Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
"Brown brings each detail to life through vivid imagery." —The Bulletin, starred review (7–8/00)
Review
"Mary emerges as an intrepid and admirable character." —Publishers Weekly (8/21/00)
Review
"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." —Kirkus Reviews (6/15/00)
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
Synopsis
Mary Kingsley spent her childhood in a small house on a lonely lane outside London, England. Her mother was bedridden, her father rarely home, and Mary served as housekeeper, handyman, nursemaid, and servant. Not until she was thirty years old did Mary get her chance to explore the world sheand#8217;d read about in her fatherand#8217;s library. In 1893, she arrived in West Africa, where she encountered giant Xying insects, crocodiles, hippos, and brutal heat. Mary endured the hardships of the equatorial countryand#151;and thrived.
About the Author
Don Brown is a professional illustrator. His first children's book, RUTH LAW THRILLS A NATION, was a Reading Rainbow feature selection and an NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. His second book, ALICE RAMSEY'S GRAND ADVENTURE, received starred reviews in THE BULLETIN, KIRKUS REVIEWS, and SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL. School Library Journal has called him "a current pacesetter who has put the finishing touches on the standards for storyographies." RARE TREASURE, was selected as a NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. His most recent book was a look at the childhood of Albert Einstein, called ODD BOY OUT. He lives in New York.