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Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial
This is the story of how a farmboy became America’s foremost sculptor. After failing at academics, Dan was working the family farm when he idly carved a turnip into a frog and discovered what he was meant to do. Sweeney’s swift prose and Fields’s evocative illustrations capture the single-minded determination with which Dan taught himself to sculpt and launched his career with the famous Minuteman Statue in his hometown of Concord, Massachusetts.
This is also the story of the Lincoln Memorial, French’s culminating masterpiece. Thanks to this lovingly created tribute to the towering leader of Dan’s youth, Abraham Lincoln lives on as the man of marble, his craggy face and careworn gaze reminding millions of seekers what America can be. Dan’s statue is no lifeless figure, but a powerful, vital touchstone of a nation’s ideals. Now Dan French has his tribute too, in this exquisite biography that brings history to life for young readers.
This is also the story of the Lincoln Memorial, French’s culminating masterpiece. Thanks to this lovingly created tribute to the towering leader of Dan’s youth, Abraham Lincoln lives on as the man of marble, his craggy face and careworn gaze reminding millions of seekers what America can be. Dan’s statue is no lifeless figure, but a powerful, vital touchstone of a nation’s ideals. Now Dan French has his tribute too, in this exquisite biography that brings history to life for young readers.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2019
96 people want to read
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April 13, 2021
Look for beauty, not ugliness. Look for goodness, not evil. Look for cheer, not trouble.--Dan Chester French
In addition to the iconic Lincoln Memorial, there are David Chester French statues in eighteen other states. There are sixteen in the state of New York alone. His artistic genius was inspired by those who sought to preserve freedom and help others. Other famous figures honored by his statues include a Minuteman, George Washington (Paris, France), and Wendell Phillips. When we consider whether or not to preserve historical monuments, I hope we look to French's quote above as part of our criteria. This book contains a read aloud story summarizing French's life with illustrations. At the end of the book there is a more detailed timeline, an Author's Note, and some additional historical details about the Lincoln Memorial. The illustrations are in sepia and will most likely not appeal to younger children, but older elementary and up should find this inspiring and informative.
In addition to the iconic Lincoln Memorial, there are David Chester French statues in eighteen other states. There are sixteen in the state of New York alone. His artistic genius was inspired by those who sought to preserve freedom and help others. Other famous figures honored by his statues include a Minuteman, George Washington (Paris, France), and Wendell Phillips. When we consider whether or not to preserve historical monuments, I hope we look to French's quote above as part of our criteria. This book contains a read aloud story summarizing French's life with illustrations. At the end of the book there is a more detailed timeline, an Author's Note, and some additional historical details about the Lincoln Memorial. The illustrations are in sepia and will most likely not appeal to younger children, but older elementary and up should find this inspiring and informative.
September 21, 2019
Having a childlike sense of wonder is a double-edged sword. In my capacity as a reviewer of children’s books who left behind her kid years decades and decades ago, I pride myself on how well I can tap into my younger self when I read a book for that age range. But while it’s all well and good to cultivate a sense of childish wonder, being “childish” is the flip side of the coin. Take Monument Maker. Note the shiny Junior Library Guild “Gold Standard” stamp on the cover. Note the excellent reviews it has received from professional journals. Now listen as the four-year-old inside me screams within my head at a raging pitch, “But I don’t wanna read it! I DON’T WANNA!!!” All this because the cover is a black and white image rendered in ink and graphite of the statue of an ex-president. The four-year-old is now claiming that the book is boring. The four-year-old hasn’t even read it yet, I point out. The four-year-old says it doesn’t have to. That she knows what it’s like already. But I am not actually four, so at lunchtime I sigh and take the book with me, and sit down to read it. In my job, such low expectations are a boon. Because when a book is as funny, smart, beautiful, and interesting as Monument Maker, you have a chance to remember that old adage about judging a book by its cover.
It wasn’t so much that Dan wasn’t good at anything. He’d done passably well studying law, but it wasn’t for him. He wasn’t top notch at algebra or geometry or physics, so after his schooling he worked the family farm, even though there just wasn’t much for him there. And then one day he found . . . a turnip. A really weird looking turnip. One where its funky shape allowed him to carve it into a dapper little frog in a top-notch suit. Dan left the frog on the kitchen table without much thought, but when his family saw it you would have thought he’d single handedly master minded the Magna Carta. Dan was actually GOOD at something!! And even better, it was something he wanted to get better at. The next thing you know he was studying anatomy. He was apprenticed to a sculptor in NYC. And when he entered a contest to celebrate the farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War, it was Dan’s statue that won. But it was the commission to create a new kind of statue of President Lincoln that required Dan to dig into his own personal past and come up with something that Americans everywhere could look up to and admire for once and all time.
“History shapes our lives. And what we do with our lives can shape history”. So reads the first sentence in Monument Maker. It is easy to ignore, either honestly or selectively, the monuments erected by our ancestors. A statue is as much a monument to past beliefs of who deserves to be idolized as it is the subject of the statue itself. In the news, you will hear of Confederate leaders and figures, their statues pulled to the ground in a effort to remind us that not everyone we physically look up to deserves that. On the flip side, statues like the one of John Henry in Talcott, West Virginia have been abused by racists for decades. No matter who it is you honor, someone will object. And much as statues have been called into question over the years, biographies of statues have been the subject of much scrutiny. You won’t find much to debate with any of the multitude of children’s books about the creation of the Statue of Liberty, but what about Mount Rushmore? In that case you have land taken from the Lakota people by the U.S. government without their consent. So often, these books about famous statues and monuments are cheerleading sections for America. Yet only the smartest authors think to include moments that hat tip problematic elements in their creation.
