If you love the song, made famous by Arlo Guthrie, you probably like trains. If you like trains, this book is sure to delight you! It's a wonderful tribute to the classic folksong! Steve Goodman composed "The City of New Orleans" while riding the Illinois Central, while observing his fellow passengers and the passing landscape. Who can forget the warm images he recounted: of the old men playing cards, the young mother nursing her baby, the passengers being lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the rails? "Everything in this song actually happened," Goodman once said; "I'm no good at fiction." Michael McCurdy's illustrations, a combination of woodcuts and watercolors, must be seen and savored! The book is aimed toward children, and kids are certain to enjoy it. But I believe it will evoke stronger emotions in baby-boomers who remember the song and how it actually felt to "be gone 500 miles when the day is done".

Congratulations to shackleton. And the pictures were great!! My favorit part was where they slid down the maountain.

This brilliant collection of poems illustrates that war is more than just fighting and having fun while toting a big gun. People you know and care about can get hurt or even die. Makes you think.

Not a biographical sketch of Thoreau in a typical sense, but in a poetic one. Every word Thoreau wrote was essential, and Robert Bly has selected rich, complex prose selections from "Walden" and other writings, along with Thoreau's little-published poetry, to shine light into the soul of one of our most important American writers. Beautifully illustrated with woodcuts, a careful positioning of text on the page - simple, elegant, compelling. Bly's comments on Thoreau's writings and life, and on the contexts in which Thoreau can be seen, provide an excellent structure to his large body of work, and a wonderful guide to further reading. If we had all started our high school readings of Thoreau with this book, there would be no market for the current plethora of books on simplifying life. Our "Waldens" would be well-worn. It's all here, simply, beautifully, essentially

A great book and a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Yosemite. Rowell's photographs are wonderful, and are set to John Muir's observations and memories of the Valley.

Shortly after the American Civil War, John Muir, a 29-year-old budding naturalist, set out on an epic journey across the eastern United States. Starting in Louisville, Kentucky on September 2, 1867, he walked southward through Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia, where he was delayed in Savannah. After crossing through Florida he finally reached the Gulf, but, unfortunately, his desire to continue on toward South America was hindered by an illness. Not fully recovered, he eventually made for Cuba, but went no further. Muir returned home only to set out for California a short while later. During his journey, he kept a journal in which he recorded his experiences and observations of the flora and fauna he came across. This journal, along with an article written in 1872 and a letter that he wrote while in California, constitute A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, which was originally published in 1916, two years following Muir's death. Although there are a few instances when the author reveals himself to be a man of his times, his observations of a natural world which in many instances have long since been destroyed, are priceless.

As the human population expands the natural world around us disappears. This is a fact we mostly ignore as we go about our daily life. One day, you wake up, and discover that within your own lifetime things have been permanently altered.

When John Muir made his "Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf" the U.S. was not as heavily populated as it is today, although much had changed from the time when European settlers first moved through the area he explored -- a path that stretched from Indianapolis Indiana to the Gulf just north of what is Tampa Florida today.

Muir moved South in the aftermath of the Civil War, so he encountered much unrest, unhappiness, and destruction along the way. He describes not only the flora and fauna he found but the condition of humans as they struggled to rebuild their lives.

He says, "My plan was to simply to push on in a general southward direction by the wildest leafiest, and least trodden way I could find, promising the greatest extent of virgin forest." To a great extent, he was able to do that, however, he could not escape some of the realities of the world around him. For example, in Georgia, he encountered the graves of the dead, whom he says lay under a "common single roof, supported on four posts as the cover of a well, as if rain and sunshine were not regarded as blessings." A bit further he says, "I wandered wearily from dune to dune sinking ankle deep in the sand, searching for a place to sleep beneath the tall flowers, free from the insects and snakes, and above all my fellow man."

Muir wonders at the teachings of those who call themselves God's emissaries, who fail to ask about God's intentions for nature. He says, "It never seems to occur to these far-seeing teachers that Natures's object in making animals and plants might possibly be first of all the happiness of each one of them, not the creation of all for the happiness of one. Why should man value himself as more that a small part of the one great unit of creation? And what creature of all that the Lord has taken the pains to make is not essential to the completeness of the unit--the cosmos?"

