Book Review: A Home for Mr. Emerson

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, B., & Fotheringham, E. (2014). A home for mr. Emerson. Scholastic Press.

ISBN: 0545350883

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The book tells the wonderful life story of Ralph Waldo Emerson, young boy who “longed to live amid broad, open fields and deep, still woods” and later went on to become a great writer. The story starts by sharing his life as a young boy and continues through the different stages of his life from meeting his wife to losing his home to a fire.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This biography is fantastic! Kerley and Fotheringham do an outstanding job of writing this book like a story not so much a biography, but it has all the components of a great biography. Kerley and Fotheringham provide readers with a joyful portray of Mr. Emerson’s through the use of inspirational quotes. As an added touch, the author’s note also gives readers additional information about Mr. Emerson, the influence he had on people, and how others helped support him through difficult life changing events. Another added touch to this remarkable book was the “Build a world of your own” section. In this part of the book, the authors included some inspiration quotes details ways in which Mr. Emerson build a world of his own that centered around things he loved. Through this story, readers get to learn more about Mr. Emerson as a person rather than as an iconic writer. This book has quickly become one of favorite biographies!

The illustrations in this book are beautiful! They help bring Mr. Emerson’s story to life by portraying his love for books and for the world he made his own. Using primary colors and many beautiful smiles, readers are able to get a glimpse into who Mr. Emerson really was. Each page centers around Mr. Emerson and a different stage in his life that he valued.  Kerley and Fotheringham incorporate a lot of nature into the illustrations.  Each illustration perfectly depicts the writings of this biography and they help share the influence Mr. Emerson had on his friends and neighbors.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

A Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner

An NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book

Starred review in School Library Journal: “This introduction to the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson will help readers begin to understand the thoughts and values of this great American thinker.”

Starred review in The Booklist: “is a tale of deep love for his home and community in Concord, Massachusetts.”

Starred review in Publisher’s Weekly: "Exuberant"

5. CONNECTIONS

* Using think/pair/share, engage readers to think about how they can build a world of their own. When done, they should discuss responses as a group and then with the class.

* Encourage readers to think about some of the different quotes used in this story. Which quote did they find most inspirational? Have students write a short narrative explaining their response.   

* Have student research Ralph Waldo Emerson a little more in depth. Ask them to share information that was not provided in this biography.

*Other books by Barbara Kerley

Kerley, B. (2007). Greetings from planet earth. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0439802032

Kerley, B., & Fotheringham, E. (2010). The extraordinary Mark Twain (according to SUSY). Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 0545341272

Review complete for SHSU MLA course

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