Is Monument Maker capable of complex thinking about the Lincoln Memorial? It’s an interesting question and it splits into two parts. On the one hand you have the text of the book and the text of the backmatter. On the other hand you have the illustrations. Determined to start with the text, I first looked to the author. Linda Booth Sweeney has written science and nature books for younger readers primarily, but there is one other book in her roster that caught my eye. The title Connected Wisdom: Living Stories About Living Systems seeks, according to its publisher’s description, the following: “If kids understand living systems, they're more likely to think and act in informed ways and less likely to jump to blame a single cause for the challenges they encounter.” So Sweeney is dedicated to introducing kids to the fact that the world is complex. And while I wouldn’t say that Monument Maker delves deep into the ramifications of creating a statue of Lincoln himself, it does take the time to think about the racial implications of its creation. For example, when discussing the actual physical labor of putting the statue together the book notes that “Just as America was built by many hands, so was the Lincoln Memorial. Blocks of white marble for Daniel’s statue were blasted and cut from a Georgia mountainside by the sons and grandsons of American slaves.” Those men stand front and center on that page for the reader. Later you see other black workers putting the monument together. Marian Anderson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama are all pictured in front of the monument later in the book. However, it’s a little after that that you read more information about the statue’s dedication ceremony. Sweeney notes where you would have sat that day if you were white and had a printed ticket. She then notes that you would have sat at an entirely different location if you’d been black. That’s right, there was a “colored section” at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. There was a sole black speaker slated for the day too but he was “forced to rewrite his speech when the Lincoln Memorial Commission determined that his call for racial justice was too radical.” A true writer of children’s history is unafraid to note horrible ironies, even while honoring the admirable parts of the past. Sweeney is a true writer in this very sense.
Oh. And it’s super fun to read. I’m sorry, did I bury the lede on that one? Remember my earlier kvetching about how much I didn’t want to read this black and white book? Well, the fact that it was fun helped loads. First off Sweeney makes Dan sympathetic right from the start. He’s in a family where everyone is a lawyer or a judge and he wants to be an artist? Then there’s his personality. The frog turnip is a keen detail as is the detail of him running a model, last minute, to the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson so as to enter the Minuteman contest. And like the best picture book biographies, the author is deftly interweaving elements of history into the context of the subject’s life. Rote bios focus on a person and never pull back that focus. Sweeney, however, starts with Dan, then pulls back to discuss how the family talked about the Civil War. After explaining what that was, and who Lincoln was, we see Dan’s contribution to that war. We pull back again when the president is assassinated then go back in to Dan reading myths and drawing gods and goddesses. Pull back again when they move to Concord and you can see the all-star line-up of his neighbors. Zero in again to him trying to find his way in the world. Do you see that? Sweeney is actually doing here what adult biographers do for their subjects, and the end result is all the stronger for it.
Now I’ve complained a little bit about the cover, and there’s good reason for that. No matter how many times I tell publishers, it is difficult for a librarian or bookseller to hand sell a black and white or sepia cover. Yeah yeah, Sarah Plain and Tall did all right back in the day, but that shiny Gold Newbery sticker was just about all the color it needed, wouldn’t you say? Plus, this cover looks like all those other monument and statue books. Often they’re perfectly fine, but it was be a huge stretch to call them exciting. Fortunately, this book has another Ace in its back pocket. A little something called illustrator Shawn Fields.
It was to my infinite surprise that I found that the man doesn’t appear to have done a picture book before. Norman Rockwellesque art galore, but little sequential art. I say this with surprise because Fields appears to have a natural talent for allowing the text and his art to work and flow together (part of this should be credited to the book’s art designer as well, for that matter). Now, again, when you have a rote picture book biography the temptation is to be very serious and staid with your realistic art. Creativity is often kept on a short leash (possibly in part because of the time constraints large publishers place on their artists). Fields, however, is capable of great grand shifts in perspective and attitude, sometimes within the same page. I admired his ability to turn the book from a horizontal read to a vertical one, when it meant gazing upon one statue or another. I loved his playfulness, as when the six Piccirilli brothers (the sons of Italian immigrants who carved Daniel’s art into stone) were rendered solely at the bottom of a page, the top halves of their heads popping up like Kirby. I loved how he would make scenes multicultural, like the image of families and soldiers hearing the news of Lincoln’s death, even if it wasn’t specified in the text. And most of all, I was very impressed by his ability to render some pictures with an almost cartoonish cast, and others with what sometimes almost amounted to photorealism on the page. Do I wish the book had been in color? I don’t. The cover, maybe, but the interior art, with all its cross-hatching and single-minded renderings, glows in black and white and gray.
When we say “Don’t judge a book by its cover” there should be a caveat attached. Maybe the amended injunction should be “Don’t judge every book by its cover.” We’re only human, after all. Sometimes, we’ll make mistakes. The mistake that you must avoid is judging this book on not just its cover but its subject matter as well. Rendered well, a truly great author could make reading the phone book an act of narrative thrust and zeal. As it turns out, Linda Booth Sweeney is a truly great author and Shawn Fields her uniquely talented partner in crime. Together, they’ve turned something as seemingly mundane as the act of creating the Lincoln Memorial into a true work of American history. It acknowledges the good, the bad, and the complicated. It makes no excuses, just hands over the facts. It avoids almost all fake dialogue and accounts for direct quotes in its backmatter. It’s a delight to read and remember. This marvelous book is deserving of your love. See to it that your love is worthy of it.
For ages 6-10.
It wasn’t so much that Dan wasn’t good at anything. He’d done passably well studying law, but it wasn’t for him. He wasn’t top notch at algebra or geometry or physics, so after his schooling he worked the family farm, even though there just wasn’t much for him there. And then one day he found . . . a turnip. A really weird looking turnip. One where its funky shape allowed him to carve it into a dapper little frog in a top-notch suit. Dan left the frog on the kitchen table without much thought, but when his family saw it you would have thought he’d single handedly master minded the Magna Carta. Dan was actually GOOD at something!! And even better, it was something he wanted to get better at. The next thing you know he was studying anatomy. He was apprenticed to a sculptor in NYC. And when he entered a contest to celebrate the farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War, it was Dan’s statue that won. But it was the commission to create a new kind of statue of President Lincoln that required Dan to dig into his own personal past and come up with something that Americans everywhere could look up to and admire for once and all time.
“History shapes our lives. And what we do with our lives can shape history”. So reads the first sentence in Monument Maker. It is easy to ignore, either honestly or selectively, the monuments erected by our ancestors. A statue is as much a monument to past beliefs of who deserves to be idolized as it is the subject of the statue itself. In the news, you will hear of Confederate leaders and figures, their statues pulled to the ground in a effort to remind us that not everyone we physically look up to deserves that. On the flip side, statues like the one of John Henry in Talcott, West Virginia have been abused by racists for decades. No matter who it is you honor, someone will object. And much as statues have been called into question over the years, biographies of statues have been the subject of much scrutiny. You won’t find much to debate with any of the multitude of children’s books about the creation of the Statue of Liberty, but what about Mount Rushmore? In that case you have land taken from the Lakota people by the U.S. government without their consent. So often, these books about famous statues and monuments are cheerleading sections for America. Yet only the smartest authors think to include moments that hat tip problematic elements in their creation.
