Reviews
* BURLEIGH, Robert. The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. illus. by Barry Blitt. unpaged. chron. CIP. S & S/Atheneum. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-689-83041-9. LC 2010006512. Gr 4-8 What would Huck Finn have to say about his creator? Burleigh and Blitt take an unusual perspective in this picture-book biography. In Hucks colloquial voice, a portrait of Twain emerges that is engaging, accessible, and highly original. From his boyhood on the Mississippi, through his riverboat days, his writing and public speaking careers, and his adult family life, the main points of the writers life are covered. Blitts humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the tall-tale-inspired text. Rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor, the caricature style suits both Hucks voice and Twains life. The muted blues and browns of the palette have an old-fashioned quality that amplifies the 19th-century setting. The cover illustration, of Huck on a book raft paddling with a fountain pen, cleverly demonstrates the books premise. Although children will be entertained by the account, the most enthusiastic audience may be students familiar with Twains work. One does not need to know Hucks story to understand Twains, but doing so will increase appreciation for the ingenious nature of this collaboration. Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christophers School, Richmond, VA - School Library Journal March 1, 2011 STAR, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. Burleigh, Robert (Author) , Blitt, Barry (Illustrator) Mar 2011. 48 p. Atheneum, hardcover, $17.99. (9780689830419). The neat switcheroo in this picture-book biography has the story of Mark Twains life told by one of his most endearing characters, Huck Finn. As one might expect, Huck isnt the most articulate of narrators (I aint no highfalutin talker), and he would probably rather be doing just about anything else: This aint intendin to be some windy biografy. I dont lean much to writin, and I dont fetch to books much neither, specially long ones. Although Hucks narration is almost overwhelmingly folksy, his undeniably cheery tone is infectious. He succinctly traces Clemens life from a boyhood romping around the shores of the Mississippi to his odd-jobbing endeavors as a steamboat captain, newspaper reporter, soldier, and prospector until he finally finds his true calling, as a for-real writer, and becomes one of the most famous men in the world. Blitt, a frequent New Yorker cartoonist, provides jaunty, cartoony pen-andwatercolor artwork, with exaggerated, tall-tale figures and period charm aplenty. Just the biography to reinforce, or even introduce, Twains stature as a nearly mythological figure in American letters. Ian Chipman BOOKLIST , February 15, 2011, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. Burleigh, Robert (Author) , Blitt, Barry (Illustrator) Mar 2011. 48 p. Atheneum, hardcover, $17.99. (9780689830419). The neat switcheroo in this picture-book biography has the story of Mark Twain's life told by one of his most endearing characters, Huck Finn. As one might expect, Huck isn't the most articulate of narrators ("I ain't no highfalutin' talker"), and he would probably rather be doing just about anything else: "This ain't intendin' to be some windy biografy. I don't lean much to writin', and I don't fetch to books much neither, 'specially long ones." Although Huck's narration is almost overwhelmingly folksy, his undeniably cheery tone is infectious. He succinctly traces Clemens' life from a boyhood romping around the shores of the Mississippi to his odd-jobbing endeavors as a steamboat captain, newspaper reporter, soldier, and prospector until he finally finds his true calling, as a "for-real writer," and becomes one of the most famous men in the world. Blitt, a frequent New Yorker cartoonist, provides jaunty, cartoony pen-andwatercolor artwork, with exaggerated, tall-tale figures and period charm aplenty. Just the biography to reinforce, or even introduce, Twain's stature as a nearly mythological figure in American letters. - Ian Chipman BOOKLIST , February 15, 2011, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn Written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Barry Blitt (Atheneum; ISBN: 9780689830419; March 2011; Spring catalog p. 27) This playful biography of Mark Twain--narrated by his most famous of characters, Huckleberry Finn--begs to be read aloud with a backwoods twang. "Him bein' an author, you might 'spect he went to one of them fancy-pants schools people brag about. Heck, Sam hardly went to school at all! He growed up bein' poor, same as me, in a dusty village," declares Huck. Blitt (What's the Weather Inside?) contributes whimsical caricatures in pen, ink, and watercolor; a cherubic and ruddy-faced Huck, with a straw hat and a mop of hair over one eye, appears in each spread, appearing to play the dichotomous role of peeping tom and guardian angel (in one scene, he sprawls on a light fixture watching Twain write Huck's adventures as small cartoon figures of the characters paddle a raft right across Twain's pages). Enlarged and varied typefaces, used for emphasis and headings, may initially distract, but, as with the dialect, add to the delight. Burleigh's (Good-bye, Sheepie) book highlights the life of a great American author and is sure to whet readers' appetites for more about its straight-talking narrator. Ages 710. -- Publishers Weekly , February 14, 2011, *STAR, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. Burleigh, Robert (Author) , Blitt, Barry (Illustrator) Mar 2011. 48 p. Atheneum, hardcover, $17.99. (9780689830419). The neat switcheroo in this picture-book biography has the story of Mark Twain's life told by one of his most endearing characters, Huck Finn. As one might expect, Huck isn't the most articulate of narrators (I ain't no highfalutin' talker), and he would probably rather be doing just about anything else: This ain't intendin' to be some windy biografy. I don't lean much to writin', and I don't fetch to books much neither, 'specially long ones. Although Huck's narration is almost overwhelmingly folksy, his undeniably cheery tone is infectious. He succinctly traces Clemens' life from a boyhood romping around the shores of the Mississippi to his odd-jobbing endeavors as a steamboat captain, newspaper reporter, soldier, and prospector until he finally finds his true calling, as a for-real writer, and becomes one of the most famous men in the world. Blitt, a frequent New Yorker cartoonist, provides jaunty, cartoony pen-andwatercolor artwork, with exaggerated, tall-tale figures and period charm aplenty. Just the biography to reinforce, or even introduce, Twain's stature as a nearly mythological figure in American letters. - Ian Chipman BOOKLIST , February 15, 2011, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn Written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Barry Blitt (Atheneum; ISBN: 9780689830419; March 2011; Spring catalog p. 27) This playful biography of Mark Twain--narrated by his most famous of characters, Huckleberry Finn--begs to be read aloud with a backwoods twang. "Him bein' an author, you might 'spect he went to one of them fancy-pants schools people brag about. Heck, Sam hardly went to school at all! He growed up bein' poor, same as me, in a dusty village," declares Huck. Blitt (What's the Weather Inside?) contributes whimsical caricatures in pen, ink, and watercol∨ a cherubic and ruddy-faced Huck, with a straw hat and a mop of hair over one eye, appears in each spread, appearing to play the dichotomous role of peeping tom and guardian angel (in one scene, he sprawls on a light fixture watching Twain write Huck's adventures as small cartoon figures of the characters paddle a raft right across Twain's pages). Enlarged and varied typefaces, used for emphasis and headings, may initially distract, but, as with the dialect, add to the delight. Burleigh's (Good-bye, Sheepie) book highlights the life of a great American author and is sure to whet readers' appetites for more about its straight-talking narrator. Ages 7-10. -- Publishers Weekly , February 14, 2011, *STAR, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. Burleigh, Robert (Author) , Blitt, Barry (Illustrator) Mar 2011. 48 p. Atheneum, hardcover, $17.99. (9780689830419). The neat switcheroo in this picture-book biography has the story of Mark Twain's life told by one of his most endearing characters, Huck Finn. As one might expect, Huck isn't the most articulate of narrators ("I ain't no highfalutin' talker"), and he would probably rather be doing just about anything else: "This ain't intendin' to be some windy biografy. I don't lean much to writin', and I don't fetch to books much neither, 'specially long ones." Although Huck's narration is almost overwhelmingly folksy, his undeniably cheery tone is infectious. He succinctly traces Clemens' life from a boyhood romping around the shores of the Mississippi to his odd-jobbing endeavors as a steamboat captain, newspaper reporter, soldier, and prospector until he finally finds his true calling, as a "for-real writer," and becomes one of the most famous men in the world. Blitt, a frequent New Yorker cartoonist, provides jaunty, cartoony pen-andwatercolor artwork, with exaggerated, tall-tale figures and period charm aplenty. Just the biography to reinforce, or even introduce, Twain's stature as a nearly mythological figure in American letters. -- Ian Chipman BOOKLIST , February 15, 2011, * BURLEIGH, Robert. The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. illus. by Barry Blitt. unpaged. chron. CIP. S & S/Atheneum. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-689-83041-9. LC 2010006512. Gr 4-8 What would Huck Finn have to say about his creator? Burleigh and Blitt take an unusual perspective in this picture-book biography. In Huck's colloquial voice, a portrait of Twain emerges that is engaging, accessible, and highly original. From his boyhood on the Mississippi, through his riverboat days, his writing and public speaking careers, and his adult family life, the main points of the writer's life are covered. Blitt's humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the tall-tale-inspired text. Rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor, the caricature style suits both Huck's voice and Twain's life. The muted blues and browns of the palette have an old-fashioned quality that amplifies the 19th-century setting. The cover illustration, of Huck on a book raft paddling with a fountain pen, cleverly demonstrates the book's premise. Although children will be entertained by the account, the most enthusiastic audience may be students familiar with Twain's work. One does not need to know Huck's story to understand Twain's, but doing so will increase appreciation for the ingenious nature of this collaboration. Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA - School Library Journal March 1, 2011 STAR, * BURLEIGH, Robert. The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. illus. by Barry Blitt. unpaged. chron. CIP. S & S/Atheneum. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-689-83041-9. LC 2010006512. Gr 4-8 -What would Huck Finn have to say about his creator? Burleigh and Blitt take an unusual perspective in this picture-book biography. In Huck's colloquial voice, a portrait of Twain emerges that is engaging, accessible, and highly original. From his boyhood on the Mississippi, through his riverboat days, his writing and public speaking careers, and his adult family life, the main points of the writer's life are covered. Blitt's humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the tall-tale-inspired text. Rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor, the caricature style suits both Huck's voice and Twain's life. The muted blues and browns of the palette have an old-fashioned quality that amplifies the 19th-century setting. The cover illustration, of Huck on a book "raft" paddling with a fountain pen, cleverly demonstrates the book's premise. Although children will be entertained by the account, the most enthusiastic audience may be students familiar with Twain's work. One does not need to know Huck's story to understand Twain's, but doing so will increase appreciation for the ingenious nature of this collaboration. -Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA - School Library Journal March 1, 2011 STAR, * BURLEIGH, Robert. The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. illus. by Barry Blitt. unpaged. chron. CIP. S & S/Atheneum. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-689-83041-9. LC 2010006512. Gr 4-8 What would Huck Finn have to say about his creator? Burleigh and Blitt take an unusual perspective in this picture-book biography. In Huck's colloquial voice, a portrait of Twain emerges that is engaging, accessible, and highly original. From his boyhood on the Mississippi, through his riverboat days, his writing and public speaking careers, and his adult family life, the main points of the writer's life are covered. Blitt's humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the tall-tale-inspired text. Rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor, the caricature style suits both Huck's voice and Twain's life. The muted blues and browns of the palette have an old-fashioned quality that amplifies the 19th-century setting. The cover illustration, of Huck on a book "raft" paddling with a fountain pen, cleverly demonstrates the book's premise. Although children will be entertained by the account, the most enthusiastic audience may be students familiar with Twain's work. One does not need to know Huck's story to understand Twain's, but doing so will increase appreciation for the ingenious nature of this collaboration. Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA - School Library Journal March 1, 2011 STAR, The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn Written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Barry Blitt (Atheneum; ISBN: 9780689830419; March 2011; Spring catalog p. 27) This playful biography of Mark Twain--narrated by his most famous of characters, Huckleberry Finn--begs to be read aloud with a backwoods twang. "Him bein' an author, you might 'spect he went to one of them fancy-pants schools people brag about. Heck, Sam hardly went to school at all! He growed up bein' poor, same as me, in a dusty village," declares Huck. Blitt (What's the Weather Inside?) contributes whimsical caricatures in pen, ink, and watercolor; a cherubic and ruddy-faced Huck, with a straw hat and a mop of hair over one eye, appears in each spread, appearing to play the dichotomous role of peeping tom and guardian angel (in one scene, he sprawls on a light fixture watching Twain write Huck's adventures as small cartoon figures of the characters paddle a raft right across Twain's pages). Enlarged and varied typefaces, used for emphasis and headings, may initially distract, but, as with the dialect, add to the delight. Burleigh's (Good-bye, Sheepie) book highlights the life of a great American author and is sure to whet readers' appetites for more about its straight-talking narrator. Ages 7-10. -- Publishers Weekly , February 14, 2011, *STAR
