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おちびのネル―ファースト・レディになった女の子
Award-winning author Cooney presents a well-researched and poignant storybook biography of Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood. The wartime First Lady of the New Deal, who became one of the most beloved Americans for her empathy with the downtrodden, was famously unglamorous and plain in looks, even as a child. Her beautiful and awful mother humiliated the little girl, calling her Granny, "because she is so funny and old-fashioned looking." Orphaned at nine the girl eventually found her way to confidence, helped initially by a boarding-school headmistress. The book mentions only briefly Roosevelt's later achievements, so a parent will have to supply a little context for this tale of an ugly duckling who turns into, not a swan, but a fulfilled and happy duck.
JP Oversized
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Barbara Cooney
135 books238 followersBarbara Cooney was an American writer and illustrator of 110 children's books, published over sixty years. She received two Caldecott Medals for her work on Chanticleer and the Fox and Ox-Cart Man, and a National Book Award for Miss Rumphius. Her books have been translated into 10 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
May 12, 2019
Despite coming from a privileged background Eleanor's childhood was awful, her mother was horrible, calling her names and saying she was unattractive and her father was an alcoholic. After being orphaned, Eleanor went to a finishing school where an inspiring teacher helped her gain confidence and become a popular member of the school.
This was such an absorbing story, what a tough upbringing, so cruel and unstable despite it's respectable facade. This book finished with Eleanor still in youth, it would be interesting to see this carry on until the time Eleanor became Eleanor Roosevelt and learn about the work she did and what she campaigned for.
The illustrations are wonderful. Read on openlibrary.
This was such an absorbing story, what a tough upbringing, so cruel and unstable despite it's respectable facade. This book finished with Eleanor still in youth, it would be interesting to see this carry on until the time Eleanor became Eleanor Roosevelt and learn about the work she did and what she campaigned for.
The illustrations are wonderful. Read on openlibrary.
March 17, 2025
This is a lovely book about Eleanor Roosevelt’s childhood and Barbara Cooney’s illustrations are beautiful!
June 25, 2009
I think this book is a valiant effort by an author clearly fascinated by Eleanor Roosevelt (she supposedly spent three years researching the story) who is a capable illustrator to boot (though these pictures didn't hold the charm of some of Cooney's others for me). However, overall, I felt that it fell a little flat. It's a biography that strives to include little details to make Eleanor's childhood interesting and relevant, but somehow fails to make her really "live" in my mind. It's not really a warm, vibrant sort of story, IMO and I wonder if kids would be a bit bored by it. Nevertheless, I'm glad I read it and I do think the research is quite sound based on other Eleanor Roosevelt books I've read. However, for those wishing a more in-depth look at her life (adults or older kids really interested in her, the good and the bad) I recommend Our Eleanor A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life which is warm and friendly and somehow a better "story" even if it is more a straight biography.
I will say, though, that the Eleanor presented here can be a good role model for kids (girls especially) who are shy and awkward, or at least FEEL shy and awkward--what a grand and brave life Eleanor ended up leading despite the fact that she felt like an outcast for much of her childhood.
I will say, though, that the Eleanor presented here can be a good role model for kids (girls especially) who are shy and awkward, or at least FEEL shy and awkward--what a grand and brave life Eleanor ended up leading despite the fact that she felt like an outcast for much of her childhood.
February 1, 2018
I love Barbara Cooney's books so when I saw this, I didn't bother to read the back description. If I would have, I might have realized before reading the first page, that this was about Eleanor Roosevelt's early life.
And what a sad life she had. That's painted pretty vividly. This is not a happy book by any means, especially if you know of her later years while married to Franklin D. Roosevelt. In any case, the book is beautifully illustrated, portrays Eleanor's sad childhood and shows that when she was a young adult she did really well in school and found some happiness.
If you're just looking for a fun book to read with your kids, perhaps skip this. If you're working on a history lesson, this might do.
Ages: 5 - 10
** Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
And what a sad life she had. That's painted pretty vividly. This is not a happy book by any means, especially if you know of her later years while married to Franklin D. Roosevelt. In any case, the book is beautifully illustrated, portrays Eleanor's sad childhood and shows that when she was a young adult she did really well in school and found some happiness.
If you're just looking for a fun book to read with your kids, perhaps skip this. If you're working on a history lesson, this might do.
Ages: 5 - 10
** Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
October 23, 2018
Eleanor lived a very sad childhood. She was not pretty, and was reminded of that by her mother often. She was awkward and reminded of that by her mother and others often. While her family was wealthy, they were not without problems. Eleanor adored her father because he seemed to be the only one who paid attention to her and loved her.
Sadly, he was an alcoholic and was ostracized by her mother's side of the family. When her parents lived apart, she was incredibly lonely. Through a series of tragic events, her mother, father and brother died, leaving her an orphan. Summers were spent with her Aunts and Uncles in a lovely, large home up in the HUdson river valley of NY .
It was only when she was sent to Allenswood, a private school, and under the care of Mlle. Souvestre, she gained confidence and accepted that she was intelligent and became outgoing. Years later, she would marry Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
As a wife of the President of the United States, she grew to accept the challenges necessary to speak in public. She became a stanch defender of the poor and disadvantaged. Fighting for the rights of minorities, she also reduced unemployment and improved housing conditions for those who were poor.
Compassionate, kind, intelligent and dedicated, she was an incredible person.
