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DK Biography
DK Biography: Annie Oakley
DK's acclaimed Biography line shines the spotlight on sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Includes detailed sidebars, handy vocabulary, and a visual timeline.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Wills
16 books1 followerChuck Wills is a writer, editor, and consultant specializing in military history. He has authored books on Pearl Harbor, the Tet Offensive, and the Civil War, and also writes on technology, music, and popular culture. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 18, 2025
Interesting, my Grandpa gave it to me because I like to hunt with him. I kinda liked it!
November 28, 2016
I now have nothing but enormous admiration and respect for one of the few/only Wild West characters deserving of admiration and respect.
She hunted game for her parents and siblings, but she wasn’t a “game hog” (as she put it). She did not participate in the mass slaughter of buffalo or other animals. She was way ahead of the time when game laws came into effect.
In her traveling career as a sharpshooter “she refused suggestions to use makeup, or to wear skimpy outfits that would show more of her body. She wanted to be judged by her shooting skills, not by her appearance.” Once again, she was ahead of her time.
She quit the Sells Brothers Circus because “she felt that the circus didn’t treat its human and animal performers very well.” Good for her!
The list of her attributes goes on and on. This is a great book about a great human.
She hunted game for her parents and siblings, but she wasn’t a “game hog” (as she put it). She did not participate in the mass slaughter of buffalo or other animals. She was way ahead of the time when game laws came into effect.
In her traveling career as a sharpshooter “she refused suggestions to use makeup, or to wear skimpy outfits that would show more of her body. She wanted to be judged by her shooting skills, not by her appearance.” Once again, she was ahead of her time.
She quit the Sells Brothers Circus because “she felt that the circus didn’t treat its human and animal performers very well.” Good for her!
The list of her attributes goes on and on. This is a great book about a great human.
September 12, 2019
While this is an easy read for an adult, I highly recommend it because of the research and photographs that authenticate the story. Annie Oakley is a great example for women and girls!
September 10, 2024
Eye-opening. Wanted to do research on Annie for a time travel book. Loved the great detail and accurate facts. It brought the little lady to life.
September 10, 2007
process of reading will review later
January 3, 2021
Annie Oakley has always been a favorite of mine. Someone to look up to and semi "idolize" but I never realize all the wonderful things she actually did. She was a very 'quiet' woman and liked to do things 'behind the scenes' without wanting to be center of attention for doing it. Like donating money to orphan girls to get education, She 'adopted' several WWI solders whom she helped later when they returned. She helped fund a tuberculosis society which was close to her heart since two of her sisters died of tuberculosis. In addition of going on the road 80% of her lifetime and 8 mths of her year. When television and movies wasn't available to the public so people would pay to go see these wild west shows. Annie loved to help women when she was 'off' season by giving shooting lessons and estimated to have given over thousands of lessons to women. I was very impressed with her life and only looked up to her that much more. From coming from a child that was extremely poor that had to be given out to other families do to parents being to poor and being abused at those places to overcoming those abuse and then making something of herself. But not making big deal of that abuse but overcoming it and helping make the world a better place because of where she had been.
June 30, 2019
I LOVED THIS BOOK !! Have been a long time admirer of this true legend, faithfully watchng a young GAIL DAVIS playing Annie on the TV SHOW --- she would run & leap onto her horse & I would follow suit onto the arm of our living room couch to mimic her actions --- to this day, I can't believe my Mom allowed this behavior !!
I do have one comment regarding the book : It must be a publishing error : Bottom of page 79 sentence is a quote from Annie " I know this much : if I had my.".... turning to page 80 ....quote should continue ....but it doesn't -- " PHENOMENAL. In later years Annie would simply say the story of her break with Wild West was simply too long to tell. " It seems as if one entire page is missing !! I would love to read the REST OF THE STORY .....aside from the printing error, the book was wonderful !!
DK books ... First American edition 2007
I do have one comment regarding the book : It must be a publishing error : Bottom of page 79 sentence is a quote from Annie " I know this much : if I had my.".... turning to page 80 ....quote should continue ....but it doesn't -- " PHENOMENAL. In later years Annie would simply say the story of her break with Wild West was simply too long to tell. " It seems as if one entire page is missing !! I would love to read the REST OF THE STORY .....aside from the printing error, the book was wonderful !!
DK books ... First American edition 2007
April 15, 2021
Grade Level: 3rd- 5th Genre: Biography
This book was so full of details about Annie Oakley's life, I enjoyed learning about her. I really enjoyed this author's style of writing, in story form. It gives many facts but not in a dry way, may kids would enjoy this. This would be a good resource for a paper or some short of project.
This book was so full of details about Annie Oakley's life, I enjoyed learning about her. I really enjoyed this author's style of writing, in story form. It gives many facts but not in a dry way, may kids would enjoy this. This would be a good resource for a paper or some short of project.
