Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream (edition 2011)

This book is a dual text. One part of each page is an actual journal entry from Audubon, and the other part is the author's interpretation in poetry form. This book is an excellent mentor text to use when teaching primary sources as well as poetry. I am designing a lesson on primary source documents for social studies and will use this book as a model for my students. ( )

It was not until recently when I realized that I thoroughly enjoy biographies where the person of interest lives out his or her dream and is successful in doing so. Although, this seems like a theme that is strereotypical of fictional literature and its heroes, it is the nonfictional tales of the human spirit that I find to be the most rewarding reads.

Robert Burleigh's book was just as gratifying. Besides the conventional biographical information Burleigh conveys about John James Audubon, I think the author makes a point to share with readers Audubon's determination to fulfill his dreams and passionate love for nature. This is most evident through Burleigh's use of poetry to supplement the primary source text. The poetry helps to immerse readers into Audubon's world, as with each line readers get a sense of explorer's feelings and intentions while experiencing nature.

Wendell Minor's illustrations compliment Burleigh's text extraordinarily well. I feel that Minor's intentions were to give readers a sense of Audubon's perspective of nature. Each picture is beautifully drawn and takes into account how the explorer may have actually experienced the scenes he describes through his journal entries.

The only qualms I had with the book stem from the stereotypical view I have of biographies. Though this book does a great job of giving readers a brief summary of Audubon's life and fulfilment of his dream, it does not attempt to be very accurate nor is it highly informative in terms of other aspects of the explorer's life. In contrast with another biography of Audubon's life, Burleigh's book would perhaps benefit from a map following Audubon's travels or greater details about his personal life.

On the other hand, this book is primarily concerned with sharing Audubon's dream with readers, and does an excellent job doing just that.

As I have already done in a practice lesson, I would use this book in an upper grade English classroom as an example of the successful use of poetic voice to convey ninfictional information. In lower grades, I can see this book being paired with other books about Audubon to produce multiple lessons on nature, poetry, exploration, and/or nonfiction. ( )

This short picturebook uses rhyming couplets together with excerpts from his journals to tell a bit of the life of John James Audubon. Aimed at younger children, this book is beautifully illustrated with original paintings as well as reprints of some of Audubon's paintings. The book seems very accurate and even addresses some issues such as Audubon shooting birds he painted in the author's end notes. I think this might be a good introduction to Audubon for younger kids, and might be useful as the beginning of a unit on his life. ( )

This book tells the life of one of my heroes John James Audubon. It even includes some of his drawings. Anybody who has used oneAudubon society's books to identify a tree or bird will enjoy this story of the authors life. ( )

Get to know John James Audubon and his love for nature in this beautiful picture book. Interspersed in the text are sections from his own journal as well as his own sketches. Walk with him as he wonders at the beauty and detail of nature. Journey with Audubon as he decides to leave his father's dream for his futre and live his own dream. ( )