Thursday, June 14, 2012

Book Review: Swamp Angel




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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