Swamp Angel

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Bibliography:

Isaacs, Anne, 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill by Paul Zelinsky. NewYork, NY: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 0525452710

Summary:

In 1815, larger than life Angelica Longrider was born in Tennessee.  Her daddy gave her an ax to gnaw on, and by age two used it to build her mother and father a log cabin.  Later, when she was only twelve years old a wagon train and its passengers got “mired in Dejection Swamp” and she came to their rescue, earning the nickname Swamp Angel.  In time, Tennessee was plagued with the likes of a gargantuan bear called Thundering Tarnation who was eating up the winter stores.  Voracious men set off to the task of getting rid of the nasty varmint, but not all the hunting was to be had by just the men.  Amid taunts that she should tend the mending and be making pies, Swamp Angel set out to deal with the likes of the pesky bear.  Much to the men’s dismay, Swamp Angel single-handedly got rid of Thundering Tarnation.  In the process of wrestling with “that bristled bear,” she created The Great Smoky Mountains, Ursa Major, and the Montana Shortgrass Prairie, thus enhancing her already immense character.

Critical Analysis:

Author Anne Isaacs has spun an amazing yarn in her original creation of an American tall tale.  She presents the reader Swamp Angel who is a hero with character of gargantuan proportions.  When she “was full grown, she was second to none in buckskin bravery, performing eye-popping wonders in the bogs and backwoods of Tennessee.”  Also, in keeping with the tall tale tradition Isaacs explains through lively actions, massive amounts of hyperbole, and humor how Swamp Angel created some of America’s natural wonders while whipping Thundering Tarnation, and in doing so becoming a heroine of Tennessee.

Illustrator Paul Zelinsky has brought the character of Swamp Angel to life in his primitive style of illustrations.  At once a reader can tell that Angelica Longrider is indeed larger than life and meant for great adventures.  The first page shows a family picture of dad standing next to mom who is holding Angelica when she was a baby.  However, this isn't any ordinary baby, she is huge!  Zelinsky illustrates a main character in proportions that show she is much bigger than ordinary things.  When two year old Angelica is building the log cabin, it looks as though she is playing with Lincoln Logs.  As she gets older and is known as Swamp Angel, Zelinsky shows her almost always having to squat or hunch over to emphasize her massiveness in everyday life.

Isaacs and Zelinsky have done an amazing job in keeping the tradition of American tall tales alive in this original tale.  They have created a tale that will have readers of all ages entertained in the outrageous shenanigans of a female hero and a feisty bear. It is only fitting that this book was awarded the Caldecott Honor in 1995!

Awards:

1995 Caldecott Honor Book

2013 Phoenix Picture Book Award by the Children's Literature Association

1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

1994 ALA Notable Book

New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 1994

School Library Journal Best Books of 1994

Booklist Children's Editors Choices 1994

Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 1994

Review Excerpts:

“This valiant heroine is certain to leave youngsters chuckling-and perhaps even keeping a close watch on the night sky.” –Publishers Weekly

“With its good-natured, larger-than-life heroine and broad, fanciful paintings, this original Tennessee tall tale is exhilarating and side-splittingly funny.” –School Library Journal

“It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's (The Wheels on the Bus, 1990) altered-state, American primitive paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading. To say that you are entering Caldecott land doesn't begin to do this book justice.” –Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

-Adapt this tall tale into a comic

-Adapt this tall tale into a reader’s theatre

-Read more tall tales, such as: Paul Bunyan, Stormalong Annie, Pecos Bill, Jonny Appleseed, and John Henry

-Write a tall tale using the author’s craft elements of hyperbole, simile, and metaphor