Sadly, he was an alcoholic and was ostracized by her mother's side of the family. When her parents lived apart, she was incredibly lonely. Through a series of tragic events, her mother, father and brother died, leaving her an orphan. Summers were spent with her Aunts and Uncles in a lovely, large home up in the HUdson river valley of NY .
It was only when she was sent to Allenswood, a private school, and under the care of Mlle. Souvestre, she gained confidence and accepted that she was intelligent and became outgoing. Years later, she would marry Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
As a wife of the President of the United States, she grew to accept the challenges necessary to speak in public. She became a stanch defender of the poor and disadvantaged. Fighting for the rights of minorities, she also reduced unemployment and improved housing conditions for those who were poor.
Compassionate, kind, intelligent and dedicated, she was an incredible person.
November 17, 2020
*not happy with the writing and character demeaning.
Review Coming soon 🤦☕
Review Coming soon 🤦☕
December 11, 2023
Loved Barbara Cooney's illustrations in this story about rich little girl Eleanor's bleak childhood. If your looking for a biography about Eleanor Roosevelt, another (and longer) one is Russell Freedman's Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery.
September 6, 2025
I bought this book without even checking what it was about, just because it was written and illustrated by our beloved author of Miss Rumphius. From the very first sentence, I realized I would need to do some hardcore editing while reading it. Compared to this, Jane Eyre’s childhood and adolescence seem like a lovely story. It’s not a spoiler to say—parents and a brother dying, boarding schools with all their sad episodes… But since I had already started reading, we kept going, editing as we went, all the way to the end.
When I reached the last page, I discovered it was the biography of the wife of U.S. President Roosevelt—and suddenly the story seemed so heartwarming. From the very first page, I thought we were reading a fairy tale, and in my mind I kept saying, “But why, why such a harsh fairy tale?” Then it turned out to be a biography.
The illustrations are simply wonderful. Even when I thought it was just a fairy tale, I was trying to remember how I had read it so I could tell the same story again another time and look at the pictures.
If your child enjoys historical and biographical books, this one is definitely worth it, because the illustrations are pure magic.
When I reached the last page, I discovered it was the biography of the wife of U.S. President Roosevelt—and suddenly the story seemed so heartwarming. From the very first page, I thought we were reading a fairy tale, and in my mind I kept saying, “But why, why such a harsh fairy tale?” Then it turned out to be a biography.
The illustrations are simply wonderful. Even when I thought it was just a fairy tale, I was trying to remember how I had read it so I could tell the same story again another time and look at the pictures.
If your child enjoys historical and biographical books, this one is definitely worth it, because the illustrations are pure magic.
January 14, 2020
Whimsical, rather sad story of Eleanor Roosevelt, from a little, sad, plain girl, to a strong, confident and brave woman, accompanied by wonderful illustrations by one and only Barbara Cooney.
November 16, 2011
“Eleanor” is a partial biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. The book covers her early life from childhood to young adult.
Many books have been written about Eleanor Roosevelt. This book is interesting in that it only covers her childhood it does not cover her life as first lady. Writer, Barbara Cooney, describes Eleanor’s feelings throughout the book, e.g. “strange children frightened her.” Another passage in the book describes Eleanor being sent down to the parlor where her mother is entertaining. She stands awkwardly in the doorway biting her nails while being asked to come into the room. When she comes into the room her mother tells one of the guests at the party that she calls Eleanor granny because she is so funny and old-fashioned looking. Cooney describes Eleanor’s feelings about this, “Eleanor wanted to sink through the floor in shame.”
When you read the book, Eleanor’s childhood seems sad and lonely. Some children who also have feelings of loneliness or feel like they do not quite fit in to any group may be able to relate to Eleanor. I think children will marvel that this young child who seemingly had a not too great childhood grew up to accomplish so much as an adult.
Cooney is both writer and illustrator. The illustrations link well to the text on the page. For example, Eleanor and her nanny go to the park. There are other children playing in the park but Eleanor clings to her nanny. Cooney’s illustration covers two pages. She places the children playing in the park in the background; she places Eleanor and her nanny in the foreground. Eleanor is seen holding on to her nanny while her nanny talks to some other adults in the park. Eleanor’s loneliness is presented pictorially which will help children better understand her.
My rating for this book is five stars. The book is well written and the illustrations are well done. But Cooney never mentions in the text of the book that the child she is describing is Eleanor Roosevelt. She also does not give the year Eleanor was born at the beginning of the book. However, children will immediately know that Eleanor is a child from a different era based on the pictures. I liked the book and enjoyed learning about Eleanor’s early life. I think children will like the book too.
Many books have been written about Eleanor Roosevelt. This book is interesting in that it only covers her childhood it does not cover her life as first lady. Writer, Barbara Cooney, describes Eleanor’s feelings throughout the book, e.g. “strange children frightened her.” Another passage in the book describes Eleanor being sent down to the parlor where her mother is entertaining. She stands awkwardly in the doorway biting her nails while being asked to come into the room. When she comes into the room her mother tells one of the guests at the party that she calls Eleanor granny because she is so funny and old-fashioned looking. Cooney describes Eleanor’s feelings about this, “Eleanor wanted to sink through the floor in shame.”
When you read the book, Eleanor’s childhood seems sad and lonely. Some children who also have feelings of loneliness or feel like they do not quite fit in to any group may be able to relate to Eleanor. I think children will marvel that this young child who seemingly had a not too great childhood grew up to accomplish so much as an adult.
