PICTURE BOOK NONFICTION: Dancing Hands by Margarita Engle & Honey: The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln by Shari Swanson
ABOUT THE BOOK
As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.
Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?
REVIEW
Dancing Hands tells the tale of a young pianist whose skill on the piano helped comfort a president in the middle of a war. Teresa Carreno grew up in a household of music. She started learning to play the piano at a young age. But a war in her homeland of Venezuela, forced Teresa and her family to flee to the United States. Unfortunately, this did not free her from conflict as the United States was in the middle of a civil war of its own at the time. Still, her music helped her find a home in her new country. Her talent and skill led her to perform all over the country. When President Abraham Lincoln heard of her and requested a chance to hear her, Teresa was nervous. Things don't look particularly good when the piano turns out to be out of tune. Engle's poetic text is beautifully complimented by Lopez's beautiful illustrations. I especially enjoyed the pages depicting Teresa's complete absorption in her music. I think my favorite part though is the illustration showing Lincoln enjoying the beautiful music created by Teresa's dancing hands. A story of hope in a time of despair and heartbreak.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Deeply researched and charmingly told, this is the true story of one extra-special childhood rescue—a dog named Honey.
Long before Abraham Lincoln led the nation or signed the Emancipation Proclamation, he was just a barefoot kid running around Knob Creek, Kentucky, setting animals free from traps and snatching frogs out of the jaws of snakes.
One day, young Abe found a stray dog with a broken leg and named him Honey. He had no idea that the scruffy pup would find his way into Abe’s heart, become his best friend, and—one fateful day—save his life.
REVIEW
Despite all the books about Lincoln that I've read, this is a story I haven't heard before, which is what made me pick it up in the first place. The illustrations are darling and do a nice job of showing the tender relationship between the boy and the dog. The book tells an important story, as Abraham wouldn't have become president if Honey hadn't saved him. It was also fun to read about his affinity for animals. The author's note at the end shows how that love for animals was demonstrated in adulthood as well. As with many nonfiction picture books, there is no documentation or additional sources and the illustrations are of necessity fictionalized, but it's a fun, informative book nonetheless.
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