Review of Lucy!

How Lucille Ball Did It All

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Abrams Books for Young Readers

(pub. 3.19.2024)

48 pages

Ages 4 - 8

Authors: Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville

   and Illustrator: Brigette Barrager

Character: Lucille Ball

Overview:

" Lucy was not a proper little girl. She was sassy. She was bold. She was funny. She was a rule-breaking, chance-taking, comedy pioneer.

Can’t act? Can’t sing? Can’t dance? Lucy proves them all wrong—and then has the last laugh when she finally lets her inner funny girl shine. In 1951, the hit show I Love Lucy took television by storm, and has made millions laugh ever since.

Lucy! is the true story of how Lucille Ball overcame the odds to become the world’s Queen of Comedy."

Tantalizing taste:

"Her first day on the studio lot, Lucy was eager to perform - but she was directed to stand silently in the background with a group of other 'Goldwyn girls' picked to fill out the scene. Once again, Lucy wouldn't get to be her silly, sassy self.

Until clever Lucy had an idea: She'd show them what made her special.

When the movie's star came over to say hello, Lucy knew just how to make him chuckle...

And when the director needed an actor to take a pie to the face, Lucy was the first to volunteer...

One day, Lucy accepted a role in a radio comedy show. She played a rebellious and funny housewife, at a time when housewives were supposed to be pretty, proper, and polite."

And something more: The authors, Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville, shared in the Authors' Note: "In 1962, Lucy became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions not only made I Love Lucy, but also went on to produce Star Trek, Mission Impossible, and many other famous shows."

The authors also shared that "Lucy's antics kept her live studio audience roaring - the show holds the record for receiving the longest laugh in television history. It was so long - 67 seconds- that it had to be cut down for the final airing!" Of course, I had to find out which scene it was -- it's when Lucy hid dozens of eggs in her shirt to fill up their non-producing henhouse. But before she can deliver them, Desi asks to practice the tango which ends with a hug and a huge SPLAT!

Review of The Painter and the President

Gilbert Stuart's Brush with George Washington

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Calkins Creek

(Astra Books for Young Readers)

(pub. 8.27.2024)

40 pages

Ages 7 -10

Author: Sarah Albee

   Illustrator: Stacy Innerst

Characters: Gilbert Stuart and George Washington

Overview:

"George Washington and artist Gilbert Stuart didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but both men knew the importance of legacy and the power of art. Though George disliked having his portrait painted—which took days and days to complete—he knew his place in history would require people to know his face.

Fortunately, Gilbert Stuart’s unique way of painting didn’t compel his subjects to sit for hours on end—in fact, he encouraged them to move around and even bring friends to chat with. Capturing the soul of each subject, his portraits were unlike any other artists’. And Gilbert Stuart’s one-of-a-kind portrait of Washington stands the test of time—it’s the one that’s used on the one-dollar bill."

Tantalizing taste:

"Martha Washington convinces her husband

to pose for one more portrait.

It's for the grandchildren!

The president reluctantly agrees -

just so long as she doesn't hire

that infernal chatterbox Gilbert Stuart.

Martha hires Gilbert Stuart to paint the

president's portrait.

(She'll have him paint her portrait, too.)

The painter is primed to paint the president.

If he can pull off a perfect portrait,

he can paint and sell copies of it (called replicas).

He'll be able to pay off all his debts.

(Gilbert Stuart tends to spend money faster than he can earn it.)"

And something more: A detailed timeline in the back matter of The Painter and the President includes fascinating facts about both Stuart and Washington, including "in 1796: Gilbert Stuart begins a second portrait of George Washington, as well as one of Martha Washington. He never finishes either portrait but will paint at least 75 replicas of his painting of George Washington."

Author Sarah Albee kindly shared with me: "As I was writing this book I tried to picture what the illustrations might look like. How, I wondered, will an artist handle illustrating a book about another artist? Stacy Innerst's style turned out to be a perfect match. His choice to embed actual Gilbert Stuart paintings into his own illustrations worked so well. It's easy to see what's Gilbert and what's Stacy, and their styles complement one another beautifully. Plus Stacy has a fantastic sense of humor." Yes, Stacy's style and the blending with the Gilbert Stuart paintings are perfect for this book. And the humor matches the clever text too!

Review of Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School

A HISTORICAL FICTION TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Crown Books for Young Readers

(pub. 5.7.2024)

40 pages

Ages 4 - 8

Author: Traci Huahn

   Illustrator: Michelle Jing Chan

Character: Mamie Tape

Overview:

" Mamie’s mom always reminded her a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So when Mamie wanted to go to school, even though Chinese children weren’t allowed, she took her first step and showed up anyway. When she was turned away at the schoolhouse door, she and her parents took another step: they sued the San Francisco school board…and won! Their case Tape v. Hurley made its way up to the California Supreme Court, which ruled that children of Chinese heritage had the right to a free public school education. But even then, Mamie’s fight wasn’t over.

Mamie Tape Fights to go to School is the story of one young changemaker’s brave steps on the long journey to end school segregation in California. It began with a single step.."

Tantalizing taste:

"The school board announced they were opening a separate school for Chinese children. Again.

My lawyers explained I won the right to go to school, but the school board still had the right to keep Chinese children segregated. I'd have to go to that school.

Across town.

Above a grocery store.

With no play yard.

There were no more steps...

Papa shouted words I'd never heard.

Mamma vowed never to send me there.

Later, I thought about all those years Chinese children couldn't go to school at all.

Because of the steps I'd taken, there was now one public school where we were welcome. This time, no one could shut it down.

I reminded Mamma, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Maybe the journey wasn't over, and this was just one small step in the right direction. I told her and Papa I still wanted to go to school...

I was the first pupil to step through the door."

And something more: The author, Traci Huahn, shared in the Author's Steps: "This book is historical fiction. Some details, including the dialogue, are imagined, but all the steps that Mamie and those before her took to fight to go to school, and all the ways others tried to stop them are true...

My research for this book was also a journey of sorts. My first step was learning about Tape v. Hurley. I paged through original legal documents; read books, journals, and government reports; pored over historic photos; and read dozens of newspaper articles chronicling Mamie's case. I interviewed several of Mamie's living relatives and listened to a recorded interview with Mamie at age ninety-six... I visited [the sites mentioned in the book]. Each step of the way, I grew more inspired to tell Mamie's story."