Cooney is both writer and illustrator. The illustrations link well to the text on the page. For example, Eleanor and her nanny go to the park. There are other children playing in the park but Eleanor clings to her nanny. Cooney’s illustration covers two pages. She places the children playing in the park in the background; she places Eleanor and her nanny in the foreground. Eleanor is seen holding on to her nanny while her nanny talks to some other adults in the park. Eleanor’s loneliness is presented pictorially which will help children better understand her.
My rating for this book is five stars. The book is well written and the illustrations are well done. But Cooney never mentions in the text of the book that the child she is describing is Eleanor Roosevelt. She also does not give the year Eleanor was born at the beginning of the book. However, children will immediately know that Eleanor is a child from a different era based on the pictures. I liked the book and enjoyed learning about Eleanor’s early life. I think children will like the book too.
October 7, 2017
Subject
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was an American activist, the longest-serving First Lady of the United States.
Scope
This book restricts itself to Eleanor Roosevelt's early life and education, beginning with her birth as "an ugly little thing" who was "a disappointment to her mother" for not being a boy. It covers the loss of her mother and father as well as her entrance into boarding school, where she becomes a special favorite of Mlle. Souvestre. The book ends before Eleanor meets her future husband, Franklin Roosevelt.
About the Illustrations
Those who are familiar with Barbara Cooney will appreciate these illustrations, which will put them in mind of Cooney's beloved Miss Rumphius. The illustrations are more functional than anything else, with lots of period details - clothing, children's games, etc. - and a realistic likeness of Roosevelt.
Author's Note
This book does not have an author's note per se, but it does include an "Afterword" which quickly summarizes Eleanor's life from the time she became First Lady until her death.
Additional Comments
Because most children studying Eleanor Roosevelt are doing so because she was the First Lady of the United States, this book's narrow focus renders it mostly useless for book reports and research assignments. I understand why an author might want to explore the lesser-known roles that Eleanor played during her lifetime, but as noble as it is to want to see her as a separate entity from her husband, there is not much of an audience for this kind of book among children in the target age range.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was an American activist, the longest-serving First Lady of the United States.
Scope
This book restricts itself to Eleanor Roosevelt's early life and education, beginning with her birth as "an ugly little thing" who was "a disappointment to her mother" for not being a boy. It covers the loss of her mother and father as well as her entrance into boarding school, where she becomes a special favorite of Mlle. Souvestre. The book ends before Eleanor meets her future husband, Franklin Roosevelt.
About the Illustrations
Those who are familiar with Barbara Cooney will appreciate these illustrations, which will put them in mind of Cooney's beloved Miss Rumphius. The illustrations are more functional than anything else, with lots of period details - clothing, children's games, etc. - and a realistic likeness of Roosevelt.
Author's Note
This book does not have an author's note per se, but it does include an "Afterword" which quickly summarizes Eleanor's life from the time she became First Lady until her death.
Additional Comments
Because most children studying Eleanor Roosevelt are doing so because she was the First Lady of the United States, this book's narrow focus renders it mostly useless for book reports and research assignments. I understand why an author might want to explore the lesser-known roles that Eleanor played during her lifetime, but as noble as it is to want to see her as a separate entity from her husband, there is not much of an audience for this kind of book among children in the target age range.
January 12, 2018
Interesting. More like a story than a biography; more like inspirational fiction than a research resource. I very much enjoyed it... but I just don't know if young me would have, or if other children would. Cooney's art just what one would expect.
May 9, 2011
Eleanor Rooseveldt had a worse mother than you. she did.
that she became herself is amazing. Barbara Cooney is a great storyteller.
that she became herself is amazing. Barbara Cooney is a great storyteller.
December 2, 2016
Title: Eleanor
Author: Barbara Cooney
Genre: Biography (Grades 3-5)
Theme(s): childhood, loneliness, American history, responsibility
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother. She was born red and wrinkled, an ugly little thing. And she was not a boy.