Partly as a result of his writing, and the writing of other Naturalists, the National Park System came into being, and today, more trees grow on the East coast than grew in the late 1700s (American Revolution). The fight is not over, however, it has only begun. Many of those trees are "harvested" every year. Sometimes, even within National Forests they are all felled at the same time through a process called clear cutting. The lovely large oaks that Muir beheld are mostly long gone and have been replaced by Pine.

This is one of John Muir's best books (the other being _First Summer in the Sierra_). It's Muir's slightly-edited diary of his 1000-mile trip through the Southern U.S. to Florida, then Cuba. He traveled on foot observing nature and the people. The book holds your interest as it's written on the spot through the enthusistic eyes of a young man. It reminds me a little of Mark Twain's book _Roughin' It_, another story through the eye's of a young man latter to become famous (about working on antebellum riverboats).

This reads like a storybook, telling a great deal about the men who signed our declaration. Fillng in gaps in the men's stories, it is also a lively read about life in revolutionary times.

The author seems to try to be even-handed, saying that we will never really know about Betsy Ross's involvement in the flag, for instance, but that she and her family were indeed important at the time. Reasonable.

It is all the more disturbing, in this seemingly well-researched book, to have Fradin assert that Thomas Jefferson certainly was the father of Sally Hemings' children. Just like Betsy Ross, no one knows. (DNA evidence was found to link a Jefferson male with ONE of her 6 known children--but there were 25 other Jeffersons in the area at the time.) Unfortunately now a good many of Fradin's other assertions are suspect.

I just don't have the time to check every single fact in a history book; I want to enjoy the book, itself. I'll be reading this volume with a much more critical eye now, and cautious about recommending it to children.

Very readable and enlightening story of all the signers of the Declaration. Fradin is a master of choosing just the right details about the lives of these men to bring them alive and interest his readers. It will also strike young people how precarious the lives of women and children were.

"The Signers" tells "The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence." Okay, so, riddle me this: how many of those 56 can you name before you read this book? John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams should be easy. But can you get to double figures? The only reason I can easily do so is because I watch the musical "1776" every Fourth of July, which means I can name at least one member of every delegate from each of the 13 colonies that made up the 2nd Continental Congress. If you know your American History you should be able to come up with Samuel Adams; if you collect state quarters you might remember Caesar Rodney; if you know about rare autographs you might even recognize Button Gwinnett. My father had a book about the signers of the Declaration of Independence, which I read through as a kid, but all I really remember is that it had pictures of all of their gravestones.

Author Dennis Brindell Fradin and illustrator Michael McCurdy reintroduce those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in this fascinating volume written for ages 10 and up (I qualify). Within these pages we meet Samuel Adams, the Father of American Independence; George Wythe, Teacher of Presidents; Stephen Hopkins, the oldest of the signers (except for Benjamin Franklin); and Edmund Rutledge, the youngest of the signers (except for Benjamin Franklin). There is Richard Henry Lee, the first President under the U.S. Constitution; Benjamin Harrison, the father of one President and great-grandfather of another; and Betsy Ross' Uncle George. Of course the entries on the likes of Jefferson and Franklin can only touch on their service to the founding of the nation, so it is the lesser names whose stories are more fascinating, such as George Walton, who was wounded and captured by the British during the war; George Read, who signed the U.S. Constitution twice; and Joseph Hewes, who became one of the main founders of the U.S. Navy.

McCurdy's illustrations were created on scratchboard, which certainly resonates with me, mainly because I did one of these of "Old Ironsides" in grade school. Consequently, I associate the art form with early American history (go figure). For each signer there is a headshot and a representative scene from their life. For a young student of American History in general and the struggle for American Independence in particular, "The Signers" would be a very interesting read and the first place to look for information about these early American patriots.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The Kansas Centennial Edition By L. Frank Baum Illustrations by Michael McCurdy Foreword by Ray Bradbury ISBN 0-7006-0985-7, 600 Words

Dorothy and Toto are home again thanks to the University Press of Kansas' publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Kansas Centennial Edition. The wizards at the Press conceived of the edition after discovering that L. Frank Baum's book, first published in 1900, was in the public domain. The original print story about a little girl and her dog may be a surprise to Kansans familiar only with the classic 1939 film version of the Wizard of Oz. Even Judy Garland might be shocked by the new edition's black-and-white drawings by acclaimed children's book illustrator Michael McCurdy.

