Diane Stanley
In twenty years of writing and illustrating, Diane Stanley has published more than thirty-five books for children of all ages. Stanley has collected countless awards along her creative path and written and illustrated an impressive number of books featuring powerful heroines that match the spirit of March's Women's history month.
Stanley's career has been influenced by the important women in her own life. The daughter of the writer, Fay Stanley, Diane grew up surrounded by artists. She studied medical illustration, but was unsure about this career. When she began reading aloud to her two young daughters, she knew children's book writing and illustration was everything she loved in one attractive package.
Stanley has transformed the biography genre of children's literature for eight to twelve year olds from novels with a few line drawings to appealing colorfully written and illustrated books that make children wonder and dream. So far she has completed twelve biographies, and four of these are about great female leaders Cleopatra (Morrow, 1994), Good Queen Bess (Morrow 2001) The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawaii (HarperCollins, 1998) and Joan of Arc (HarperCollins, 1998).
Generally it takes Stanley a full year to write and illustrate her biographies. During that time, she immerses herself in the world and point of view of her focus character. She learns much about her focus heroines. For example, she learned that Cleopatra wasn't the Elizabeth Taylor beauty she once imagined. Stanley is particularly aware of illustrative accuracy and providing precise historical context whether she's capturing the Egyptian and Roman columns of Cleopatra's era, or the pearls and gathers of Elizabeth I's bodice. The illustrations are the most challenging and time consuming for good reason. Stanley feels a child of today may be seeing something from the past for the first time, so it is absolutely necessary to make the pictures authentic. Her writing makes years of history and complicated events concise and intriguing. Being the first time deliverer of cultural literacy bears great responsibility.
Stanley is a writer who knows the power of story and chooses characters who have an interesting life story. "There are a lot of individuals who did many great things in history, but they're pretty boring as people." Stanley is deeply aware of her audience. She uses a warts-and-all approach in her biographies wanting to leave her young readers with both awe and flaw recognition.
Her keen responsibility and careful attention in non-fiction are balance in Stanley's playful fiction where her humor can be as rollicking as her biographies are serious. There's Sweetness, for example, a wise young Texas tyke who stars in two companion books Saving Sweetness (Putnam, 1996; ages 5-9 ) and Raising Sweetness (Putnam, 1999; ages 5-9). Stanley cuts loose with colorful images, strong dialect, and irony in these two tales of a young orphan who's gently guiding a clueless, caring sheriff who's trying to father her family of eight. Through Sweetness' eyes we watch these children suffer through tuna-fish soup and spaghetti with peanut butter because, as the narrating Sheriff puts it, as long as I got a biscuit, they got half. Stanley's love of laughter and words shine from these funny pages and the book is a dream to read aloud for anyone who loves to dramatize.
Diane Stanley's also turned familiar female fairy tale characters into admirable heroines. In 1997 she published Rumplestiltskin's Daughter (Morrow, 1997; ages 5-10) righting a literary wrong that had bothered her from childhood. I couldn't understand why anyone would marry someone who had just kidnapped you and forced you, under threat of death, to do something impossible. And why was the one person who helped her out portrayed as the heavy? In Stanley's sequel, the miller's daughter has escaped the king, married Rumpelstiltskin and had a daughter. At sixteen, this daughter is faced with the exact situation, but she cooks up a plan to change the greedy king and feed his starving farmers. The heroine's name: Hope!
Diane Stanley's latest feat is redeeming the maligned Goldilocks in her newest book, Goldie and the Three Bears (HarperCollins, 2003; ages 3-7). Goldilocks, always a shadowy villain, becomes real in this story. We know her right away, for we've seen the type of very particular child. Goldie "knew exactly what she liked--and what she didn't." Stanley's illustrations promptly fill in the blanks with illustrations as the golden maned moppet is shown ordering from a menu, I want plain pasta with just butter and no green things, please. Goldie wants her bath water, movies, and swing rides to be just right. She wants the perfect hat, a comfortable sweater, and shoes that don't pinch. This is a young woman who knows what she wants and she escapes being a prima donna because when Goldie loved something, she loved it with all her heart. She loves her favorite snack, book and cozy bed. And she's looking for the perfect friend, one she can love with all her heart.