Brief Book Summary:
This biography tells the story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s early childhood that included the death of her parents and constantly feeling like she did not belong or wasn’t as pretty as other females. Eleanor is sent to boarding school in London where she meets her mistress, Mlle, who believes that Eleanor has a very bright future. The book closes with Eleanor and Mlle spending time together and Mlle giving Eleanor life advice that she will use in her future as a First Lady.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1996)
“From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother," Cooney (The Story of Christmas, 1995, etc.) begins in this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. She is a plain child, timid and serious; it is clear that only a few people loved her. After her parents die, she is cared for in the luxurious homes of wealthy relatives, but does not find acceptance until she arrives in a British boarding school, where she thrives on the attention of the headmistress, who guides, teaches, and inspires her. Cooney does not gloss over the girl's misery and disappointments; she also shows the rare happy times and sows the seeds of Eleanor's future work. The illustrations of house interiors often depict Eleanor as an isolated, lonely figure, her indistinct face and hollow eyes watching from a distance the human interactions she does not yet enjoy. Paintings reveal the action of a steamship collision; the hectic activity of a park full of children and their governesses; a night full of stars portending the girl's luminous future. The image of plain Eleanor being fitted with her first beautiful dress is an indelible one. Readers will be moved by the unfairness of her early life and rejoice when she finds her place in the world. An author's note supplies other relevant information.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The privileged though painful childhood of First Lady and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) is chronicled with tenderness and care in Caldecott Medalist Cooney's (Emily; The Ox-Cart Man) memorable picture book biography. Skillfully compressing a bounty of detail, the author/artist focuses on Eleanor's emotional life as a childhood "ugly duckling": "From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother," Cooney begins. The tale ends with Eleanor's years at Allenswood, the English boarding school whose gifted headmistress helped transform Eleanor into a confident young woman. Cooney wisely refrains from specifically naming the Roosevelt family, allowing children to experience the text as an entertaining story as well as a piece of history. Creamy, reverently rendered paintings portray fashionable Manhattan, Hudson River Valley and Long Island settings; Cooney's intricate reproductions of houses and her recreations of period clothing and interiors are pleasures to behold as well as visual history lessons. An afterword sheds light on Eleanor Roosevelt's career (but would have benefited from the inclusion of her birth, marriage and death dates); most readers will probably want to explore more fully the groundbreaking achievements outlined here.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviewers admire this biography for its illustrations because they accurately capture the time period of Eleanor’s life from the houses to the clothing of the time period, too. The first reviewer mentions that when Eleanor is shown in her house in the illustrations, she is shown as an isolated figure who is always watching from a distance, and this is especially shown when Eleanor’s mother has a guest over and Eleanor is too shy to speak to them. The first reviewer also mentions how there is an author’s note that supplies information about Eleanor’s future, which is relevant because the book ends with Eleanor as a young adult but the author’s note explains how Mlle’s advice made Eleanor such an impactful First Lady. I think the reviewers should have mentioned how the biography was very lengthy and didn’t have much action to keep the reader engaged; rather, the biography should have included more about her positive achievements as a First Lady and keep repeating stories about how she was an “ugly duckling.”
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Cooney writes this biography in a series of vignettes on each page and each vignette is a meaningful memory from Eleanor’s early childhood (Eleanor falling off a boat, visiting “Hell’s Kitchen,” her parents’ deaths, going to boarding school, etc.). The narrative is spread quite thin, because Cooney writes about incidents of loneliness and emotional neglect rather than developing each story in detail. Cooney’s illustrations range from having full-page pictures and half-page scenes, and Eleanor is usually pictured as a loner or set apart from the scene, instead of being the picture’s focus. The illustrations are done in paint, and they accurately represent the emotional tone of the story while also capturing a sense of the time period to provide a historic feel to the biography.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This biography would be appropriate for grades 3-5 because of the book’s length and sophisticated vocabulary compared to a traditional picture book. I think this book would be hard to use in a read aloud setting because of it’s length, so I would want to use it as an independent reading time book. After reading, I would want to expand on the history that the book mentions in the author’s note and have students research Eleanor’s achievements as a First Lady. Then, students could share their research findings and we could create a classroom poster that explains important facts about Eleanor Roosevelt from their research and the biography.
Author: Barbara Cooney
Genre: Biography (Grades 3-5)
Theme(s): childhood, loneliness, American history, responsibility
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother. She was born red and wrinkled, an ugly little thing. And she was not a boy.
Brief Book Summary:
This biography tells the story of Eleanor Roosevelt’s early childhood that included the death of her parents and constantly feeling like she did not belong or wasn’t as pretty as other females. Eleanor is sent to boarding school in London where she meets her mistress, Mlle, who believes that Eleanor has a very bright future. The book closes with Eleanor and Mlle spending time together and Mlle giving Eleanor life advice that she will use in her future as a First Lady.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1996)
“From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother," Cooney (The Story of Christmas, 1995, etc.) begins in this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. She is a plain child, timid and serious; it is clear that only a few people loved her. After her parents die, she is cared for in the luxurious homes of wealthy relatives, but does not find acceptance until she arrives in a British boarding school, where she thrives on the attention of the headmistress, who guides, teaches, and inspires her. Cooney does not gloss over the girl's misery and disappointments; she also shows the rare happy times and sows the seeds of Eleanor's future work. The illustrations of house interiors often depict Eleanor as an isolated, lonely figure, her indistinct face and hollow eyes watching from a distance the human interactions she does not yet enjoy. Paintings reveal the action of a steamship collision; the hectic activity of a park full of children and their governesses; a night full of stars portending the girl's luminous future. The image of plain Eleanor being fitted with her first beautiful dress is an indelible one. Readers will be moved by the unfairness of her early life and rejoice when she finds her place in the world. An author's note supplies other relevant information.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The privileged though painful childhood of First Lady and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) is chronicled with tenderness and care in Caldecott Medalist Cooney's (Emily; The Ox-Cart Man) memorable picture book biography. Skillfully compressing a bounty of detail, the author/artist focuses on Eleanor's emotional life as a childhood "ugly duckling": "From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother," Cooney begins. The tale ends with Eleanor's years at Allenswood, the English boarding school whose gifted headmistress helped transform Eleanor into a confident young woman. Cooney wisely refrains from specifically naming the Roosevelt family, allowing children to experience the text as an entertaining story as well as a piece of history. Creamy, reverently rendered paintings portray fashionable Manhattan, Hudson River Valley and Long Island settings; Cooney's intricate reproductions of houses and her recreations of period clothing and interiors are pleasures to behold as well as visual history lessons. An afterword sheds light on Eleanor Roosevelt's career (but would have benefited from the inclusion of her birth, marriage and death dates); most readers will probably want to explore more fully the groundbreaking achievements outlined here.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviewers admire this biography for its illustrations because they accurately capture the time period of Eleanor’s life from the houses to the clothing of the time period, too. The first reviewer mentions that when Eleanor is shown in her house in the illustrations, she is shown as an isolated figure who is always watching from a distance, and this is especially shown when Eleanor’s mother has a guest over and Eleanor is too shy to speak to them. The first reviewer also mentions how there is an author’s note that supplies information about Eleanor’s future, which is relevant because the book ends with Eleanor as a young adult but the author’s note explains how Mlle’s advice made Eleanor such an impactful First Lady. I think the reviewers should have mentioned how the biography was very lengthy and didn’t have much action to keep the reader engaged; rather, the biography should have included more about her positive achievements as a First Lady and keep repeating stories about how she was an “ugly duckling.”
