1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Isaacs, Anne.
1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul Zelinsky. New York: Dutton. ISBN: 0525452710
2. PLOT SUMMARY:
This tall
tale is about a “little” big girl named Angelica. Angelica is quite large for
her size and is very helpful to others at a young age. For example, when a
wagon train got stuck in a swamp, Angelica lifted their wagons and put them on
higher ground. From then on, she was called “Swamp Angel." After hearing about
a tyrant, named Thundering Tarnation and all of the problems that he is
causing, Swamp Angel signs up to hunt him down for a reward. After several
hunters fail to hunt the bear, Swamp Angel finds the bear and the duel begins. The
battle between Swamp Angel and Thundering Tarnation continues over several
days, until Swamp Angel's wit gets the best of him.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Isaacs’ tale
of Swamp Angel is an adventure for all. Her word choice and descriptions make
the reader feel that they are actually in Tennessee. Isaacs did a great job
including many “how it came to be moments”, such as how Thundering Tarnation
became a constellation and how the Shortgrass Prairie got started.
The humorous
quotes such as, “the newborn was scarcely taller than her mother and couldn’t
climb a tree without help” and “quiltin’ is men’s work”, show the reader a
silly side and creates a lovable character. Swamp Angel (Angelica) is a strong
character that has good morals and a big heart. The plot is exciting,
especially during the big fight, and the reader is quickly turning the pages to
figure out what happens next.
Zelinsky’s oil
painting illustrations are beautiful and the fact that he illustrated them on
wooden veneers give the story a rustic touch. The pictures go well with
the story and also add further descriptions of the characters' feelings and
actions. The text is nicely tied into the illustrations and does not distract
from Zelinsky’s stunning work.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:
1994
Caldecott Honor
1995 Boston
Globe-Horn Book Honor
BOOKLIST: “Zelinsky's
detailed oil paintings in folk-art style are exquisite, framed in cherry,
maple, and birch wood grains. They are also hilarious, making brilliant use of
perspective to extend the mischief and the droll understatement.”
SCHOOL
LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Zelinsky paints his primitive views of Americana with oil on
veneer, a choice that gives each page a grainy border, well suited to this
backwoods tale. A master of composition, he varies readers' perspectives by
framing the portrait of the newborn and, later, the series of male hunters with
small ovals. He uses double-page lunettes to depict the massive bear and woman
sprawled across the pages, and places the menacing beast lunging over the frame
in another memorable scene. The pictures and words cavort across the page in
perfect synchronization, revealing the heroine's feisty solution. Buy for a
great guffaw in small groups or one-on-one. It's an American classic in the
making.”
PUBLISHERS
WEEKLY:” Zelinsky's stunning American-primitive oil paintings, set against an
unusual background of cherry, maple and birch veneers, frankly steal the show
here. Their success, however, does not diminish the accomplishment of Isaac's,
whose feisty tall tale marks an impressive picture-book debut.”
KIRKUS
REVIEWS: “It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated
loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text
stride for stride are Zelinsky's (The
Wheels on the Bus, 1990) altered-state, American primitive
paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading. To say that
you are entering Caldecott land doesn't begin to do this book justice.”
5. CONNECTIONS:
*For more
tall tales featuring tall characters, check out the following books:
Lester,
Julius. JOHN HENRY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN: 9780140566222
Kellogg,
Steven. PAUL BUNYAN. ISBN: 9780688058005
*This would
be a great book to read aloud, when discussing various types of traditional
folktales. You can also compare and contrast Swamp Angel with Paul Bunyan or
John Henry.
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