Is Monument Maker capable of complex thinking about the Lincoln Memorial? It’s an interesting question and it splits into two parts. On the one hand you have the text of the book and the text of the backmatter. On the other hand you have the illustrations. Determined to start with the text, I first looked to the author. Linda Booth Sweeney has written science and nature books for younger readers primarily, but there is one other book in her roster that caught my eye. The title Connected Wisdom: Living Stories About Living Systems seeks, according to its publisher’s description, the following: “If kids understand living systems, they're more likely to think and act in informed ways and less likely to jump to blame a single cause for the challenges they encounter.” So Sweeney is dedicated to introducing kids to the fact that the world is complex. And while I wouldn’t say that Monument Maker delves deep into the ramifications of creating a statue of Lincoln himself, it does take the time to think about the racial implications of its creation. For example, when discussing the actual physical labor of putting the statue together the book notes that “Just as America was built by many hands, so was the Lincoln Memorial. Blocks of white marble for Daniel’s statue were blasted and cut from a Georgia mountainside by the sons and grandsons of American slaves.” Those men stand front and center on that page for the reader. Later you see other black workers putting the monument together. Marian Anderson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama are all pictured in front of the monument later in the book. However, it’s a little after that that you read more information about the statue’s dedication ceremony. Sweeney notes where you would have sat that day if you were white and had a printed ticket. She then notes that you would have sat at an entirely different location if you’d been black. That’s right, there was a “colored section” at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. There was a sole black speaker slated for the day too but he was “forced to rewrite his speech when the Lincoln Memorial Commission determined that his call for racial justice was too radical.” A true writer of children’s history is unafraid to note horrible ironies, even while honoring the admirable parts of the past. Sweeney is a true writer in this very sense.
Oh. And it’s super fun to read. I’m sorry, did I bury the lede on that one? Remember my earlier kvetching about how much I didn’t want to read this black and white book? Well, the fact that it was fun helped loads. First off Sweeney makes Dan sympathetic right from the start. He’s in a family where everyone is a lawyer or a judge and he wants to be an artist? Then there’s his personality. The frog turnip is a keen detail as is the detail of him running a model, last minute, to the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson so as to enter the Minuteman contest. And like the best picture book biographies, the author is deftly interweaving elements of history into the context of the subject’s life. Rote bios focus on a person and never pull back that focus. Sweeney, however, starts with Dan, then pulls back to discuss how the family talked about the Civil War. After explaining what that was, and who Lincoln was, we see Dan’s contribution to that war. We pull back again when the president is assassinated then go back in to Dan reading myths and drawing gods and goddesses. Pull back again when they move to Concord and you can see the all-star line-up of his neighbors. Zero in again to him trying to find his way in the world. Do you see that? Sweeney is actually doing here what adult biographers do for their subjects, and the end result is all the stronger for it.
Now I’ve complained a little bit about the cover, and there’s good reason for that. No matter how many times I tell publishers, it is difficult for a librarian or bookseller to hand sell a black and white or sepia cover. Yeah yeah, Sarah Plain and Tall did all right back in the day, but that shiny Gold Newbery sticker was just about all the color it needed, wouldn’t you say? Plus, this cover looks like all those other monument and statue books. Often they’re perfectly fine, but it was be a huge stretch to call them exciting. Fortunately, this book has another Ace in its back pocket. A little something called illustrator Shawn Fields.
It was to my infinite surprise that I found that the man doesn’t appear to have done a picture book before. Norman Rockwellesque art galore, but little sequential art. I say this with surprise because Fields appears to have a natural talent for allowing the text and his art to work and flow together (part of this should be credited to the book’s art designer as well, for that matter). Now, again, when you have a rote picture book biography the temptation is to be very serious and staid with your realistic art. Creativity is often kept on a short leash (possibly in part because of the time constraints large publishers place on their artists). Fields, however, is capable of great grand shifts in perspective and attitude, sometimes within the same page. I admired his ability to turn the book from a horizontal read to a vertical one, when it meant gazing upon one statue or another. I loved his playfulness, as when the six Piccirilli brothers (the sons of Italian immigrants who carved Daniel’s art into stone) were rendered solely at the bottom of a page, the top halves of their heads popping up like Kirby. I loved how he would make scenes multicultural, like the image of families and soldiers hearing the news of Lincoln’s death, even if it wasn’t specified in the text. And most of all, I was very impressed by his ability to render some pictures with an almost cartoonish cast, and others with what sometimes almost amounted to photorealism on the page. Do I wish the book had been in color? I don’t. The cover, maybe, but the interior art, with all its cross-hatching and single-minded renderings, glows in black and white and gray.
When we say “Don’t judge a book by its cover” there should be a caveat attached. Maybe the amended injunction should be “Don’t judge every book by its cover.” We’re only human, after all. Sometimes, we’ll make mistakes. The mistake that you must avoid is judging this book on not just its cover but its subject matter as well. Rendered well, a truly great author could make reading the phone book an act of narrative thrust and zeal. As it turns out, Linda Booth Sweeney is a truly great author and Shawn Fields her uniquely talented partner in crime. Together, they’ve turned something as seemingly mundane as the act of creating the Lincoln Memorial into a true work of American history. It acknowledges the good, the bad, and the complicated. It makes no excuses, just hands over the facts. It avoids almost all fake dialogue and accounts for direct quotes in its backmatter. It’s a delight to read and remember. This marvelous book is deserving of your love. See to it that your love is worthy of it.
For ages 6-10.
Read
January 5, 2020Just seeing the title some months back made me put the book on my list to order and then my budget was frozen:-( Our eighth graders spend three days in DC as many schools do. As preparation for the trip, they have to create a tour guide containing information about the various sights in the city. I thought it might be a fun addition to my sixth grade picture book biography unit as well. Engaging and informative with wonderful illustrations and terrific back matter.
June 8, 2020
I picked this book up from the library, forgot completely about it, and then was quarantined with it and decided I should give it a try. ;) Very interesting illustrations and informative text, though it's likely a little on the complicated side for the youngest readers.
