Be Strong The Rise of Beloved

The Woman Who Sculpted Make Way for Ducklings

"...picture-book readers...will enjoy this introduction to the sculptor best known for her bronze renditions of the mallards in Make Way For Ducklings (that likewise waddle through Boston's Public Garden). Booklist

On a rainy day in October, 1987-perfect weather for a duck-a bronze sculpture of a duck family was installed in Boston's Public Garden. Based on Robert McCloskey's Caldecott award-winning book MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS, sculptor Nancy Schön created a kid-friendly sculpture. She wanted the duck family to be touchable and huggable, a sculpture that kids could climb around on.

The incredible journey from a book to a sculpture adds a new chapter in an inspiring new biography of Jewish-American sculptor Nancy Schön, BE STRONG. Large outdoor sculptures were a new venture for Nancy and the scale made the project incredibly difficult. The mother duck's head fell off. One duckling was the wrong size. She had to research how it looked inside of a duck's beak. Through the hard days of trying to create a new type of sculpture, Nancy clung to two words: Be Strong.

With an inspiring story of perseverance and dazzling sculptural illustrations, author Darcy Pattison's and illustrator Rich Davis's picture book, BE STRONG: The Rise of Beloved Public Art Sculptor Nancy Schön is an inspirational story for kids attempting anything difficult-art, building, creating, athletics, or life.

This authorized biography includes rich backmatter: historical photos and a biography of Nancy Schön. The McCloskey ducklings launched her career, but it's time to bring her whole career into the spotlight. This picture book biography brings Nancy's story-and encouragement-to children. It distills a lifetime of creative art into two inspiring words: Be Strong.

Children's book author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, two Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children's History Book award. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature. Her books have been translated into ten languages.

Rich Davis has illustrated the 18-book series, TINY (Penguin) by Cari Meister, early readers featuring a huge dog named Tiny. He has also illustrated FRIDAY COMES ON TUESDAY: An Adventure at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (University of Arkansas Press), The Aliens, Inc. series (Mims House) of chapter books, and a picture book, Greatest (Mims House).