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Cooney writes this biography in a series of vignettes on each page and each vignette is a meaningful memory from Eleanor’s early childhood (Eleanor falling off a boat, visiting “Hell’s Kitchen,” her parents’ deaths, going to boarding school, etc.). The narrative is spread quite thin, because Cooney writes about incidents of loneliness and emotional neglect rather than developing each story in detail. Cooney’s illustrations range from having full-page pictures and half-page scenes, and Eleanor is usually pictured as a loner or set apart from the scene, instead of being the picture’s focus. The illustrations are done in paint, and they accurately represent the emotional tone of the story while also capturing a sense of the time period to provide a historic feel to the biography.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This biography would be appropriate for grades 3-5 because of the book’s length and sophisticated vocabulary compared to a traditional picture book. I think this book would be hard to use in a read aloud setting because of it’s length, so I would want to use it as an independent reading time book. After reading, I would want to expand on the history that the book mentions in the author’s note and have students research Eleanor’s achievements as a First Lady. Then, students could share their research findings and we could create a classroom poster that explains important facts about Eleanor Roosevelt from their research and the biography.
January 28, 2022
Read before being weeded from the library. It was nice to learn about Eleanor Roosevelt's sad childhood and how two people helped her develop into the confident and competent first lady and activist that she became. Not a great children's book, however; the topic is more suitable for adults who like picture books.
March 10, 2016
This book follows the life of Eleanor Roosevelt and how she grew up in cheerless household. Her mother stated from day one when she was born, that Eleanor was a disappointment. Eleanor only had two truly admiring person which was her father and Mille. Her father spent a lot of time with her when she was younger, up until her mother died and brother died. Soon after being an orphan when her father also passes away, her grandmother raises her but sends her to a boarding school to follow her parents wishes. After leaving her family and past life, she started a new one at her boarding school and became a very special person there. Soon she met Mille who opened up Eleanor's real identity and true qualities. Mille's role in Eleanor's life was to fulfill her father's wishes, which was to be confident, brave, loyal and true.
I enjoyed reading this tragic life story of Eleanor, but the meaning behind it was beautiful. It creates a great understanding of how Eleanor was raised up. After all the criticism and hard comments of how ugly and pointless Eleanor to be born, it did not stop her from becoming strong and brave in the end. This book inspires others to be strong and brave as they face hardships.
I enjoyed reading this tragic life story of Eleanor, but the meaning behind it was beautiful. It creates a great understanding of how Eleanor was raised up. After all the criticism and hard comments of how ugly and pointless Eleanor to be born, it did not stop her from becoming strong and brave in the end. This book inspires others to be strong and brave as they face hardships.
October 11, 2017
Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my favorite female role models. I've read various accounts of her life and thought I knew much about her childhood. That being said, there were many details in this children's book that were new to me- so much so that I spent some time researching after I read it to be sure the author was accurate in her accounts. Sure enough, Barbara Cooney spent three years researching Eleanor Roosevelt in preparation for writing this book! It is recommended for ages 5 and up, but I found the subject matter a little too depressing to share with kindergartners. I think this would be a great book to use in middle school though. My mind is already looking for ways to incorporate it into my curriculum!
January 1, 2021
What a wonderful picture book about the early life of Eleanor Roosevelt.
August 31, 2020
She had such sad beginnings. 😞
March 20, 2025
Gorgeous illustrations, as I'd expect from Barbara Cooney!
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April 26, 2016Title: Eleanor
Author: Barbara Cooney
Illustrator>: Barbara Cooney
Genre: Biography (Picture Book)
Theme(s): Childhood & Youth, First Ladies, Biography, Eleanor Roosevelt
Opening line/sentence: From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother. She was born red and wrinkled, an ugly little thing. And she was not a boy.
