Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg.  Houghton Mifflin, 2011, 37 pages. 

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 9-12

Recommended for: Ages 4-8

On the subject of mature ladies doing extraordinary things, who could top Mrs. Annie Edson Taylor, the first human being to actually go over Niagra Falls in a barrel?  No kidding–in 1901, the 63-year-old, poor-but-respectable widow decided she could make her fortune by performing this daring feat and later touring the country lecturing about it.  She hired a publicist and a barrel-maker, planned every detail, and . . . did it!!  The aftermath didn’t quite work out like she expected, for Mrs. Taylor did not have a dashing stage presence–in fact her audiences simply could not believe this grandma was the famed Niagra Falls barrel-rider.  Soon enough, other daredevils followed in her footsteps and stole some of her thunder.  But Annie was the first, and that was always her consolation.  Too bad she couldn’t have had Chris Van Allsburg as her publicist, the author-illustrator of such household names as Jumanji and The Polar Express.  But his name alone should be enough to put Mrs. Taylor on the map again.  His monetary reward will be greater, but he’s earned it: the sepia-toned, pointillist style fleshes out a bygone era and compliments Annie’s stubborn, slightly dotty character.  The picture of her expression while going over the falls is priceless.

Cautions: none

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

  • Worldview/morality rating: n/a
  • Artistic value: 4.5
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Janie Cheaney

Janie is the VERY senior staff writer for Redeemed Reader, as well as a long-time contributor to WORLD Magazine and an author of nine books for children. The rest of the time she's long-distance smooching on her four grandchildren (not an easy task). She lives with her equally senior husband of almost-fifty years in the Ozarks of Missouri.

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3 Comments

  1. emily on June 3, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    From those of us who are homebound these days, Janie, thanks for suggestions to help us think vacationally, at least!

  2. Katie in Ohio on July 22, 2011 at 5:41 am

    Thanks for the recommendation of The Year We Were Famous…very fun read. I highly recommend it to other readers.

    • Janie Cheaney on July 22, 2011 at 12:08 pm

      Thanks for letting us know, Katie–I’m glad you liked it! (As you could tell, I did too)

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