November 25, 2017
Another well written DK biography. I love these books. They admit when something is uncertain but also tell a thorough and engaging story. The pictures and sidebars are always a help. Annie Oakley has had such hick portrayals, I feel this book assists in seeing a real her.
October 14, 2017
The author does a wonderful job of separating fact from myth. Annie Oakley never ceases to fascinate, even almost a century after her death.
April 16, 2018
Really liked this book!
April 23, 2018
I had to read this book for a book report at school. It was alright.
March 6, 2020
It was good but I wish it told more about her life other than her shooting career.
September 6, 2023
Interesting
July 24, 2024
This book was very interesting and gave great insights to Annie as a whole person. I would recommend this book to students in 5th or 6th grade.
February 15, 2015
Though written for kids about age 10 – 12, this book contains enough facts and photos to interest and educate adults. The chapters are short and most end in a way that spur the reader on to continue reading. The many photographs and drawings illustrate the story perfectly. Annie’s poor rural Ohio roots, her courtship and marriage to fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler, her stints with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show and other touring revues, publicity materials, the homes in which she lived throughout her life (including her well-kept tent for the traveling shows), and her pets are depicted, along with more general photographs to illustrate the changing times in which she lived. Wills adds an illustrated timeline at the end of the book to review and clarify Annie’s life events for young (and older) readers.
In addition to Annie’s story, Wills tries to convey a sense of the era to young readers. Subjects such as the vanishing and somewhat mythical “Wild West,” the persecution and subjugation of Native Americans during the western expansion, the Victorian Era in the British Isles, and women’s suffrage movement are addressed. Other sidebars tell of her friendship with Lakota chief Sitting Bull, collaboration with Thomas Edison, and meeting with British Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra.
The art and science of shooting itself is discussed, including powder and buckshot, different types of guns, and how clay pigeons were employed. When Annie began shooting, at a young age, society frowned upon women using guns. If it weren’t for the fact that her family needed food and mortgage payments, her mother—who disapproved—might have done more to discourage Annie’s love of shooting. Annie’s statement in later years, “I think every woman should learn the use of firearms,” is supported by her teaching about 1500 young women how to shoot during her lifetime.
One very interesting section tells about how Annie’s life has been dramatized in books and shows, always with significant distortions. From the dime novels in the 1860s, to the Broadway play “Annie Get Your Gun” in the 1940s, to the 1950s TV show “Annie Oakley and Tagg,” Annie’s life events are fictionalized, and she is also depicted as a different type of woman. Annie was modest and soft-spoken, and did not participate in the raucous barroom antics like most of her fellow Wild West show performers. Ethel Merman, who portrayed her character on Broadway, with her brassy voice and flashy costumes, had little in common with the real Annie.
Annie Oakley, the book states, was America’s first superstar, more popular than any performer today. She was more popular than Madonna was, and relied upon her own talent rather than enticing the media with skin-show. Annie would never appear scantily clad while performing (as other female performers did), she simply hit the target 99% of the time, sometimes shooting over her shoulder with a mirror or from a bicycle. She didn’t drink to excess or adopt an unhealthy lifestyle, as did many of her fellow performers, nor did she judge others for their personal lifestyle choices. In short, she's a perfect role model for talented girls who aspire to become performing artists.
In addition to Annie’s story, Wills tries to convey a sense of the era to young readers. Subjects such as the vanishing and somewhat mythical “Wild West,” the persecution and subjugation of Native Americans during the western expansion, the Victorian Era in the British Isles, and women’s suffrage movement are addressed. Other sidebars tell of her friendship with Lakota chief Sitting Bull, collaboration with Thomas Edison, and meeting with British Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra.
The art and science of shooting itself is discussed, including powder and buckshot, different types of guns, and how clay pigeons were employed. When Annie began shooting, at a young age, society frowned upon women using guns. If it weren’t for the fact that her family needed food and mortgage payments, her mother—who disapproved—might have done more to discourage Annie’s love of shooting. Annie’s statement in later years, “I think every woman should learn the use of firearms,” is supported by her teaching about 1500 young women how to shoot during her lifetime.
One very interesting section tells about how Annie’s life has been dramatized in books and shows, always with significant distortions. From the dime novels in the 1860s, to the Broadway play “Annie Get Your Gun” in the 1940s, to the 1950s TV show “Annie Oakley and Tagg,” Annie’s life events are fictionalized, and she is also depicted as a different type of woman. Annie was modest and soft-spoken, and did not participate in the raucous barroom antics like most of her fellow Wild West show performers. Ethel Merman, who portrayed her character on Broadway, with her brassy voice and flashy costumes, had little in common with the real Annie.
