragedy and triumph of one of the worst natural disasters in American history. A portion of the proceeds from this book has been donated to Habitat for Humanity New Orleans.
Synopsis
By the time Anna Howard Shaw was barely twelve years old, she had crossed the stormy Atlantic (one and a half times), survived a grueling journey from Massachusetts to the unexplored woods of Michigan, and helped create a house and home in the middle of nowhere. By most measures, Anna Howard Shaws life was hard and filled with struggle.
But a life in the North American wilderness also had many pleasures. Anna was young, happy, and strong. What Anna didnt have was school.
With incredible fortitude and purpose, not only did Anna go on to teach school herself, she also accomplished a great many other things, including helping to win the right to vote for women. With his magical storytelling and radiant artwork, Don Brown welcomes us into the pioneer life of a most extraordinary woman.
Synopsis
In 1916 a young woman named Ruth Law attempted to fly from Chicago to New York City in one day--something no one else had ever done. This is the story of that daring attempt. Beautifully detailed watercolors dramatize a dangerous journey made by the pilot President Woodrow Wilson called "great." Full-color illustrations.
Synopsis
In 1870, an eight-year-old girl named Mary Kingsley lived in a small house on a lonely lane outside London, England. Her mother was bedridden and her father was rarely home. Mary did not go to school. She served as housekeeper, handyman, nursemaid, and servant, for years. In 1893 Mary traveled to West Africa and proceeded to embark on an astonishing journey of discovery. In her high-necked blouse, long skirt, and Victorian boots, she endured the brutal heat and hardships of Africa, and thrived. With luminous watercolors and a lively text, Don Brown tells the fascinating story of a most uncommon woman.
Synopsis
In her time, Alexandra David-Neel was the most famous woman in France. She had traveled extensively in China and Tibet and, in 1924, was the first Western woman ever to enter Tibetand#8217;s forbidden capital, Lhasa. Alexandra was a self-taught Buddhist scholar and spoke Tibetan flawlessly. And she did it all as a mature womanand#151;she was in her mid-fifties when she arrived in Lhasa.
Not only is Alexandra David-Neeland#8217;s story one of high adventure, of trekking through snow-choked mountain passes and wild encounters on the Tibetan tablelands, but it is also about a prolific writer and passionate advocate of Tibetan culture. Far Beyond the Garden Gate reveals an unforgettable lifeand#8217;s journey with vibrant, graceful prose and stunning illustrations.
Synopsis
Before the word "dinosaur" was even coined, a young girl discovered a remarkable skeleton on the rocky beach at Lyme Regis in England. Thus began a lifelong passion for an extraordinary woman who became one of the first commercial fossil collectors. Born in 1799, Mary Anning spent a lifetime teaching herself about fossils and combing the rugged ribbon of shore near her home. Her work yielded an astounding treasure trove: fossils of long-extinct creatures that thrilled customers in her shop and excited early paleontologists. Blind to the dangers of fossil-hunting and to the limitations imposed on women of her era, Mary Anning was a singular scientist who used her sharp eyes and clear mind to compose a picture of ancient life from the bones she unearthed. With his trademark graceful prose and lyrical watercolors, Don Brown distills the life story of this rare treasure of a scientist.
Synopsis
1968. Steves older brother has just broken the news that hes quit college to enlist in the army. Before David departs for Vietnam in September, their father decides to send the brothers on a canoe trip down the Susquehanna River. Steve knows that David isnt happy about the plan, and hes not looking forward to being trapped with his swaggering, tough-guy brother either. Look out for each other!” is the last thing they hear Dad shout as they round a bend out of sight, David in the rear, controlling the canoe. At first narrow and quiet as a stream, the river soon grows wider and more complicated, carrying the boys through gritty small-town America on a journey that pushes their adversarial relationship into new territory. There is no map or guide for this trip: just two brothers going forward, navigating the twists and turns of the river, learning to fight for each other.
In this lyrical first novel, Don Brown tells the powerful story of two brothers coming of age in a challenging time.
About the Author
Julian Hanshaw is an award-winning animator and illustrator based in England. He has written two graphic novelsandndash;The Art of Pho and Iandrsquo;m Never Coming Backandndash;and received the Observer/Comica graphic short story prize for his work, andquot;Sand Dunes and Sonic Booms.andquot;
Daniel Harmon is the editorial director at Zest Books, as well as a longtime editor of pop culture projects for a variety of publishers. A former staff writer at Brokelyn.com, his essay about Tommy Wiseauandrsquo;s film The Room was published in the anthology Cult Pop Culture. He is the author of Super Pop!: Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, Make It Through the Holidays, and the graphic novel The Young Ben Franklin.