Brief Book Summary: This is a retelling of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. From her birth and being an undesirable girl to her early adulthood this story shows all of Eleanor’s joys and struggles. Readers gain a sense of loss when Eleanor and her brother become orphans. This is a good chronology of this First Lady’s life.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Sept. 15, 1996 (Vol. 93, No. 2)) There are many biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, but this one is special. Not only does it boast Cooney's artwork, but it also gets to the heart of a young girl, which in many ways is as interesting as Roosevelt's later, well-known accomplishments. "From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother." So begins Eleanor's story, in which the child with the beautiful mother quickly realizes that she is not pretty and feels less worthy because of it. Despite the love of her father and the affection of her family, young Eleanor continues to feel alone, and, after her father's death, even more desolate. Children will respond viscerally to the longing for affection, to the fear and insecurity that accompanies loss, and they will be uplifted by Eleanor's eventual realization of her own special talents, especially her capacity for compassion. Cooney also re-creates an era of mansions and balls that, despite the grandeur, mean little without love. Cooney is at her artistic best here, with full-page pictures, winding spreads, and half-page scenes that use intriguing perspectives and superb detail to excellent advantage, all the while keeping Eleanor, usually alone or set apart, as the pictures' focus. Cooney also ably sets Eleanor's story as fairy tale, one that as far as this book goes, has a happy ending. Category: For the Young. 1996, Viking, $15.99. Ages 5-8.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1996) Powerful visual design and skillfully understated text combine to introduce young readers to Eleanor Roosevelt before she became one of the most influential women of the 20th century. In paintings that brilliantly echo the emotional tenor of the story while capturing a sense of the time and place in which she lived and the economically privileged class to which she belonged, Eleanor is pictured as a small, almost incidental figure in many of the illustrations. It is the way she felt while growing up, but when she leaves her family and America to attend boarding school in England at the age of 15, Eleanor begins a transformation. Under the guidance of her headmistress and mentor, Mademoiselle Souvestre, and in the loving, supportive, challenging atmosphere that her school, Allenwood, provides, she gains assuredness and self-esteem. "Mlle. Souvestre had opened the world to Eleanor." And Eleanor had opened herself to the world, as Cooney's paintings reflect, carrying herself with dignity into whatever the future would bring. CCBC categories: Biography and Autobiography; Fiction for Children; Easy Fiction; Picture Books. 1996, Viking, 40 pages, $15.99. Ages 7-10.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews look at his book in a positive light. The first one talks about its literary features, and the second one discusses the illustrations. Both say that it is appropriate for children in elementary school Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations go with the events going on in the text. Happier events are lighter colors with less shadows, and sad events are dark colors, almost cloudy on the page. This book has a real turning point in action when Eleanor comes back from boarding school.
Consideration of Instructional Application: During a unit on famous people or biographies this book would be a read aloud. Since it reads like a fiction book students would be able to connect to it and understand it. After reading students would create a timeline of Eleanor’s life. The book would then be placed in the classroom for student use.
Author: Barbara Cooney
Illustrator>: Barbara Cooney
Genre: Biography (Picture Book)
Theme(s): Childhood & Youth, First Ladies, Biography, Eleanor Roosevelt
Opening line/sentence: From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother. She was born red and wrinkled, an ugly little thing. And she was not a boy.
Brief Book Summary: This is a retelling of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. From her birth and being an undesirable girl to her early adulthood this story shows all of Eleanor’s joys and struggles. Readers gain a sense of loss when Eleanor and her brother become orphans. This is a good chronology of this First Lady’s life.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Sept. 15, 1996 (Vol. 93, No. 2)) There are many biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt, but this one is special. Not only does it boast Cooney's artwork, but it also gets to the heart of a young girl, which in many ways is as interesting as Roosevelt's later, well-known accomplishments. "From the beginning the baby was a disappointment to her mother." So begins Eleanor's story, in which the child with the beautiful mother quickly realizes that she is not pretty and feels less worthy because of it. Despite the love of her father and the affection of her family, young Eleanor continues to feel alone, and, after her father's death, even more desolate. Children will respond viscerally to the longing for affection, to the fear and insecurity that accompanies loss, and they will be uplifted by Eleanor's eventual realization of her own special talents, especially her capacity for compassion. Cooney also re-creates an era of mansions and balls that, despite the grandeur, mean little without love. Cooney is at her artistic best here, with full-page pictures, winding spreads, and half-page scenes that use intriguing perspectives and superb detail to excellent advantage, all the while keeping Eleanor, usually alone or set apart, as the pictures' focus. Cooney also ably sets Eleanor's story as fairy tale, one that as far as this book goes, has a happy ending. Category: For the Young. 1996, Viking, $15.99. Ages 5-8.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1996) Powerful visual design and skillfully understated text combine to introduce young readers to Eleanor Roosevelt before she became one of the most influential women of the 20th century. In paintings that brilliantly echo the emotional tenor of the story while capturing a sense of the time and place in which she lived and the economically privileged class to which she belonged, Eleanor is pictured as a small, almost incidental figure in many of the illustrations. It is the way she felt while growing up, but when she leaves her family and America to attend boarding school in England at the age of 15, Eleanor begins a transformation. Under the guidance of her headmistress and mentor, Mademoiselle Souvestre, and in the loving, supportive, challenging atmosphere that her school, Allenwood, provides, she gains assuredness and self-esteem. "Mlle. Souvestre had opened the world to Eleanor." And Eleanor had opened herself to the world, as Cooney's paintings reflect, carrying herself with dignity into whatever the future would bring. CCBC categories: Biography and Autobiography; Fiction for Children; Easy Fiction; Picture Books. 1996, Viking, 40 pages, $15.99. Ages 7-10.
(PUBLISHER: Viking (New York:), PUBLISHED: 1996.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews look at his book in a positive light. The first one talks about its literary features, and the second one discusses the illustrations. Both say that it is appropriate for children in elementary school Evaluation of Literary Elements: The illustrations go with the events going on in the text. Happier events are lighter colors with less shadows, and sad events are dark colors, almost cloudy on the page. This book has a real turning point in action when Eleanor comes back from boarding school.