Annie Oakley, the book states, was America’s first superstar, more popular than any performer today. She was more popular than Madonna was, and relied upon her own talent rather than enticing the media with skin-show. Annie would never appear scantily clad while performing (as other female performers did), she simply hit the target 99% of the time, sometimes shooting over her shoulder with a mirror or from a bicycle. She didn’t drink to excess or adopt an unhealthy lifestyle, as did many of her fellow performers, nor did she judge others for their personal lifestyle choices. In short, she's a perfect role model for talented girls who aspire to become performing artists.
May 20, 2016
Annie Oakley was a leader and a person to be admired by everyone. She did something that was believed only men could do and would therefore be a leader for generations of girls to come. In Annie Oakley by Charles M. Wills, this is how she became such a role model to girls everywhere.
She was born into a poor family-so poor that she had to work just to make a few pennies for her family and siblings. Her mother sent her away at around the age of 12 so she could have a better life but the one she got was worse. Her “parents” were evil to her and made her work all day and not let her go to school. She called them “the wolves.” One night she snuck away and a kind man bought her a ticket for the long train ride home.
She had been interested in shooting since she was little and was very good at it. She would kill fowl to sell and the customer loved it so much because it didn’t have leftover bullet in it. That’s how good she at shooting. She knew how to hit the animal in the eye or special part of the head so there was no bullet pieces left over when people would eat the food. She soon earned enough money to pay the rent and get her mother's approval of a girl shooter. Annie entered a contest and beat out all of the men and one who would soon become her husband named Frank Butler and his two poodles. They traveled around the world giving performances and showing off. Annie became better and better at the skill and the people loved her. They became a major part in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Annie would add amazing stunts in her show like riding backwards on horses or shooting apples of Franks dogs heads. She was admirable, different, and a leading woman in the west. She inspired young girls to follow their dreams and never give up and not listen to what society thinks of them. People will love her forever.
Overall, I think that this book was a good story but an easy read for me. It was more of a younger level but the quality of the writing was good and the pictures that were included also provided important information. It a good story if you want the facts based on a a storyline.
She was born into a poor family-so poor that she had to work just to make a few pennies for her family and siblings. Her mother sent her away at around the age of 12 so she could have a better life but the one she got was worse. Her “parents” were evil to her and made her work all day and not let her go to school. She called them “the wolves.” One night she snuck away and a kind man bought her a ticket for the long train ride home.
She had been interested in shooting since she was little and was very good at it. She would kill fowl to sell and the customer loved it so much because it didn’t have leftover bullet in it. That’s how good she at shooting. She knew how to hit the animal in the eye or special part of the head so there was no bullet pieces left over when people would eat the food. She soon earned enough money to pay the rent and get her mother's approval of a girl shooter. Annie entered a contest and beat out all of the men and one who would soon become her husband named Frank Butler and his two poodles. They traveled around the world giving performances and showing off. Annie became better and better at the skill and the people loved her. They became a major part in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Annie would add amazing stunts in her show like riding backwards on horses or shooting apples of Franks dogs heads. She was admirable, different, and a leading woman in the west. She inspired young girls to follow their dreams and never give up and not listen to what society thinks of them. People will love her forever.
Overall, I think that this book was a good story but an easy read for me. It was more of a younger level but the quality of the writing was good and the pictures that were included also provided important information. It a good story if you want the facts based on a a storyline.
November 4, 2017
I cryed so much at the end of this book
February 10, 2009
Who knew that Annie Oakley's given name was Phoebe Ann Moses? Who knew that a petite woman from Ohio would become America's first super-star? Who knew that a woman could shoot a rifle better than almost any man of her era? This book is easy to read and contains many photographs to put her history in to context. Annie was the Madonna of her day.
This book got better as I read it. Annie Oakley was more popular than Madonna! Can you imagine that? The book sketches together the significant events in her life and separates fact from fiction. There was a lot of fiction written during the course of her life and afterward. My favorite part was the last paragraph of the last chapter; it is Annie's personal motto.
"Aim at a high mark and you will hit it. No, not the second time and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally, you'll hit the bull's eye of success."
Of the books in the series that I have read, this one seemed to be the weakest. The author seemed to be struggling with his subject. I think he could have more thoroughly described her good works and motivation and not just have told the reader that she did them. Yet, on the positive side, I was again struck by how little I knew about Annie Oakley's life and I though I knew SOMETHING!
The photographs are outstanding support for what is written. They capture the heart of her life and a feeling for her time, and the eras she lived through. The "For Further Study" section at the back of the book provides just enough information to get a reader going deeper.
This book got better as I read it. Annie Oakley was more popular than Madonna! Can you imagine that? The book sketches together the significant events in her life and separates fact from fiction. There was a lot of fiction written during the course of her life and afterward. My favorite part was the last paragraph of the last chapter; it is Annie's personal motto.
"Aim at a high mark and you will hit it. No, not the second time and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally, you'll hit the bull's eye of success."