Stanley serves her young audience well. She repeats this sweet catchy phrase, focuses on friendship which is always interesting to young children, and she remakes Goldie. Goldie doesn't enter the home of the bears as a break-and-enter boundary-pusher, she's just a lost young child who got off at the wrong bus stop, searching for comfort in a big, overwhelming world, and doing what she does best---discriminate! She goes through the strange home showing a preference for certain food, chairs, beds (without breaking a thing!) and finally discovers a little girl bear who prefers all the same things she does. Goldie's finally found a just-right friend and she knows this with all her heart!
Luckily for her many fans, Diane Stanley is an author who writes and illustrates for children of all ages with all her heart! Short Takes: Diane Stanley writes more than picture books! Currently she has several novels in print, all developmentally great for their intended audiences. For younger audiences there's Roughing It and Joining the Boston Tea Party (HarperCollins; ages 5-8) these two adventures feature the Time-traveling Twins, Liz and Lennie. For slightly older readers, there's Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine (HaperCollins; ages 9-12) in which Frannie and Beamer solve mysteries based on work of a horror story author. In A Time Apart (Morrow; ages 10-12) Thirteen-year-old Ginny is sent to live with her father in a reconstructed Iron Age village while her mother undergoes cancer treatments.
Contributor: Susie Wilde
For more information visit Diane Stanley at her own web site.
Reviews
Bard of Avon: the Story of William Shakespeare
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
Illustrated by Diane Stanley
A picture book with ample, engaging text, this biography expands the few documented facts on Shakespeare's life and wraps them with information from the Elizabethan Era. Well researched, this recounting provides a clear background for students. Authentic details are presented within the artwork and an excellent bibliography is included. 1992, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 7 up, $16.00 and $15.93. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-688-09108-3
ISBN: 0-688-09109-1
Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
IIllustrated by Diane Stanley
Told with warmth and humor, the adventures of Charles Dickens are fascinating for those who have read or seen a Dickens work, or those who plan to do so. The shadowy nightmares that mark the lives of so many Dickens characters were created from real people and events in the writer's own life. Here is the story of a truly gifted man with boundless energy and countless talents; an inspiration for all young writers. 1993, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 7 up, $15.00 and $14.93. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-688-09110-5
ISBN: 0-688-09111-3
Cleopatra
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by Peter Vennema
This poignant chronicle of the remarkable young Queen of Egypt is another historical thriller from the highly honored husband and wife team of Stanley and Vennema. Dramatic paintings, overflowing with details and contrasts, pull young readers into the kingdoms of Egypt and Rome. The images of Cleopatra, Caesar and Antony were taken from actual coins and statues that remain from that era, one hundred years before the birth of Christ. Maps, bibliography and challenging text blend in this memorable picture book. Readers are held, fascinated, as Cleopatra, more determined than beautiful, rebuilds the Egypt of the Ptolomies one last, glorious time. 1994, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 7 up, $15.00 and $14.93. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-688-10413-4
ISBN: 0-688-10414-2
Goldie
Diane Stanley
Here is a new Goldie who knows exactly what she likes and what she doesn't in life, which makes some things difficult for her. But when she loves something, it is "with all her heart." Her parents worry because she is happy without friends to play with. But Goldie only wants someone she can love "with all her heart." One day she gets off the bus at the wrong stop and arrives at a house where she has a rather familiar set of experiences finding a sandwich, a chair, and a bed that is "just right." The arrival of three bears, however, makes for a very different, happy ending. For Baby Bear turns out to be the friend Goldie is seeking who is "just right." Goldie is an appealing, curly-headed heroine painted in detailed settings appropriate to the story. Sequential vignettes of action are mixed with larger scenes of her sometimes humorous adventures. The teddy bears on the end papers, obviously something she loves, are like the one that accompanies her everywhere and is perhaps symbolic of the friend Goldie finds at last. 2003, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Capital Choices, 2003; The Capital Choices Committee; United States
Children's Choices, 2004; International Reading Association; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 2003; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Parent's Choice Award Recommended 2003 Picture Book United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Georgia Children's Picture Story Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Georgia
