Calico and Tin Horns

Christiansen, Candace

ISBN 10: 0803711794 / ISBN 13: 9780803711792

Published by Dial, 1992

About this Item

The dust jacket has slight wear to the extremities and is unclipped ($16.00). 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 number line. Signed by Thomas Locker on the half-title page. Seller Inventory # 003578

Bibliographic Details

Title: Calico and Tin Horns

Publisher: Dial

Publication Date: 1992

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Thomas Locker

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition 1st Printing.

About this title

Synopsis:

Hannah's parents think that she is too young to be involved in their resistance against their unfair landlord, until the sheriff's posse comes after her father and Hannah is able to sound the warning signal

Reviews:

Grade 1-4-- A picture book based on Hudson Valley history. A preface explains that after the Revolutionary War, wealthy landowners failed to honor a promise to sell land to the farmers who worked it. After generations of such abuse, the farmers rebelled, and stopped turning over ``harvest rent'' to landowners. Dressed as local Indians in calico with leather masks, they banded together to fight evictions. The daughter of one such farmer, Hannah, who narrates, is curious about but excluded from the secret goings-on at home. Then, while berry-picking one day, she sees the sheriff and his men approaching her farm and manages to warn her family and others. The resulting confrontation is less of a surprise, the farmers finally force the sheriff into meeting their terms, and Hannah is praised by her father. Unfortunately, there are elements here that will puzzle readers. The pacing is erratic, and particularly abrupt at the big fight scene. Although it's easy to speculate, there is no explanation given for why the farmers chose the calico Indian disguise, and references to Native Americans are confusing. The preface doesn't help enough, yet without it, there's insufficient information to make sense out of the story. With supplementary material, the book might be useful for older children. Locker's panoramas don't particularly enliven the text, but do convey the summer beauty of the valley. --Leda Schubert, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In New York's Hudson River Valley in 1849, Hannah's father and brother join other farmers in a risky gambit to free their crops from a wealthy landowner. Like earlier Boston Tea Party patriots, these men dress in calico costumes to conceal their identity. Hannah, however, is too young to be involved in this derring-do-or so says her mother, until the resourceful youngster essays a critical role. Based on historical episodes, newcomer Christiansen's story is gratifyingly expressive, if a bit slow-moving; but her material perfectly suits Locker's painterly style. His title-page spread of storm clouds over the winding Hudson-the landlord's manor visible on a distant bank-subtly foreshadows the trouble to come, while his tranquil farm studies are warmly handled. The artist's human figures, though occasionally stiffly posed, evidence considerably more naturalism than those in his earlier works, and the theatrically rendered action scenes here burst with energy. A carefully researched text and sweeping artwork combine to lift the curtain on an all-but-forgotten 19th-century drama. All ages.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.