October 13, 2019
I love the Lincoln Memorial. I love the walk up to it beside the Reflecting Pool. I love the pearly steps and the magnitude. I love looking out from the top, seeing the Washington Monument, a full panorama of the National Mall, and the Capitol beyond. It's one of my favorite destinations in D.C. Yet until this book, I had never heard of Daniel Chester French, the man who made Lincoln larger than life.
At first, I was surprised by the book's heft. Surely it wouldn't take 60+ pages to describe how the monument was built? Then I read it, and realized every single page was necessary to get to know the man, the prolific artist, behind the monument.
So yes, this is a long-ish non-fiction picture book. I'm glad.
French lived in amazing times. (He also carved a figurine of lovely-dovey owls that I am all about.) The events that took place in his lifetime, his name-drop-worthy neighbors (May Alcott! Ralph Waldo Emerson!), the people who mentored his tremendous vision--what a remarkable existence.
Enjoy the author's extensive research yet easy, engaging narrative. Enjoy the illustrator's pencil-and-ink sketches, evoking the grey tones of history and the sparks of a celebrated legacy. Just enjoy.
At first, I was surprised by the book's heft. Surely it wouldn't take 60+ pages to describe how the monument was built? Then I read it, and realized every single page was necessary to get to know the man, the prolific artist, behind the monument.
So yes, this is a long-ish non-fiction picture book. I'm glad.
French lived in amazing times. (He also carved a figurine of lovely-dovey owls that I am all about.) The events that took place in his lifetime, his name-drop-worthy neighbors (May Alcott! Ralph Waldo Emerson!), the people who mentored his tremendous vision--what a remarkable existence.
Enjoy the author's extensive research yet easy, engaging narrative. Enjoy the illustrator's pencil-and-ink sketches, evoking the grey tones of history and the sparks of a celebrated legacy. Just enjoy.
July 25, 2019
Daniel Chester French designed many monuments in his lifetime, including the iconic Lincoln Memorial. This book chronicles the life of the artist. Born to a family of lawyers, Daniel had to chart his own path when it became obvious he was interested in something different. His connection to Lincoln and artistic process in creating the sculpture is explored in depth. Daniel was only fourteen years old when Lincoln was assassinated and it loomed large in his memory. Beautiful black and white illustrations complement the text. The author references important events in our nation's history that took place at the Lincoln Memorial and connects Lincoln's memory to those ideals we are still fighting for today. Includes a timeline of French's life, an author's note about her own process (she was inspired to write the book while living in French's former studio in Concord, MA), more information about French as a maker, more information about the Lincoln Memorial, a list of French's sculptures and a list of selected resources. Beautifully illustrated and inspiring! Book 40 of #30booksummer
July 7, 2023
Well done.
November 30, 2023
Picked this up at the local library after our trip to Washington DC. Loved. Unexpected happy spot because it reminded me that May Alcott (Amy in Little Women) had been one of his teachers.
I learned several new things I didn’t know.
Beautifully illustrated.
I learned several new things I didn’t know.
Beautifully illustrated.
June 8, 2020
I found this book on the 2020 list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. This book was named 2020 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year. I read this digitally on Epic and was able to see the illustrations very well.
This book tells the story of Dan French who was the sculptor that created the Lincoln Memorial. The book starts with Dan as a small child and how he struggles to find what he wants to do growing up. When he finally discovers his love for art and sculpting he begins studying different styles and artists to help him grow his talent. The book also talks about how the Lincoln Memorial was created. At the end of the book, there is a timeline and other resources about Dan French.
I think that this book is very informational and is a great resource for a biography study for students. If you are working on finding research with students in grades 2-5, this would be a good book to start off with. The students can connect with the character and will be able to identify the important details easily.
This book tells the story of Dan French who was the sculptor that created the Lincoln Memorial. The book starts with Dan as a small child and how he struggles to find what he wants to do growing up. When he finally discovers his love for art and sculpting he begins studying different styles and artists to help him grow his talent. The book also talks about how the Lincoln Memorial was created. At the end of the book, there is a timeline and other resources about Dan French.
I think that this book is very informational and is a great resource for a biography study for students. If you are working on finding research with students in grades 2-5, this would be a good book to start off with. The students can connect with the character and will be able to identify the important details easily.
December 10, 2019
Wow! The illustrations are so beautiful. Such an interesting topic. I’m impressed.
November 16, 2019
While the cover of this book might not attract young readers due to its lack of color as is the case for the drawings inside, created painstakingly with ink pens, they really work well for this story of a man who sculpted various shapes and was responsible for the Lincoln Memorial. While young eyes might long for color, it really wouldn't work for this particular story describing the evolution of Daniel Chester French from a boy growing up on a farm in New Hampshire to a young man learning how to craft figures from clay. Not only did he craft the Minuteman statue for the city of Concord, but years later, he would be the one to plan the memorial to Abraham Lincoln, seven years in the making. I loved the details about how he moved from a ten-inch sketch to larger pieces that were eventually carved into stone by the Piccirilli brothers, a transition that the illustrations show. Details about the attention French gave to Lincoln's hands and why they are shaped and positioned as they are will fascinate artists and students of history. The text is respectful of readers, and the author has striven to acknowledge the contributions of others, highlighting the fact that the clay came from Georgia and was removed by descendants of slaves as well as some of the world events occurring during this time. She also carefully reminds readers of the tenets by which Lincoln lived and our country is founded, making this story and the inspiration many draw from looking at the monument particularly relevant. Back matter includes a timeline, additional information about Daniel Chester French and a list of his many completed projects. Many budding artists and visionaries may draw inspiration from French's story while all politicians and elected officials--public servants, all--might want to read it to be reminded of what matters and their duty to those who have elected them as well as our nation's essential tenets. I came away from this book quite impressed.
December 4, 2019
Very impressive information. I really enjoyed not only the completeness of the story (without getting the juvenile reader bogged down with unnecessary information), but the illustrations were fantastic.
November 25, 2019
The Lincoln Memorial is one of my favorites. There is no escaping the larger than life awe that it inspires, yet I had never thought much about Daniel Chester French or how this masterpiece was created before this book. Hefty, I believe, is the best way to describe this biography. It is a thick picture book and although the information is fascinating to a history buff this is not a book to pull out at your average story hour or bedtime. That being said, for a kid who is interested in history, someone interested in sculpting, for a class learning about Lincoln or the monuments, for a family taking a trip to DC this is an impeccably researched, thorough and inspiring look at a man who made something incredible. This is a piece of history brought to life on a scale reminiscent of the monument itself.
June 23, 2020
Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial by Linda Booth Sweeney, illustrated by Shawn Fields. 64 pages. NON-FICTION/ PICTURE BOOK Tilbury House Publishers, 2019. $20. 9780884486435
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Daniel grew up among lawyers and judges, but when he tried to go to school he had trouble with his math subjects and found himself working on the family farm. One day, Dan found a funny looking turnip and decided to carve it into a frog. When he placed the frog on his family table, his dad realized that Dan had a talent and went and bought clay. It quickly became apparent that Dan was an artist. Over time, Daniel became a sculptor and sculpted a hundred plus monuments. In Daniel’s later years he designed the Lincoln sculpture found in the Lincoln monument.
I loved this biography about a kid who didn’t know where he fit. Daniel’s journey is inspiring for not only artists but for anyone who is looking for their passion. I loved the support Daniel’s family provided and the unique setting of Concord, Massachusetts at the time that Daniel was growing up among men such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott’s family. The illustrations are amazing and contribute to the feel of the sculptures. Great history and human-interest story.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Daniel grew up among lawyers and judges, but when he tried to go to school he had trouble with his math subjects and found himself working on the family farm. One day, Dan found a funny looking turnip and decided to carve it into a frog. When he placed the frog on his family table, his dad realized that Dan had a talent and went and bought clay. It quickly became apparent that Dan was an artist. Over time, Daniel became a sculptor and sculpted a hundred plus monuments. In Daniel’s later years he designed the Lincoln sculpture found in the Lincoln monument.
I loved this biography about a kid who didn’t know where he fit. Daniel’s journey is inspiring for not only artists but for anyone who is looking for their passion. I loved the support Daniel’s family provided and the unique setting of Concord, Massachusetts at the time that Daniel was growing up among men such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott’s family. The illustrations are amazing and contribute to the feel of the sculptures. Great history and human-interest story.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
November 23, 2019
Large Picture book biography of Daniel Chester French who sculpted the Lincoln memorial. Beautifully illustrated, nicely paced telling of Daniels biography. Well researched and chronicled. Recommend reading this for all age groups. While there is an interesting, lesser known biography of a personality captured here, it also tells of a personality who struggled in school until he found his calling through art and sculpture. Would be a great introduction for children who are looking for different ways to be creative and express their interests.
July 4, 2020
The Lincoln Memorial may be the most iconic of the MANY iconic monuments in Washington, D. C. When a commitment was made to create the monument, decision-makers at the highest levels shared the responsibility to find exactly the right person to execute the statue of Lincoln. This oversized, extra-long picture book is a masterful creation that rises to the levels of excellence that were expected of the sculptor, the architects, and the other artists who contributed to this timeless memorial. Both the text (including extensive back matter) and the illustrations produce a balanced blend of the gravitas and the humanity of Daniel Chester French.
October 13, 2019
What a wonderful book, a real gem about an important part of American history. This is truly an American story. Follow Daniel French's path from farm boy to famous sculptor. This remarkable American really deserves more attention. Unfortunately, if the book remains in the children's section few adults will read it. The illustrations and information at the end really beg for future reading. Don't miss this one
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December 25, 2020This is terrific book! I first saw it listed on a Goodreads review and I've been waiting impatiently for it to become available on my public library's inter library loan service.It was so worth the wait and it is really sad that more libraries in my system haven't purchased this.
So many of us have been fortunate enough to visit the Lincoln Memorial and be awed by the moving sculpture of Lincoln. But how many of us know anything about either the sculptor or the other extraordinary artists who created the memorial?
Linda Sweeney remedies that in this fascinating book the combines a biography of sculptor Daniel Chester French with an excellent explanation of the process of creating the memorial. She marries the two stories very well with interesting and informative writing. Sweeney tells both stories in language that will be easily understood by young readers and yet manages at the same time to craft both a complicated technical process and a real sense of this remarkable artist and his artistic journey. I really appreciated the introduction of the other artists who were involved in the monument.
She is greatly aided by the illustrator, Shawn Fields, whose pencil and ink illustrations are wonderfully expressive and full of excellent details. Fields's use of perspective adds so much and he takes full advantage of the large size of the book itself. Some of the illustrations are series of small sketches illustrating a process and some are large, spilling over two pages with great effect. One of my favorites is of French's first sculpture, The Minuteman, that stands in Concord. The reader has to turn the book vertically and the illustration is a really stunning depiction of the statue that takes up 2/3 of the page when some important viewers pictured at the bottom. I also loved the illustration of French standing on a scaffold in front of the in-process sculpture and the opposing page showing an sketch of the various pieces of sculpted stone being put together like a giant puzzle.
The back matter here is really outstanding. There is an extensive timeline about Daniel French that provides much additional information about him and his career. There is an Author's Note and additional articles, Dan the Maker and one about the history of the Lincoln Memorial. There is a list of locations of French's work, a list of resources and some specific places to visit. One I am definitely adding to my travel list is French's home and studio, Chesterwood!
Scattered throughout the book are historic and current photographs. This one is not to be missed.
So many of us have been fortunate enough to visit the Lincoln Memorial and be awed by the moving sculpture of Lincoln. But how many of us know anything about either the sculptor or the other extraordinary artists who created the memorial?
Linda Sweeney remedies that in this fascinating book the combines a biography of sculptor Daniel Chester French with an excellent explanation of the process of creating the memorial. She marries the two stories very well with interesting and informative writing. Sweeney tells both stories in language that will be easily understood by young readers and yet manages at the same time to craft both a complicated technical process and a real sense of this remarkable artist and his artistic journey. I really appreciated the introduction of the other artists who were involved in the monument.
She is greatly aided by the illustrator, Shawn Fields, whose pencil and ink illustrations are wonderfully expressive and full of excellent details. Fields's use of perspective adds so much and he takes full advantage of the large size of the book itself. Some of the illustrations are series of small sketches illustrating a process and some are large, spilling over two pages with great effect. One of my favorites is of French's first sculpture, The Minuteman, that stands in Concord. The reader has to turn the book vertically and the illustration is a really stunning depiction of the statue that takes up 2/3 of the page when some important viewers pictured at the bottom. I also loved the illustration of French standing on a scaffold in front of the in-process sculpture and the opposing page showing an sketch of the various pieces of sculpted stone being put together like a giant puzzle.