ISBN: 0-06-000008-2
ISBN: 0-06-000009-0
Good Queen Bess: The Story of Queen Elizabeth I of England
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
Author/illustrator Diane Stanley and her husband, Peter Vennema charmed us with Peter the Great and now they have brilliantly brought to life Elizabeth I of England. In a mere 40 pages the reader learns of Henry VIII and his wives, his falling out with the Pope, the birth of Elizabeth, her rise to power, the pageantry of her Court, and her astute political savvy. Ms Stanley's illustrations depict the grandeur of the Court and the magnificence of the Queen's costumes. 1990, Four Winds/S&S Childrens, Ages 9 to 11, $16.95. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-02-786810-9
Joan of Arc
Diane Stanley
Joan is a familiar figure in history, but understanding her and what was happening in Europe during her short life might be daunting. Diane Stanley has created a book that tells Joan's story and also explains the politics and warring parties within France, as well as the war between France and England. Joan of Arc came to the aid of her people when times were truly desperate. Her story is remarkable and tragic. The illustrations by Stanley show in great detail the costumes, interiors, countryside and residences of the rich and the poor. Her Joan emerges as a credible heroine who believed that she was destined to be the savior of France and that she was divinely inspired. The quotes in the book are taken from the trial transcripts. As Stanley says in her note "Sometimes, in studying history, we have to accept what we know and let the rest remain a mystery." It is a good introduction to this tumultuous period of history. 1998, Morrow, Ages 9 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-688-14329-6
Joining the Boston Tea Party
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by Holly Berry
In the second installment of "The Time-Traveling Twins" series, two precocious siblings, Liz and Lenny, join their grandmother and her dog, Moose, on an exciting journey back in time to pre-Revolutionary Boston. During their visit they learn all kinds of interesting things about colonial America, including how early Americans dressed, what they ate, how they lived, and where they slept. In fact, these eager time travelers become engaged in every aspect of life in 1773--they have tea with members of the Daughters of Liberty, they eat Indian pudding, they talk politics with relatives, they attend a meeting at the Old South Meeting House, and they disguise themselves as Mohawk Indians and help fellow colonists dump tea into Boston Harbor. After the success of the Boston Tea Party, the twins return home just in time to participate in the annual Fourth of July parade. Each double-page spread contains the story's narrative as well as animated artwork and humorous, yet informative conversation balloons. In addition to a fast-paced, eye-catching story, this book also contains a fascinating author's note and colorful end pages featuring a map of the thirteen colonies and a pictorial comparison of life in the late 1700s and today. American history truly comes to life with this wonderful volume. It really makes learning fun! 2001, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins, $15.95 and $15.89. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Debra Briatico (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Children's Choices, 2002; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-06-027067-5
ISBN: 0-06-027068-3
The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i
Fay Stanley
Illustrated by Diane Stanley
Stanley recounts the story of Hawaii's last heir to the throne, who was denied her right to rule when the monarchy was abolished. It is a fascinating piece of American history. 1992 Notable Children's Book. 1991, Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 up, $18.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-02-786785-4
Leonardo Da Vinci
Diane Stanley
Author/artist Diane Stanley presents a lifelike Leonardo Da Vinci from birth to his death at age 67 in 1519. Born out of wedlock in a village near Florence, Italy, Leonardo was unable to enter either the University of Florence or one of the "noble" professions such as medicine or law. He was apprenticed to the artist Andrea del Verrocchio who quickly recognized his artistic genius. Indeed, it is alleged that once Verrocchio realized Leonardo was superior to himself, he never again painted. It is the depth of her research that distinguishes Ms. Stanley's book. She read many volumes-some of them listed in her fine bibliography, and she traveled to Italy for further insights. Somehow she uncovered information to debunk the generally-held belief that Leonardo's backward writing was intended to discourage snoopers; she says he wrote that way because he was left-handed and found it convenient. Ms. Stanley's work as both biography and literature is about as good as it gets. 1996, Morrow, Ages 9 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
ISBN: 0-688-10437-1
ISBN: 0-688-10438-X
Michelangelo
Diane Stanley