Of the books in the series that I have read, this one seemed to be the weakest. The author seemed to be struggling with his subject. I think he could have more thoroughly described her good works and motivation and not just have told the reader that she did them. Yet, on the positive side, I was again struck by how little I knew about Annie Oakley's life and I though I knew SOMETHING!
The photographs are outstanding support for what is written. They capture the heart of her life and a feeling for her time, and the eras she lived through. The "For Further Study" section at the back of the book provides just enough information to get a reader going deeper.
July 9, 2013
Annie Oakley. Discover More
6/28 60 minutes. 7/1 15 minutes
7 words summary
1 Annie 2 Hunter 3 Lost 4 Father 5 Move
6 Farm 7 Labor
Discussion Question
In this story, Annie loves hunting and using her big rifle since she was very young.
Do you have any hobbies that you have been loved since you were very young?
My Answer
I have been liked listening to music and loved dogs since I was 9 years old.
Comment
This story is very interesting. Usually, girls do not use guns, but Annie was very good at using a rifle. It was amazing! I want to read a continuation of this story.
7/5 50 minutes 7/8 20 minutes
7 words summary
1 Annie 2 Not 3 Free 4 Change 5 Life 6 Gun
7 World
Discussion Question
Annie did not give up what she really wanted to do. Like her, do you have anything that you cannot quit?
My Answer
I really like listening to musics. If I have something that I must do, I cannot stop it.
Comment
I cannot finish reading this book in 2 weeks, so I will finish reading it in this week.
Also, the story is interesting. I can read it easily.
6/28 60 minutes. 7/1 15 minutes
7 words summary
1 Annie 2 Hunter 3 Lost 4 Father 5 Move
6 Farm 7 Labor
Discussion Question
In this story, Annie loves hunting and using her big rifle since she was very young.
Do you have any hobbies that you have been loved since you were very young?
My Answer
I have been liked listening to music and loved dogs since I was 9 years old.
Comment
This story is very interesting. Usually, girls do not use guns, but Annie was very good at using a rifle. It was amazing! I want to read a continuation of this story.
7/5 50 minutes 7/8 20 minutes
7 words summary
1 Annie 2 Not 3 Free 4 Change 5 Life 6 Gun
7 World
Discussion Question
Annie did not give up what she really wanted to do. Like her, do you have anything that you cannot quit?
My Answer
I really like listening to musics. If I have something that I must do, I cannot stop it.
Comment
I cannot finish reading this book in 2 weeks, so I will finish reading it in this week.
Also, the story is interesting. I can read it easily.
January 7, 2012
3.5 Stars. This biography was pretty interesting. I found it to be well written for a late elementary school audience. I enjoyed finding out about the exploits of Annie Oakley. I got a strong feeling of her values and struggles. The retelling had a tendency to comment on something in one chapter and expound on it in a later chapter, which, if the book is read straight through, produces a slight feeling of repetition. Words that may be construed as antiquated or people who may be less well known now have definitions called out in boxes or mini bios on the same page. Over all there are a lot of pictures and the story of her life is entertaining enough to make this worth reading if it becomes available.
November 3, 2014
Non-fiction books are not my favorite thing to read, I don't really like them. This book is different than anything I've ever read, but I enjoyed it. Annie Oakley is a book that is very detailed. It has some sad parts too it but they are not very frequent. My favorite part of this book was when Annie moved in with the "wolves". I think this book should have sequels that should focus on Annie's siblings and their relationship with their sister. If this book had sequels I would give them a shot. One thing that I would change about the book would be that I would make each chapter about one subject instead of putting anything anywhere. I recommend this book to people who like biographies. Honestly, you should give it a shot.
September 9, 2013
This is actually one of my favorite biographies. The author of this book made it just so entertaining to read, since I only know a little bit about her. There are actually also loads of more difficult words in it, but they is a little definition of the words and information to read about the different shows she went to, and more background information, like when they talked about her meeting the Queen of England.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2011
wow i thought i knew it all. he has proven me wrong. there is so much detail in the book. so many facts that lots of people did not know about. i know nobody i know knows more than half of these facts. charles sure brings history alive again.
July 21, 2011
I thought this book was a very inspiring book. I had heard about Annie before but I did not know who she really was at the time. now I know that she was the coolest(in my opinion), first female superstar in the United States.
January 9, 2009
ok i guess..........
February 7, 2009
You can get through this in an evening. Who hasn't heard of Annie Oakley. It was satisfying to get the story in depth. You want to know about it? Call me. Or read the book.
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August 21, 2009All I learned about strong women started with reading biographies of Annie Oakley.
June 3, 2010
I love this book, i have read it 5 times.
May 17, 2016
Interesting, solid biography on Annie Oakley. She was a kickass lady, and this book does her justice. Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews