The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls

March 15, 2020
Grades 3-6 The Story of . . . series (3 new titles) takes the narrative text from each author's well-regarded picture book on the biographee, incorporates facts previously appended, and inserts five multi-page presentations on related topics, effectively refashioning the original biographies for an old audience. These sections offer well-organized information as well as insights into the social and political challenges faced by the person profiled. Added topics discussed in Civil War Hero Robert Smalls (based on Halfmann's Seven Miles to Freedom, 2008) include slavery, ships in the 1800s, and causes of the Civil War. Appearing throughout the books, the black-and-white illustrations reproduce certain images from the picture-books and add well-chosen visuals such as period photos, drawings, prints, and/or maps. While the original picture books were intended for older primary-grade and younger middle-grade students, the new, smaller books are better designed to attract and inform middle-grade readers. These well-crafted, insightful biographies provide a useful historical context for each person's story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

February 28, 2020

Gr 2-5-This slim biography for young readers shares the remarkable story of Civil War hero Robert Smalls. Smalls was born into slavery in 1839 in Beaufort, SC. As a young man, he worked in the city of Charleston, where he was known for his skill as a sailor and navigator. As the Civil War began to heat up, Smalls began to dream about the possibility of gaining freedom for his family. He worked as the wheelman on a steamship called The Planter, and when the Union Army set up a blockade within sight of Charleston Harbor, Smalls devised a plan. At night, when the officers went ashore to sleep, Smalls and the crew snuck their families on board. Using Smalls's knowledge of secret steam whistle signals, they sailed the ship to the Union blockade and joined their side. Smalls went on to a very successful career in the Union Army, becoming the first African American captain of a United States vessel. Later, he became a member of the South Carolina and the United States Houses of Representatives. The daring escape of Smalls and his crew is exciting and well told, with just enough detail to hold the attention of younger readers who may just be learning about the Civil War. Interspersed throughout the chapters about Smalls's life are sections on slavery, the origins of the Civil War, steamships, and the story of Lear Green, who escaped from slavery by hiding in a steam trunk. Smith's abstract but evocative art enriches the factual details of Smalls's fascinating and exciting life story. VERDICT Recommended for purchase in libraries where biographies for younger readers are in demand.-Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood Public Library, MA

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