Flood

by Mary Calhoun, Erick Ingraham (Illustrator)

In a story set against the backdrop of the devastating Midwest floods of 1993, Sarajean and her family struggle to protect their home from the rampaging Mississippi River, a task that becomes even more difficult when the levee breaks.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction

40 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

Mary Louise Huiskamp Wilkins, also known as Mary Calhoun was born on August 3, 1926 in Keokuk, Iowa. She received a bachelor's degree in journalism for the University of Iowa in 1948. She was hired as a reporter for the World-Herald in Omaha, Nebraska after graduation. Her fascination with spirits and folklore of the 19th century led her to write stories about witches, elves, cats, dwarfs, and pixies. She has also published stories in Jack and Jill and Humpty Dumpty magazines. She worked at the Omaha World Herald before marrying fellow journalist Frank Calhoun. Her first book, Making the Mississippi Shout, was published in 1957. She wrote more than 50 children's books during her lifetime including the Katie John series, Julie's Tree, Henry the Sailor Cat, and Cross-Country Cat. She died on October 27, 2015 at the age of 89.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yes, I definitely am majorly glad that Mary Calhoun’s 1997 picture book Flood (which is a fictional account, but based on the actual and devastating Mississippi River floods of 1993) does not end tragically, that Sarajean and her family in fact and finally heed and also follow the advice and dictates of the authorities and safely evacuate to their Uncle Perry’s house (after the floodwaters of the Mississippi breach the levee and inundate their hometown with masses of water).

But even though Mary Calhoun’s presented text in Flood is sufficiently readable and emotional (even if in my opinion textually a bit long-winded and overly dense for a picture book) and that I also tend to find Erick Ingraham’s accompanying artwork a decent even if not really all that visually stunning aesthetic mirror and compliment to and for the author’s, to and for Mary Calhoun’s printed words, I do have to admit that there is one part of Flood with which I truly have had and continue to have certain textual issues. Because yes indeed, it really does make me rather cringe and shake my head that almost until the very last minute, until it is almost too late and too dangerous to safely leave their home, Sarajean’s family and especially the grandmother are pretty well stubbornly refusing to evacuate, and that therefore and in my humble opinion, Flood not only shows the devastation the flooding of a large and deep river like the Mississippi can wreak and cause, but that affected residents obstinately refusing to leave, to evacuate, is both a potential tragedy waiting to happen but also demonstrates that often, material possessions like ones’ houses and the memories associated with home seem to weigh and rate considerably more than basic safety concerns.

And yes, I do thus very much believe and consider that in Flood, especially the grandmother’s refusal to even remotely consider leaving her home is in my opinion both foolish and also rather majorly and problematically materialistic (and even though I do appreciate that on the last page of Flood Sarajean’s grandmother does finally reach the conclusion that she and her family being safe, that no one has been injured or killed is much more important than saving her house, than staying at home, it does still bother me more than a trifle that this change of attitude took so very long to materialise, that for most of Flood, Grandma’s house and home seem to be almost more important than the actual members of the family and their physical safety), and so a high three star rating in general for Flood, for a generally engaging enough storyline which nevertheless has still made me rather frustrated with regard to in particular the family’s obstinacy with regard to leaving, with regard to evacuating from their home.

[Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say. About 30 years ago we got a call from our friend Eric, a neighbor in real life, was an illustrator for Mary Calhoun. He said he needed a family to model for a book about a midwestern flood.

Amazing. What a gift to be a part of a high quality project like this. My daughter Lucy is the main character Sarajean. I play her dad and her Dad’s twin brother. My son, carries pizza boxes to the emergency workers who are laying out sandbags. Then our neighbor Maria, an old lady in real life was Sarajeans grandmother.

So now here is this book. It is an amazing timeless story. Lucy’s picture is from the front cover is in my office. I get to read the book to my grand daughters who can see their mother as a little girl on the cover! They can see their uncle as a little boy helping out people as he does in real life. And I can see me and my then wife in another happier time.

The whole thing is an amazing monument to our young family.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to read to children who may have experienced a flood for the first time. This is based on the true story of the flood of 1993 when the Mississippi River flooded. Sometimes, seeing another child go through a challenging experience can make children feel calmer about it. This is a longer story, and the pictures are beautiful.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it was just me, but this book seemed kind of boring. I might try it out with some kids to see what they think but it was sort of long, and uneventful.

[The Children · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the floods of 93 didn't affect me personally, I cried while reading this book to the girls. Such a great rendering of this event.