In an age when constancy is rare, it is reassuring to know that Diane Stanley can be counted on to craft outstanding biographies. This time she turns her attention to the turbulent and volatile Renaissance era and the equally quarrelsome and obsessive Michelangelo. Evidence of her careful research and admiration for the genius of Michelangelo comes through in the lively narrative. Not only does she capture the spirit of the times and the man, she also reveals the power and influence of the Lorenzo De Medici, Savonarola and the difficult and demanding Popes Julius and Sixtus IV. Stanley ably relates Michelangelo's difficult youth, the generous patronage of the Medicis, the dominance of the Church, and the personality of the man of little humor who was driven by the need for perfection. While the text is meticulous and detailed, it is Stanley's full-page color illustrations that are outstanding. She easily captures the look and feel of 15th century Italy. Letting Michelangelo's art speak for itself, she blends her own touches into computer-generated photos of the delicate Pieta, magnificent David, and the powerful Sistine Chapel. This is a remarkable tribute to a great artist who saw his work as of "little value" and hoped it would "last a while." 2000, HarperCollins, $15.95 and $15.89. Ages 9 to Adult. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-688-15085-3
ISBN: 0-688-15086-1
Moe the Dog in Tropical Paradise
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by Elise Primavera
It's the dead of winter, and Moe the dog and his best friend Arlene have a week's vacation and no where to go. They'd like to go to someplace warm like a Caribbean island or Tahiti but can't afford it. Then Moe has a great idea-make his own warm-weather vacation spot right at home! Using a little bit of money and lots of ingenuity, Moe builds a "tropical paradise" in his living room. He then calls Arlene to surprise her with his homemade island getaway. Moe tells Arlene he went on vacation, and asks her to check to make sure he turned the lights off at his house. And bring your bathing suit, he adds. Arlene arrives at Moe's house to find him sipping a cool drink while lounging in the water in "Tropical Paradise." The two friends have a wonderful vacation together playing volleyball, reading, dancing and building a sand castle-without getting a sunburn. Next year, they plan to "go" to Egypt. While the illustrations in this book are colorful and very well done, the text leaves something to be desired. It's contrived, forced and not terribly original. 1999 (orig. 1992), Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 8, $5.99. Reviewer: Joni Lucas
ISBN: 0-399-22127-1
ISBN: 0-698-11761-1
The Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine
Diane Stanley
Bizarre things are happening in an elementary school. What used to be thought of as harmless fads are taking their toll on the students. There are numerous, negative side effects for those who read the "Chiller" book series by I. M. Fine. These side effects include an outbreak of excruciating headaches, children seeing ghosts and students slithering on the floor as snakes. Once Franny and Beamer realize that the author of the book is the cause of all these weird behaviors, they know they have to identify and then stop the author before Lynn's mother (who is Lynn and how does her mother fit in this story?) goes completely under Mrs. Tuggles' spell (who is this character?) In this book, Stanley cleverly interjects the effects that the power of the press has on people. Fans of R. L. Stine and Christopher Pike will enjoy this book and want to read more. It is an easy-to-read, fast paced, mystery of suspense that is written with humor. 2002, HarperTrophy/HarperCollins Publishers, $5.00. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature)
In this smartly plotted mystery, two middle-school kids investigate the strange effect of the "Chillers" horror series on their classmates. Franny, the new kid in town, is convinced that the books are responsible for the headache and seizure epidemics in Park Place Intermediate School. She convinces her new friend, Beamer, to help her figure out how to find the author, I. M. Fine. The stakes rise sharply when the next "Chillers" book causes potentially fatal reactions among young readers--but Franny and Beamer soon find that I. M. Fine's ultimate goal is more horrifying than anything they could imagine. Stanley puts the kids through a lot, but her characters are so resourceful that it's easy to believe every twist and turn of the story line. Every character in the book is well-drawn, even those who appear only briefly, and Stanley has a fine touch with dialogue. If this book isn't nominated for an Edgar Award, that would be the biggest mystery of all. 2001, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Donna Freedman (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001; Parent's Guide to Children's Media, Inc.; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, July 2001; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Golden Sower Award, 2003-2004; Nebraska South Carolina Book Awards, 2003-2004; Nominee; South Carolina
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2003; Nominee; Texas Volunteer State Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Tennessee
ISBN: 0-688-17546-5
ISBN: 0-06-029619-4
Peter the Great
Diane Stanley