Consideration of Instructional Application: During a unit on famous people or biographies this book would be a read aloud. Since it reads like a fiction book students would be able to connect to it and understand it. After reading students would create a timeline of Eleanor’s life. The book would then be placed in the classroom for student use.
March 3, 2012
This is a biography of the childhood of Eleanor Roosevelt. She lived with her mother and father until her younger brothers were born and her father went away. Eleanor's mother died when she was eight as well as her brother Ellie and her father passed away a year later when she was nine. She was sent to a boarding school by her grandmother when she was fifteen years old and when she was eighteen she left Allenswood and went on to live a happy, healthy life.
I feel that this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt would be interesting to young readers because it focuses on Eleanor's childhood and it would be more intriguing to them. The information is presented in such a way that children could easily identify with because it discusses Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood. The information that is presented is accurate and authentic and I feel that the author wrote it in such a way that engages the reader and maintains their attention throughout the entire story.
I really enjoyed this story. I personally have never studied Eleanor Roosevelt, but after reading about her childhood, I am more inclined to read more into her life than I would have been had I not read this biography. I really enjoyed the pictures and how they tied directly to the story on the page. I feel that this book relates to my life because as a child, while I was not an orphan, I was an outsider so I can sympathize with Eleanor and how she was feeling when she was left out or on her own. I feel that this is a good biography that I would definitely use in my classroom. I would possibly use this in a lesson about first ladies of the White House and their story because I feel that their stories are seldom told and they really should be.
I feel that this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt would be interesting to young readers because it focuses on Eleanor's childhood and it would be more intriguing to them. The information is presented in such a way that children could easily identify with because it discusses Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood. The information that is presented is accurate and authentic and I feel that the author wrote it in such a way that engages the reader and maintains their attention throughout the entire story.
I really enjoyed this story. I personally have never studied Eleanor Roosevelt, but after reading about her childhood, I am more inclined to read more into her life than I would have been had I not read this biography. I really enjoyed the pictures and how they tied directly to the story on the page. I feel that this book relates to my life because as a child, while I was not an orphan, I was an outsider so I can sympathize with Eleanor and how she was feeling when she was left out or on her own. I feel that this is a good biography that I would definitely use in my classroom. I would possibly use this in a lesson about first ladies of the White House and their story because I feel that their stories are seldom told and they really should be.
October 8, 2008
Eleanor is the story of the priviledged but sad childhood of Eleanor Roosevelt. Rejected by her mother because of her plain looks and deprived of affection, Eleanor's early life was filled with loneliness and fears. After her father left the family and her mother died when she was eight, Eleanor was sent to live in the grim household of her grandmother, where again loneliness and rejection were constants in her life. However, Eleanor did participate in charitable efforts for the less fortunate, experiences that influenced her passionate efforts later in life. It wasn't until she was sent to Mlle's Souvestre's boarding school outside of London that Eleanor began to blossom. Her loving relationship and travels with Mlle.Souvestre, the admiration of her schoolmates, and her ultimate self realization enabled her to return to the United States a confident and poised young woman who would someday become one of the most influential first ladies in America's history.
I like this biography because it is a lesson in triumph over adversity. Even though Eleanor grew up in an affluent and influential family, her childhood was characterized by rejection, lonelines, abandonment, fears, and orphanhood. This book is a revealing introduction to the life of one of the most admired women of the 20th century, and how Eleanor overcame the tragedies of her early life in order to champion noble causes as the wife of Franklin Roosevelt. This book can be used to enhance themes often explored in the intermediate grades such as courage and overcoming obstacles. It would also be a valuable addition to text collections featuring influential women.
February 23, 2016
From birth, Eleanor Roosevelt was a disappointment to her family, but not to her father. Eleanor and her father were very close, while Eleanor and her mother were not. Eleanor's mother believed her to be "plain", and Eleanor believed it as well. Eleanor was born in New York City and led a privileged life, but she always felt lonely. Both her mother and father died when she was young, and when she was fifteen, her grandmother sent her to a boarding school near London. There, Eleanor thrived and felt loved, especially by the headmistress, Mademoiselle Souvestre. After attending boarding school for three years, Eleanor returned home as a new person; she even went on to become a First Lady alongside her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
I really liked this book! I didn't know very much about Eleanor Roosevelt before reading it, so it was interesting to learn more about her. The illustrations were pretty, and the story was intriguing. I really liked reading about how she went from a little girl with low self-esteem to a woman with confidence.
I could use this book in a classroom when discussing the Presidents and First Ladies (Teddy Roosevelt is mentioned in the book). This book is good to read to remind children that they can be something, even if no one around them thinks that they can be.
I really liked this book! I didn't know very much about Eleanor Roosevelt before reading it, so it was interesting to learn more about her. The illustrations were pretty, and the story was intriguing. I really liked reading about how she went from a little girl with low self-esteem to a woman with confidence.
I could use this book in a classroom when discussing the Presidents and First Ladies (Teddy Roosevelt is mentioned in the book). This book is good to read to remind children that they can be something, even if no one around them thinks that they can be.