The back matter here is really outstanding. There is an extensive timeline about Daniel French that provides much additional information about him and his career. There is an Author's Note and additional articles, Dan the Maker and one about the history of the Lincoln Memorial. There is a list of locations of French's work, a list of resources and some specific places to visit. One I am definitely adding to my travel list is French's home and studio, Chesterwood!
Scattered throughout the book are historic and current photographs. This one is not to be missed.
April 4, 2020
Mom's Review
Monument Maker came through our house because of the Cybils Awards. Had I not been a judge, I would have passed it over. The cover is grey and shows the Lincoln Memorial – not particularly eye-catching or exciting. I would have glanced at it and thought, "Huh. Don't really want to read about the Lincoln Memorial." And that would have been a mistake.
Monument Maker isn't a story about the Lincoln Memorial itself, but about the man who designed it. One really ought to read subtitles. Daniel Chester French was a boy who loved to be outside and draw or sculpt. (Once he and his brother sculpted a huge lion out of snow that scared the neighbors.) As a young man, he continued to pursue his passion for sculpture, particularly when his study of law didn't work out. He studied drawing and sculpture, quickly making a name for himself as a sculptor. French's story is really well written; T and I didn't want to put it down. At times, the story is exciting and suspenseful; other parts showed events we identified with. French was likable. His family was loving and supportive. He followed his dream. That makes for good content. Sweeney's word craft made for great reading.
I sure was wrong to judge Monument Maker by its cover! It turned out to be a compelling and enjoyable picture book biography. By the end, I even appreciated how the marble tones of the cover are appropriate to the topic. T and I had fun reading about a real person, were fascinated to learn how large sculptures are created, and were tickled to see places we know appear as important historic locations.
Biography buffs, artists-in-the-making, and New Englanders will especially enjoy Monument Maker, but I encourage any readers to not overlook this hidden gem.
The intended age has been listed as 8-12, though I'd probably label it 5-12.
Son's Review
(Age when reviewing: 4)
I liked it. I liked how he made that statue, how he sent them in pieces because I've never heard of that. I felt all the feelings [while reading]. I felt angry because of the war and sad that Lincoln died.
Note: A review copy was provided in conjunction with judging the Cybils.
Monument Maker came through our house because of the Cybils Awards. Had I not been a judge, I would have passed it over. The cover is grey and shows the Lincoln Memorial – not particularly eye-catching or exciting. I would have glanced at it and thought, "Huh. Don't really want to read about the Lincoln Memorial." And that would have been a mistake.
Monument Maker isn't a story about the Lincoln Memorial itself, but about the man who designed it. One really ought to read subtitles. Daniel Chester French was a boy who loved to be outside and draw or sculpt. (Once he and his brother sculpted a huge lion out of snow that scared the neighbors.) As a young man, he continued to pursue his passion for sculpture, particularly when his study of law didn't work out. He studied drawing and sculpture, quickly making a name for himself as a sculptor. French's story is really well written; T and I didn't want to put it down. At times, the story is exciting and suspenseful; other parts showed events we identified with. French was likable. His family was loving and supportive. He followed his dream. That makes for good content. Sweeney's word craft made for great reading.
I sure was wrong to judge Monument Maker by its cover! It turned out to be a compelling and enjoyable picture book biography. By the end, I even appreciated how the marble tones of the cover are appropriate to the topic. T and I had fun reading about a real person, were fascinated to learn how large sculptures are created, and were tickled to see places we know appear as important historic locations.
Biography buffs, artists-in-the-making, and New Englanders will especially enjoy Monument Maker, but I encourage any readers to not overlook this hidden gem.
The intended age has been listed as 8-12, though I'd probably label it 5-12.
Son's Review
(Age when reviewing: 4)
I liked it. I liked how he made that statue, how he sent them in pieces because I've never heard of that. I felt all the feelings [while reading]. I felt angry because of the war and sad that Lincoln died.
Note: A review copy was provided in conjunction with judging the Cybils.
March 19, 2020
With Shawn Fields' marvelous pen and ink sketches, Linda Booth Sweeney tells this story of a boy who grew up on a farm, then small towns in Massachusetts who became a famous sculptor whose work can be found in many places, foremost in our capitol. He didn't do well in school, loved being out in nature observing and drawing birds. The story shares that one time he carved a turnip into a frog and his parents noticed his talent as he discovered what he was going to do in his life. He did different studies in art. When the family moved to Concord, he took art lessons from May Alcott, Louisa May Alcott's sister. His first commission, at age twenty, was of the "Minuteman" leaving his plow, found now at The Old North Bridge. He went to Italy to study with a famous sculptor. Thus, he began this artist life.
Knowing his journey to this culminating monument of Lincoln, the book also becomes the story of Lincoln. By the time it was to be created, Daniel was already famous and his friend, Henry Bacon, an architect that had been chosen as the designer of the memorial, wanted French to create the statue. That part itself is fascinating.
The back matter is extensive. It includes the author's and illustrator's notes, a Daniel Chester French Timeline, a brief piece titled "Dan the Maker", a page of the history of The Lincoln Memorial, a list of French's creations and their location, and a resource list.
I loved that Sweeney began the book as a story, with Field's drawings of a boy and a girl listening. They are there several times in the book and at the end. It's a nice touch.
Knowing his journey to this culminating monument of Lincoln, the book also becomes the story of Lincoln. By the time it was to be created, Daniel was already famous and his friend, Henry Bacon, an architect that had been chosen as the designer of the memorial, wanted French to create the statue. That part itself is fascinating.
The back matter is extensive. It includes the author's and illustrator's notes, a Daniel Chester French Timeline, a brief piece titled "Dan the Maker", a page of the history of The Lincoln Memorial, a list of French's creations and their location, and a resource list.
I loved that Sweeney began the book as a story, with Field's drawings of a boy and a girl listening. They are there several times in the book and at the end. It's a nice touch.
July 7, 2020
Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial is a children's picture book written by Linda Booth Sweeney and illustrated by Shawn Fields. It chronicles the story of Bessie Daniel Chester French – the sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial.
Daniel Chester French, one of the most prolific and acclaimed American sculptors of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, is best known for his design of the monumental statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC.