This well-researched picture book biography of Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia (1672-1725) begins with his childhood surrounded by dwarf servants, trained monkeys, and dancing bears, moves on to his youthful fascination with ships and the culture of Europe, and concludes with his transformation of Russia into a European country and his building of the city of St. Petersburg before his death at the relatively young age of 53. The accompanying paintings display wonderfully detailed interiors, architectural details, and clothing. Originally published in 1986, this book would lend itself well to the study of history and cultural change. Peter's insatiable curiosity and energy are emphasized, although the cost of his ruthlessness is not glossed over. In the building of St. Petersburg, "Thousands of men lost their lives. The Russians called it a `city built on bones.'" A bibliography of sources consulted is included. 1999 (orig. 1986), Morrow, Ages 8 to 12, $16.00. Reviewer: Linnea Hendrickson
ISBN: 0-688-16708-X
Petrosinella: A Neapolitan Rapunzel
Retold and Illustrated by Diane Stanley
"Once upon a time...." How fitting that this fanciful Italian folktale, written two hundred years before the Grimms' Rapunzel and modified slightly by the author, begins with this classic line. A mean ogress tricks a pregnant woman, an intruder in her garden, into giving up her unborn child. Years later the ogress takes long-haired Petrosinella to a tall tower deep in the forest. Quick thinking by the heroine and her handsome prince, aided by magic acorns, prevails. Lovely illustrations of watercolor and colored inks depict the emotions and the true nature of the story's characters. 1995, Dial, Ages 5 to 8, $14.99, $14.89 and $5.99. Reviewer: Barbara B. Disckind
ISBN: 0-8037-1712-1
ISBN: 0-8037-1714-8
ISBN: 0-14-055491-2
Raising Sweetness
Diane Stanley
Diane Stanley's heroine of Saving Sweetness returns in Raising Sweetness to entertain readers with silly similes, colorful Texas slang, droll irony in the old West. The storyteller is the kindhearted sheriff who adopted Sweetness and seven other orphans in the first book. He was fairly clueless before he became a single father, but now he's really lost. He wonders why the kids turn up their noses at spaghetti with peanut butter and windows seem dirtier when cleaned with lard. He's particularly confused when a thing "full of squiggles and black marks" arrives at the house. Clever Sweetness recognizes it as a letter, learns to decipher the message, and writes a return letter to the sheriff's former sweetheart. Her efforts unite the couple, bring order to the house, and rescue the children from a life of mash potatoes and raisins! 1999, Putnam, Ages 4 to 9, $15.99. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-399-23225-7
Roughing it on the Oregon Trail
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by Holly Berry
After reading this delightful time-travel adventure, kids will be wishing their grandmothers, like Liz and Lenny's, had a magic hat. Not content to just talk about their ancestors, Grandma and the twins don appropriate clothing and experience history firsthand. Stanley's reputation for meticulous research is evident in the simple yet lively text that chronicles the adventure. Whether it is the cramped quarters of a covered wagon, the exuberance of a dance, the difficulties of fording a river, or the apprehension at meeting with Native Americans, Berry's full color illustrations capture the many moods and emotions. Deft touches of humor abound in both the text and pictures, along with snappy dialog between the pioneers and their modern-day counterparts. One minor flaw--the small print in the dialog balloons may present a problem for young readers. From the endpapers, with their contrast between the 1840s and the present-day Oregon Trail, to the text within, this is an example of what nonfiction for youngsters should be. Let's hope that Grandma can do for history what Ms. Frizzle has done for science. Pair this with Goodman's Ultimate Field Trip 4: A Week in the 1800s, for a truly unique, hands-on experience. 2000, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-06-027065-9
ISBN: 0-06-027066-7
Rumplestiltskin's Daughter
Diane Stanley
Diane Stanley brings us a new version of Rumplestiltskin with an ending many of us would have preferred. In this version, the original miller's daughter rejects the greedy king and marries the little man instead! 16 years later their daughter finds herself in the same straits as her mother but she has a plan or two of her own to change the dreary lives of everyone in the King's kingdom. When the King finally decides to make the girl his queen, she opts for becoming "Prime Minister," smart girl! The King's costumes are opulently comic. 1997, Morrow, Ages 7 to 10, $15.00 and $14.93. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-688-14327-X
ISBN: 0-688-14328-8
Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam
Diane Stanley