November 9, 2017
Award(s): N/A
Grades: 2nd grade-3rd grade
Summary: This book relates the story of Eleanor, Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter. It begins from Eleanor’s infancy up till her life as a young adult. Her tragic tale explains how she was unwanted by her mother because she was not a boy and her shyness and insecurities that ensued. Even more tragically she becomes an orphan as those around her passes away—but ultimately finishing with an inspiring ending as she gets married and becomes one of the most adored first ladies
Review: I enjoyed this book very much because it had so much information that I never knew before. I was very surprised about her upbringing and it gave me an even stronger admiration for her and the adversities she overcame. Eleanor Roosevelt is a woman figure that I believe to be a strong, and powerful female role model and this book would be a great introductory piece to teach about her. The material is a bit sad at times, however, so I would use it for higher grades.
In class use: This book can be used during a unit on historical figures. It can also be used as a read-aloud material to teach female empowerment.
Grades: 2nd grade-3rd grade
Summary: This book relates the story of Eleanor, Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter. It begins from Eleanor’s infancy up till her life as a young adult. Her tragic tale explains how she was unwanted by her mother because she was not a boy and her shyness and insecurities that ensued. Even more tragically she becomes an orphan as those around her passes away—but ultimately finishing with an inspiring ending as she gets married and becomes one of the most adored first ladies
Review: I enjoyed this book very much because it had so much information that I never knew before. I was very surprised about her upbringing and it gave me an even stronger admiration for her and the adversities she overcame. Eleanor Roosevelt is a woman figure that I believe to be a strong, and powerful female role model and this book would be a great introductory piece to teach about her. The material is a bit sad at times, however, so I would use it for higher grades.
In class use: This book can be used during a unit on historical figures. It can also be used as a read-aloud material to teach female empowerment.
January 3, 2015
I went into this book not realizing it was about a historical figure and nearly gave up on it because the tale was so very depressing and sad and it basically told rather than showed. I figured that there had to be some type of light at the end of the tunnel and eventually in the last few pages the lot of little Eleanor improves and in an afterword we find out the tale is about the first lady. Overall the whole book just left me disappointed and never wanting to read it again as the very end and the afterword was not enough to life my emotions from the endless telling of exactly how much poor Eleanor endured. I think the book could have been much improved with showing the woe rather than the telling and spending quite a bit of the actual book on Eleanor's later in life achievements and how what she went through shaped her character and helped her do many good things. The illustrations were nice and a number of pages reminded me of famous paintings, but they didn't charm me into liking the book any better. Ah well.
January 30, 2021
This book describes Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood and adolescence. While I had learned a bit about Eleanor Roosevelt's rough childhood in Ken Burns's The Roosevelts TV series, there was still a bit that I didn't know about Roosevelt. For example, I had never heard that Roosevelt survived a ship collision. A theme throughout this book is growing up and overcoming your fears. Several times, Barbara Cooney describes Eleanor as shy and fearful but in the end, she becomes more sure of herself. I really like the illustrations that really showed that thread in Eleanor's life with her initially as a small, pale girl in the background but by the end of the book she has a noticeable presence in the illustrations. The brief afterword describes all of the difference that Eleanor Roosevelt made in others' lives. I would love to share this biography with a shy or fearful child, like I once was, to show them how much they too can accomplish someday. Sweet partial biography that makes me want to learn more about this fascinating woman.
November 8, 2021
I bought this book cheap for Barbara Cooney's illustrations. Reading it was the second pleasure except that Eleanor Roosevelt had such a sad early life thanks to her mother not wanting a girl and then telling same girl she was ugly and would never succeed. Good thing her father loved her! And I suppose her success would have been a slap in the face to her selfish mother, which is a good thing.
To say that I admire Barbara Cooney's work would be an understatement.
To say that I admire Barbara Cooney's work would be an understatement.
November 26, 2010
Published: 1996, Penguin Group
Ages: 5 and up
The story of Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the most admired women in the world. Even though she was born into a family of priviledge, she had to overcome numerous obstacles such as rejection, abandonment, fear, shyness, loneliness, and being an orphan. Not until she is sent to London to a boarding school and meets the headmistress who takes her under her wing, does she blossom. Illustrations show detailed watercolor pictures of the houses, interiors, and fashions of the time, and of upper class Manhattan and Long Island. An afterword gives some information about her after she returned to New York but it does not give much information on dates or when she met Franklin Roosevelt. Not really a great book to learn much history, but more for entertainment.
Ages: 5 and up
The story of Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the most admired women in the world. Even though she was born into a family of priviledge, she had to overcome numerous obstacles such as rejection, abandonment, fear, shyness, loneliness, and being an orphan. Not until she is sent to London to a boarding school and meets the headmistress who takes her under her wing, does she blossom. Illustrations show detailed watercolor pictures of the houses, interiors, and fashions of the time, and of upper class Manhattan and Long Island. An afterword gives some information about her after she returned to New York but it does not give much information on dates or when she met Franklin Roosevelt. Not really a great book to learn much history, but more for entertainment.
May 17, 2012
Eleanor is a picture book biography on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. This story captures Eleanor Roosevelt's life from childhood to young adulthood. Cooney does a great job in telling the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, and brings out facts of her life that I didn't previously know about. This story is also accompanied with very colorful illustrations that bring the story to life. In addition the illustrations does a great job of highlighting life of the 19th century, of which she lived in. Eleanor, is targeted for first grade through third grade, and although it is a biography this story is told in a very interesting and captivating way. This story would be a great addition to all teachers and families libraries.
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