Illustrated children's books

Duane G. Jundt reviews two large format picture books, a biography, and a special issue of Cobblestone magazine, all devoted to the topic of Theodore Roosevelt. Jundt finds that the illustrations outshine the text in both To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt and in The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks. Jundt finds fault with some of the works for assigning heroic qualities to all of Roosevelt’s actions, but he notes that the works do reflect changes in historiography with their emphasis on Roosevelt’s commitment to conservation. He closes the review by sharing that all of the works under consideration highlight Roosevelt’s role as a father. 

A stereoscope card showing Roosevelt speaking, the front covers of Who Was Theodore Roosevelt? and Cobblestone magazine, and the logo of the Theodore Roosevelt Association populate the essay.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2014

Duane G. Jundt reviews six children’s books on Theodore Roosevelt for readers ages four and up. The titles include a novel, graphic novel, a large format picture book, and biographies. Jundt assesses each work with an emphasis on each title’s attention to historical accuracy, and he highlights the illustrations and their effectiveness in conveying the story found in each book. Jundt finds the oversized picture book biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, What to Do About Alice?, the best title in the group due largely to the illustrations of Ed Fotheringham. 

The essay is populated with seven illustrations from Cheryl Harness’s The Remarkable Rough-Riding Life of Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Empire America.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2010

Duane G. Jundt reviews six children’s books on Theodore Roosevelt and one on Ethel Derby Roosevelt published between 2003 and 2006 and intended for readers ages five to fourteen. Jundt looks at the historical errors and shortcomings of the titles, and he emphasizes the importance of the illustrations to these works aimed at young readers. Jundt also highlights the strengths of each title, and he notes where some works fall short not by what they include but by the topics they fail to address. A photograph of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt reading to two of her sons accompanies the review essay.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2007

Creator(s)

Jundt, Duane G. (Duane Gerald), 1965-

James F. Vivian reviews Moose Crossing, Max J. Skidmore’s history of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, and he laments, as does Skidmore, that the road better known as Highway 2 has few visible traces of the man for whom it was named. Charles Markis explains why the staff of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site created a children’s book for students who visit Theodore Roosevelt’s home, and he details the process of identifying the book’s theme, choosing illustrations, and publicizing the title. In a review of that work, Simply “Father”: Life with Theodore Roosevelt as Seen Through the Eyes of His Children, Natalie A. Naylor praises the layout and look of the work as well as its historical accuracy. The “Book Review” section closes with an announcement about the 2007 annual meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and notes that Lowell E. Baier’s article about the Elkhorn Ranch from the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal has been reprinted in the magazine of the Boone and Crockett Club.

The section includes three photographs of Roosevelt with his children at Sagamore Hill.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2007