Saladin was born in 1138 in the town of Takrit on the Tigris River, also the birthplace of Saddam Hussein. But Saladin, whose story Diane Stanley recounts so elegantly, was a far different kind of leader. Saladin believed from childhood that Muslims, Jews and Christians should be able to live together in peace, even in Jerusalem, but the Crusaders from Europe literally slaughtered those dreams. Saladin led great armies into battle to reclaim land that had been under Muslim control for more than four centuries. The description of the battles and sieges is colorful and filled with action, complemented by exquisitely detailed illustrations in a decorative, medieval style. There is great attention paid to Saladin's integrity and decency even in the midst of war: "Muslims had never forgotten the shocking massacre that marked the Christian takeover of Jerusalem in 1099...Yet Saladin did not seek revenge... Even the Christian chroniclers admit that none of their people was mistreated." Aided by a long list of primary and secondary sources, Stanley tells the dramatic story of the Crusades from a non-western perspective. The book should have a wide appeal because the characters are interesting and sometimes familiar (Richard the Lion Hearted) and there is plenty of action and battle detail. Young people will gain a much richer understanding of how the Crusades cast "a shadow of hatred and mistrust ... over this great land, holy to three faiths. A thousand years later, it is still there." 2002, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2002; The Capitol Choices Committee;
United States Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2002; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2003; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2002; Cahners; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 5, 2002; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Biographies for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Title 2003 United States
Parent's Choice Award Recommended 2002 Story Book United States
ISBN: 0-688-17135-4
ISBN: 0-688-17136-2
Saving Sweetness
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Humor abounds in this tongue-in-cheek tale of a sweet little orphan who saves the local sheriff and ends up convincing him to become her new Pa. Sweetness runs away from the orphanage and mean Mrs. Sump demands that the sheriff find her. He heads off into the desert and ends up in one dire situation after another, but never fear, Sweetness comes to the rescue. It is a great read aloud selection, and kids will enjoy the child-like, gouache, acrylic and pencil drawings in muted desert tones. 1996, Putnam, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-399-22645-1
Sleeping Ugly
Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Diane Stanley
Does using a sleeping princess as a conversation piece sound weird to you? Well, almost everything about Jane Yolen's farcical story is intended to turn fairy tale motifs on their ear. The beautiful princess is rotten to the core and ends up lost in the forest. She's assisted by a fairy, but ungrateful. They call on Plain Jane for assistance and she gladly helps. For her kindness, the fairy grants Jane three wishes which Jane uses to help the awful princess. The princess's lack of gratitude is responsible for putting them into a deep sleep. When a prince comes to rescue them, he chooses Jane as the object of his affection. He has no money, so they live out their life in Jane's cottage with the sleeping princess as a conversation piece. This irreverant look at fairy tales still has the prince saving the damsel in distress, but love is no longer based on beauty or status. Stanley's playful illustrations heighten the humor of the book and give it a distinctly modern setting in the end. 1997 (orig. 1995), PaperStar, Ages 7 to 10, $7.56 and $5.95. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
ISBN: 0-395-73227-1
ISBN: 0-698-11560-0
A Time Apart
Diane Stanley
When Ginny's mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, their life together in Houston is shattered. She sends Ginny to London to stay with a father she hardly knows. To make matters worse, he is in charge of a university project, an Iron Age farm. With little correspondence from her mother and trying to adjust to life without modern conveniences, Ginny also finds communication with her father difficult. Readers will empathize with Ginny and celebrate her achievements on the farm. However, they will understand her need to run away from the farm and return to Houston to learn more about her mother's condition. Her mother's cancer treatment is dealt with in a realistic manner. Filled with fascinating details of Iron Age living, and a realistic treatment of Ginny's mother's cancer, this story is certain to pique the readers' interest. Unfortunately, the story becomes entangled by too many themes, and there are too many characters, some of whom are very one-dimensional. 1999, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 10 to 14, $16.00. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-688-16997-X
The True Adventure of Daniel Hall
Diane Stanley
Daniel Hall leaves his home in New Bedford (at the age of 14) for a three year whaling job which takes him to the Arctic. Unfortunately, his dreams of a great life at sea are dashed when he has a run-in with his unpredictable, cruel captain. After two years of horrible treatment, Daniel decides to abandon ship on the frigid shores of Siberia. The rest of the book describes how Daniel survives the Siberian winter and is finally reunited with his family. Stanley presents a fascinating look at the life of this brave young man. 1995, Dial, Ages 6 to 12, $15.99 and $15.89. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph
ISBN: 0-8037-1468-8
ISBN: 0-8037-1469-6
Added 2003
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