As a child during the 1960s, I remember watching the annual television broadcast of the Wizard of Oz. The scenes when the Wicked Witch sent the Winged Monkeys against Dorothy and her friends were so frightening that I would hide behind a chair. Now as an adult, I find some of McCurdy's illustrations equally unsettling, but rather than hide from them, the drawings compel me to examine and reflect upon Dorothy's journey, a journey that may be interpreted as one from innocence to knowledge.

The most provocative of McCurdy's twenty-five scratch board illustrations is the one in which Dorothy confronts the Witch. The witch has the pointed chin and bony fingers we expect from fairy tale witches, but her eye patch makes McCurdy's witch especially sinister. The Witch tricks Dorothy into giving her one of her Silver Shoes, (they are ruby slippers in the film version). With one foot bare, the angry Dorothy grabs the nearest object, a bucket of water, and throws it on the Witch. "...I never thought a little girl like you would ever be able to melt me and end my wicked deeds," wails the Witch.

W.W. Denslow illustrated the first Wizard of Oz book and his illustrations have remained popular. While Denslow's illustrations are charming and whimsical, they have none of the psychological interest of McCurdy's. As unusual as McCurdy's artwork, is the new edition's forward by science fiction and fantasy author Ray Bradbury. Bradbury contrasts the Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland.

Bradbury writes, "...Lewis Carroll's cast of characters would have died here of saccharine or run back to hide behind the cold Glass. Baum settled in, delighted with bright nothings. If the Wicked Witch is truly dead it is because L. Frank Baum landed on her with his Boy's-Life-Forever-Sunkist philosophy. No witch could survive Baum, even today when witches beam themselves up."

A criterion for literature to be considered classic is its ability to be reinterpreted over time. In 1964, Henry Littlefield wrote an article in the American Quarterly entitled, "The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism." Littlefield suggests Baum's book is an allegory for the Populist politics of the 1890s in which "led by naïve innocence and goodwill, the farmer, laborer and the politician approach the mystic holder of national power and ask for personal fulfillment."

Baum was aware that a story holds different meanings for different ages. In the forward to the original Oz, Baum notes that most horrible characters and disagreeable incidents have been eliminated from modern fairy tales. "Having this thought in mind, the story... was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to be a modernized fairy tale, in which wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out."

One-hundred years after its initial publication, the children's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum remains worthy of reading by every Kansan regardless of age. However, in Michael McCurdy's illustrations, adults may find new meaning for an old children's story.

Paul Hawkins is regional librarian for the South Central Kansas Library System.

I enjoyed this book very much. It takes one on an exciting journey through magical lands that come alive in this fantasy book. The characters in this book make it a delight. This book is a treasure, and anyone of any age would enjoy it.

Johnny Tremain Written By:Esther Forbes Published by:Dell Publishing Co. 1969

Johnny Tremain is an amazing book about a young boy's life during the start of the Revolutionary War. When Johnny injured his hand while working as a silversmith, he is sent to find a new master that could make use of him. Then he meets a boy name Rabb. Jonnhy leaves the home and family he lived in for most of his life and gets a job a newspaper printing shop with Rabb. They become almost best friends. His former masters daughter, that Johnny likes, moves in with another family too. In fact, one of the richest families on the wharf. Johnny later discovers that he is a relative of one of the richest men on the wharf. Johnny takes the job of a newspaper delivery boy. He rides one of the fastest and most reliable horses on the wharf, which is named Goblin. Even the soldiers hand pick him to deliver their letters. Johnny Tremain takes you right into the action of the Boston Tea party and the biggining of the Revolutionary War. I would highly recomend that someone who likes historicle fiction. I think its a book that someone of any age would like. Its a really good book. Its even a Newbery Award winner. It is actually one of the best books I've ever read.

