That Book Woman

An exquisitely illustrated paean to everyone who struggles to learn how to read, and to everyone who won't give up on them.

Cal is not the readin' type. Living way high up in the Appalachian Mountains, he'd rather help Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try some book learning. Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still reading some chicken scratch. But that Book Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes in the rain. She comes in the snow. She comes right up the side of the mountain, and Cal knows that's not easy riding. And all just to lend his sister some books. Why, that woman must be plain foolish--or is she braver than he ever thought?

That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that honors a special part of American history--the Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers of children see the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus made them into lifetime readers.

Author: Heather Henson
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 10/07/2008
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.84lbs
Size: 8.18h x 10.24w x 0.43d
ISBN: 9781416908128
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.3
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 124697 / That Book Woman


Award: Parents Choice Awards (Fall) (2008-Up) - Recommended
Award: Great Lakes Book Awards - Winner
Award: Christopher Awards - Winner
Award: Bluebonnet Awards - Nominee
Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Beehive Awards - Nominee
Award: Keystone to Reading Book Award - Nominee
Award: Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award - Nominee
Award: Golden Sower Award - Nominee
Award: Black-Eyed Susan Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
New York Times Book Review 02/15/2009 pg. 15
Kirkus Review - Children 09/01/2008 pg. 946
Booklist 09/15/2008 pg. 51
School Library Journal 10/01/2008 pg. 110
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2008 pg. 691
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2008 pg. 74 - Recommended
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2008
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2009 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Heather Henson lives on a farm in Kentucky with her husband and three children, is the managing director of the Pioneer Playhouse, and is the author of several critically acclaimed picture books and novels, including Dream of Night, The Whole Sky, and the Christopher Award-winning That Book Woman.

David Small is the Caldecott Award-winning illustrator of So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George. He also received Caldecott Honors for The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo. He's illustrated dozens of other award-winning books, including That Book Woman by Heather Henson and The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, and lives in Michigan with his wife, Sarah Stewart.