Sweeney's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. As Sweeney traces French's way in the world, French goes on to create numerous statues of Civil War heroes, including the epic sculpture of Abraham Lincoln enshrined in his memorial in Washington DC. Backmatter includes a timeline and author's note fill in various gaps in the text. Fields' drawings are both powerful and graceful, while French and his times are represented in vigorously crosshatched black and white.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. French loved the outdoors, where he would sketch endlessly. He tended the family farm, working his artistry into the plowing of the fields and repairs to the fences and outbuildings. Having grown up during the Civil War, he was influenced by the event and its idealistic aspects, especially those espoused by his Transcendentalist neighbors.
All in all, Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial is a wonderful tribute to the amazing sculptor Daniel Chester French and his world.
Daniel Chester French, one of the most prolific and acclaimed American sculptors of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, is best known for his design of the monumental statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC.
Sweeney's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. As Sweeney traces French's way in the world, French goes on to create numerous statues of Civil War heroes, including the epic sculpture of Abraham Lincoln enshrined in his memorial in Washington DC. Backmatter includes a timeline and author's note fill in various gaps in the text. Fields' drawings are both powerful and graceful, while French and his times are represented in vigorously crosshatched black and white.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. French loved the outdoors, where he would sketch endlessly. He tended the family farm, working his artistry into the plowing of the fields and repairs to the fences and outbuildings. Having grown up during the Civil War, he was influenced by the event and its idealistic aspects, especially those espoused by his Transcendentalist neighbors.
All in all, Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial is a wonderful tribute to the amazing sculptor Daniel Chester French and his world.
April 15, 2020
This book hooked me with its opening lines: "History shapes our lives. And
what we do with our lives can shape history." When I visited Washington DC, I had only a few precious minutes to spend admiring the larger-than-life Lincoln Memorial. But it moved me. And learning about its creator in Sweeney's thoughtful book moved me, too. Kids (and adults) will sympathize with Daniel Chester French. As a child and young adult, Dan liked making things beautiful. But he didn't enjoy school and he didn't want to go into law like others in his family. Luckily, when he cleverly carved a dapper frog out of a turnip, his family recognized his talent and encouraged him. He began sculpting and taking drawing classes. He sculpted many monuments before, at age 65, he was commissioned to create the iconic Lincoln Memorial.
Fields' drawings have beautiful depth and a sculptural quality, perfect for the subject matter. And the back matter expands on Dan's story with an extensive timeline and takes a deeper dive into the history of the memorial itself, including racial justice issues. For example, Sweeney notes that, at the dedication, "You would probably not have been surprised to hear that the lone African-American speaker, Robert Russa Moton, had been forced to rewrite his speech when
the Lincoln Memorial Commission determined that his call for racial justice was too radical." I highly recommend this moving tribute.
what we do with our lives can shape history." When I visited Washington DC, I had only a few precious minutes to spend admiring the larger-than-life Lincoln Memorial. But it moved me. And learning about its creator in Sweeney's thoughtful book moved me, too. Kids (and adults) will sympathize with Daniel Chester French. As a child and young adult, Dan liked making things beautiful. But he didn't enjoy school and he didn't want to go into law like others in his family. Luckily, when he cleverly carved a dapper frog out of a turnip, his family recognized his talent and encouraged him. He began sculpting and taking drawing classes. He sculpted many monuments before, at age 65, he was commissioned to create the iconic Lincoln Memorial.
Fields' drawings have beautiful depth and a sculptural quality, perfect for the subject matter. And the back matter expands on Dan's story with an extensive timeline and takes a deeper dive into the history of the memorial itself, including racial justice issues. For example, Sweeney notes that, at the dedication, "You would probably not have been surprised to hear that the lone African-American speaker, Robert Russa Moton, had been forced to rewrite his speech when
the Lincoln Memorial Commission determined that his call for racial justice was too radical." I highly recommend this moving tribute.
October 12, 2021
An extensive picture book biography of Daniel Chester French, a self-taught sculptor who eventually got more and more training, and was commissioned to make many statues, including the statue of Lincoln for the Lincoln memorial in Washington, D.C..
Kind of crazy that the author was inspired to write this after researching more about the guy who used to own her family's house. It is excellently done, though. It's the perfect length for reluctant middle grade readers. I love how it highlights a man who struggled to find something he was good at, but once he discovered his artistic talent he continually pursued further education to get better and better. What a great attitude. I also found it inspiring that French liked to do statues of anti-slavery heroes. The list of neighbors who helped him in his pursuit of art and getting established as an artist is kind of a Who's Who of Concord, Mass! The artwork in this is stunning, and if nothing else, pick up the book to look at the pictures. There's extensive back matter with a detailed timeline of French's life, further info on the other artists who worked on the Lincoln Memorial, and more. The hype this book was getting when it first came out was well-deserved.
Kind of crazy that the author was inspired to write this after researching more about the guy who used to own her family's house. It is excellently done, though. It's the perfect length for reluctant middle grade readers. I love how it highlights a man who struggled to find something he was good at, but once he discovered his artistic talent he continually pursued further education to get better and better. What a great attitude. I also found it inspiring that French liked to do statues of anti-slavery heroes. The list of neighbors who helped him in his pursuit of art and getting established as an artist is kind of a Who's Who of Concord, Mass! The artwork in this is stunning, and if nothing else, pick up the book to look at the pictures. There's extensive back matter with a detailed timeline of French's life, further info on the other artists who worked on the Lincoln Memorial, and more. The hype this book was getting when it first came out was well-deserved.
April 20, 2020
A fantastic add for arts programs
informational picture book about Daniel Chester French, the sculptor of the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln that sits in the Lincoln Memorial and many others around the United States.
Sweeney's text reads like a story, very casual, yet informative. The reader will come away from this feeling like they know the man. Shawn Fields uses two distinct art techniques - one that looks like paintings (these are mostly of statues and of children of today who are "listening" to the author tell them about French's life) and the other is black ink. His process is listed in the back of the book in an illustrator's note.
Backmatter includes a detailed timeline of French's life that includes thumbnail photos of several of his works and a photo of French, an Author's Note, a note that discusses French's penchant for tinkering, a few pages about the Lincoln Memorial, a list of states where statues by French can be found, a list of author resources, places to visit to learn more about French's life, and sources used for quotes in the book.
An outstanding introduction to the life of this intriguing man.
Highly Recommended for grades 2-12.
informational picture book about Daniel Chester French, the sculptor of the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln that sits in the Lincoln Memorial and many others around the United States.