I've read Johnny Tremain several times, and each time I am fascinated by the characters. The town of Boston and the culture of the times also come to life in this story. Characters involved in the Revolutionary War seem like real people in Esther Forbe's portrayal -- such as John Adams; the English deserter "Pumpkin"; the typical un-famous soldier signified by "Rab"; and the tories & revolutionaries who harbor a large number of opinions on the English king and the revolt. The book provides a good smattering of men and women, boys and girls, each with their unique problems in that society. I enjoyed that the plot included more than just a reaction to a quickly-forming war, but also a family mystery, class conflict, coming-of-age romance, friendship, loyalty and even loss -- you know, all the good themes :) This story makes the Revolutionary War memorable. It does heroicize certain characters, but life includes heroes and there is enough black, white and gray in the myriad of personalities to learn about human nature. For someone who loves to read about people and ponder why they do what they do to make them who they are, this is a fun read. It is also for those who like the details that bring you into the sounds and smells and history of a place.

Johnny Tremain
Johnny Tremain is a book in which the author writes about the American Revolution. Johnny Tremain takes place in the city of Boston in 1773. Johnny is a boy who is 15 years old and lives in Boston. His mother died when he was 12 years old. Johnny works as a silversmith for a talented but old silversmith. Johnny is the most talented apprentice of the three
apprentices employed at the silversmith shop. He became involved in the American Revolution and the battles at Lexington and Concord.
Johnny Tremain is an excellent and fascinating book in which the plot is well spoken and traps the reader. You will never want to put this book down. Johnny Tremain is probably one of the best kid books in print today. It has an excellent retelling of history with accurate dates, titles, and cities from
American Revolution. It describes Boston with accurate titles for the wharves and hills around the Boston area.
You or a kid should read this book to entertain, while at the same time, learn about American history. This book is a historical fiction book, but it still has the right facts. Johnny Tremain is a excellent book about the American Revolution and an excellent kids book to read. Johnny Tremain is a great character to read about. You almost feel as if you are in Boston, in 1773. Esther Forbes does an excellent job in displaying Johnny Tremain in this classic book.
Johnny Tremain was first published in 1943 by Esther Forbes. It's copyright was renewed in 1971 by Linwood M. Erskine, Jr. Johnny Tremain captures the American Revolution in its first stages. The book, Johnny Tremain, won the Newbery medal and national acclaim when it was first published in 1943.

This book perpetuates the out and out LIES surrounding the Gettysburg address.

This quote says it all...

"The Gettysburg speech was at once the shortest and the most famous oration in American history... the highest emotion reduced to a few poetical phrases. Lincoln himself never even remotely approached it. It is genuinely stupendous. But let us not forget that it is poetry, not logic; beauty, not sense. Think of the argument in it.

Put it into the cold words of everyday.

The doctrine is simply this: that the Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg sacrificed their lives to the cause of self-determination -- that government of the people, by the people, for the people, should not perish from the earth.

It is difficult to imagine anything more untrue.

The Union soldiers in the battle actually fought *against* self-determination; it was the Confederates who fought for the right of their people to govern themselves."--

As Gary Willis tries to indicate in his introduction to this illustrated edition of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address," the reason it is the most important speech in American History is because until Lincoln made his few choice "remarks" at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Americans did not believe the principle that "all men are created equal" that is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. So while this is a sense that the Union Troops did not fight for self-determination, or to free the slaves for that matter, we now believe that they did and we do so because of what Lincoln said at Gettysburg (Willis develops this argument more comprehensively in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "Lincoln at Gettysburg"). This is what historicans mean when they talk about how Lincoln elevated the war to a higher level.

The speech is only 272 words long and is illustrated with a dozen marvelously detailed etchings by Michael McCurdy (he calls them drawings in his afterword, but since they are white on black I think of them as "etchings"). McCurdy depicts not only Lincoln speaking at Gettysburg, but also the actual battle and Lincoln's idealized vision of America. If students do not have the opportunity to hear "The Gettysburg Address" read out loud the first time they encounter it, then this book is a reasonable substitute for the experience.

I read this book aloud to my children. The text is simply the Gettysburg address, broken into phrases with an illustration for each thought. Two-thirds of the way through the book, I found myself weeping. The combination of Lincoln's eloquence and the illustrations touched me. I would recommend using this book to introduce students of any age to Lincoln's famous speech and the history associated with it.