Discover your next great read with our book reviews
Cover of Eleanor

Eleanor

by Barbara Cooney

Book Details

Publisher:Penguin
Published:1999-09-01
Pages:42
Format:BOOK
Language:en
ISBN:9780140555837

Reading Info

About This Book

Though she came from a wealthy and privileged family, Eleanor Roosevelt grew up in a cheerless household that left her lonely and shy. Years passed before Eleanor began to discover in herself the qualities of intelligence, compassion, and strength that made her a remarkable woman. In Eleanor, two-time Caldecott Medal winner Barbara Cooney paints a meticulously researched, lushly detailed picture of Eleanor's childhood world--but most importantly, she captures the essence of the little girl whose

Our Review

This biography traces the difficult early years of a future First Lady, revealing how a lonely, shy child from a privileged but emotionally cold family gradually discovered her own strength. Barbara Cooney's meticulous research and signature illustration style bring Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood world to life with rich historical detail and emotional depth, focusing on the formative experiences that shaped her character long before she entered the White House.

What makes this portrait particularly compelling is how it captures the quiet emergence of resilience, showing young Eleanor developing the compassion and intelligence that would later define her humanitarian work. The narrative doesn't shy away from the sadness of her early life, but ultimately reveals how those very struggles forged the remarkable woman she would become. Teen readers navigating their own challenges will find inspiration in this honest account of personal growth.

Themes

Juvenile Nonfiction

Subjects

Juvenile Nonfiction