Sweeney's text reads like a story, very casual, yet informative. The reader will come away from this feeling like they know the man. Shawn Fields uses two distinct art techniques - one that looks like paintings (these are mostly of statues and of children of today who are "listening" to the author tell them about French's life) and the other is black ink. His process is listed in the back of the book in an illustrator's note.
Backmatter includes a detailed timeline of French's life that includes thumbnail photos of several of his works and a photo of French, an Author's Note, a note that discusses French's penchant for tinkering, a few pages about the Lincoln Memorial, a list of states where statues by French can be found, a list of author resources, places to visit to learn more about French's life, and sources used for quotes in the book.
An outstanding introduction to the life of this intriguing man.
Highly Recommended for grades 2-12.
March 27, 2022
I am taking a school group to Washington DC this summer (my first trip to DC since my own 8th grade trip in 1990), so when I saw this book in the BlackCreatorsHQ Auction, I bid on it.
It’s interesting that the author, Linda Booth Sweeney was living in a house converted from one of French’s studios, and decided to write a book about his life. She visited many of his sculptures (there is a list of which states/towns have them in the back matter) and was inspired by his tributes to great Americans. He initially created the Minuteman statue (his first one - and for free! Before he went to training in Europe) and later in life, created the Lincoln Memorial. This book has lots of interesting details about the memorial and other sculptures l, as well. This book was created in partnership with the Concord Museum in Massachusetts (French lived in the Boston area and was celebrated by people like local contemporaries like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott.
11 pages of back matter include: Daniel Chester French’s Timeline, an Author’s Note, highlights from the Lincoln Memorial, a list of his creations, and Selected Resources.
It’s interesting that the author, Linda Booth Sweeney was living in a house converted from one of French’s studios, and decided to write a book about his life. She visited many of his sculptures (there is a list of which states/towns have them in the back matter) and was inspired by his tributes to great Americans. He initially created the Minuteman statue (his first one - and for free! Before he went to training in Europe) and later in life, created the Lincoln Memorial. This book has lots of interesting details about the memorial and other sculptures l, as well. This book was created in partnership with the Concord Museum in Massachusetts (French lived in the Boston area and was celebrated by people like local contemporaries like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott.
11 pages of back matter include: Daniel Chester French’s Timeline, an Author’s Note, highlights from the Lincoln Memorial, a list of his creations, and Selected Resources.
February 22, 2020
His tribute to the tall, gaunt, noble man who held America together when no one else could have was the crowning achievement of a boy who loved to make beautiful things.
Absolutely stunning, informative, engaging, all-around wonderful book about this boy who loved to make beautiful things, illustrated beautifully by Shawn Fields. My 6 year old son was riveted throughout all 64 pages, including back matter with photographs. Shawn Fields' drawings throughout were just fascinating, and my son and I learned so much.
The only possible downside to the book in a library collection is that the black and white cover might make it less likely for a child to pick up...but oh, the treasures inside! It would be an extraordinary book for an art teacher to use with students to show both pen and ink (or pencil?) drawings and the amazing career journey and works of this American sculptor.
Absolutely stunning, informative, engaging, all-around wonderful book about this boy who loved to make beautiful things, illustrated beautifully by Shawn Fields. My 6 year old son was riveted throughout all 64 pages, including back matter with photographs. Shawn Fields' drawings throughout were just fascinating, and my son and I learned so much.
The only possible downside to the book in a library collection is that the black and white cover might make it less likely for a child to pick up...but oh, the treasures inside! It would be an extraordinary book for an art teacher to use with students to show both pen and ink (or pencil?) drawings and the amazing career journey and works of this American sculptor.
August 31, 2020
I never heard of Daniel Chester French until I read this true story. As a child, he enjoyed drawing, but it wasn't until he was college age that he taught himself to sculpt. He created the Minuteman statue in his hometown of Concord, MA, and more than a hundred other monuments in his lifetime including the Abraham Lincoln monument at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Linda Booth Sweeney's middle-grade text is easy to read. Her research produced extensive back matter revealing more information including the other creative artists involved with the Lincoln Memorial. Historical photos and Shawn Field's marvelous illustrations, some in pen and ink, several in color or with close-up detail, top off this inspiring life story. Published in association with the Concord Museum, the book is a fine tribute to a great American artist. I highly recommend it!
cvtc-kidlit
December 14, 2020Have you ever been to visit the Lincoln Memorial? If you have you probably will remember how large and beautiful it looked. Well, did you know that you have Daniel Chester French to thank! Linda Sweeney does a wonderful job explaining the rich history behind one America's most talented artists (at least in my opinion).
I enjoyed the illustrations, I think they did a wonderful job depicting what is going on in the story. This would be a fun book to do for a storytime. You wouldn't be able to do as many silly voices or gestures but the activities you could do with the storytime makes up for that. You could even get a sculptor to come and give a lesson on how to use a pottery wheel or make a cup?
I enjoyed the illustrations, I think they did a wonderful job depicting what is going on in the story. This would be a fun book to do for a storytime. You wouldn't be able to do as many silly voices or gestures but the activities you could do with the storytime makes up for that. You could even get a sculptor to come and give a lesson on how to use a pottery wheel or make a cup?
October 18, 2021
Daniel Chester French was son to a successful lawyer in the mid 1800's. As a child he struggled to discover what he was good at since he failed all his academic classes. He did, however, enjoy making things beautiful. He loved drawing, sculpting, carving, etc. Encouraged by his father and family, Daniel went on to further schooling and apprenticeships until he became known and requested for his sculpting skills.
This was such an eye opening read to just even see all the people of influence that surrounded Daniel and supported him in his journey to become a famous sculptor. I especially appreciated how he was born into a family of lawyers and judges and yet had to find his own path in the arts and became amazingly good at it.
This was such an eye opening read to just even see all the people of influence that surrounded Daniel and supported him in his journey to become a famous sculptor. I especially appreciated how he was born into a family of lawyers and judges and yet had to find his own path in the arts and became amazingly good at it.
April 21, 2020
Beautifully told biography that offers both the life story of Daniel Chester French, the sculptor who gave us the Lincoln Monument, and the historical context to understand the relevance of the time he lived. Small details such as Chester's brother also went off to war and quotes from famous neighbors help cement us in time and place. The influences on his life are palpable as is the thrill of his discovering his innate talents. Black and white textured illustrations provide an organic feel that mimics Chester's craft. A lovely pairing of words and art that introduces us to this little known artist while making an important historical period more accessible for children.
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