Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial (The History Makers Series) Hardcover – Picture Book, September 3, 2019

Delights, inspires, informs, and educates all at once! As a lifetime educator and double parent, I know how rare such books are. This is one of them. Lucky you if you get to read it to or with your child! Author Sweeney's sensitive story-telling, together with artist Fields's striking illustrations, make it enormous fun to follow the sculptor from his lively boyhood to his ultimate success with the Lincoln Memorial. Both author and illustrator have that magic ability to take a youth's point of view to profound material. This is the kind of book that takes a special place on the family shelf and gets reread for years.

This book provides a perfect bridge for connecting young people to such and accomplished and inspiring artist. The cover illustration reflects the wonder and awe both young and old feel when standing before the Lincoln memorial. Shawn Fields illustrations perfectly match the attentive detail the development of Daniel Chester French as the monument maker he became. A fun read with beautiful sketch-like illustrations!

I bought this book after I heard the author Linda Booth Sweeney speak. I love the way she weaves an important time in our history together with the life of this amazing American. We plan to give these as gifts to open the minds of several young family members. I look forward to reading this book over and over again.

Very nice illustrations and story to along with it telling a time to honor Abraham Lincoln.

Mom's ReviewMonument Maker came through our house because of the Cybils Awards. Had I not been a judge, I would have passed it over. The cover is grey and shows the Lincoln Memorial – not particularly eye-catching or exciting. I would have glanced at it and thought, "Huh. Don't really want to read about the Lincoln Memorial." And that would have been a mistake.Monument Maker isn't a story about the Lincoln Memorial itself, but about the man who designed it. One really ought to read subtitles. Daniel Chester French was a boy who loved to be outside and draw or sculpt. (Once he and his brother sculpted a huge lion out of snow that scared the neighbors.) As a young man, he continued to pursue his passion for sculpture, particularly when his study of law didn't work out. He studied drawing and sculpture, quickly making a name for himself as a sculptor. French's story is really well written; T and I didn't want to put it down. At times, the story is exciting and suspenseful; other parts showed events we identified with. French was likable. His family was loving and supportive. He followed his dream. That makes for good content. Sweeney's word craft made for great reading.I sure was wrong to judge Monument Maker by its cover! It turned out to be a compelling and enjoyable picture book biography. By the end, I even appreciated how the marble tones of the cover are appropriate to the topic. T and I had fun reading about a real person, were fascinated to learn how large sculptures are created, and were tickled to see places we know appear as important historic locations.Biography buffs, artists-in-the-making, and New Englanders will especially enjoy Monument Maker, but I encourage any readers to not overlook this hidden gem.The intended age has been listed as 8-12, though I'd probably label it 5-12.Son's Review(Age when reviewing: 4)I liked it. I liked how he made that statue, how he sent them in pieces because I've never heard of that. I felt all the feelings [while reading]. I felt angry because of the war and sad that Lincoln died.Note: A review copy was provided in conjunction with judging the Cybils.

This book hooked me with its opening lines: "History shapes our lives. Andwhat we do with our lives can shape history." When I visited Washington DC, I had only a few precious minutes to spend admiring the larger-than-life Lincoln Memorial. But it moved me. And learning about its creator in Sweeney's thoughtful book moved me, too. Kids (and adults) will sympathize with Daniel Chester French. As a child and young adult, Dan liked making things beautiful. But he didn't enjoy school and he didn't want to go into law like others in his family. Luckily, when he cleverly carved a dapper frog out of a turnip, his family recognized his talent and encouraged him. He began sculpting and taking drawing classes. He sculpted many monuments before, at age 65, he was commissioned to create the iconic Lincoln Memorial.Fields' drawings have beautiful depth and a sculptural quality, perfect for the subject matter. And the back matter expands on Dan's story with an extensive timeline and takes a deeper dive into the history of the memorial itself, including racial justice issues. For example, Sweeney notes that, at the dedication, "You would probably not have been surprised to hear that the lone African-American speaker, Robert Russa Moton, had been forced to rewrite his speech whenthe Lincoln Memorial Commission determined that his call for racial justice was too radical." I highly recommend this moving tribute.

Beautifully told biography that offers both the life story of Daniel Chester French, the sculptor who gave us the Lincoln Monument, and the historical context to understand the relevance of the time he lived. Small details such as Chester's brother also went off to war and quotes from famous neighbors help cement us in time and place. The influences on his life are palpable as is the thrill of his discovering his innate talents. Black and white textured illustrations provide an organic feel that mimics Chester's craft. A lovely pairing of words and art that introduces us to this little known artist while making an important historical period more accessible for children.

Beautifully written and illustrated.. this book transmits to the reader the inspired sensitivity the artist transmitted to his work and the sensations it evokes on the observer. It takes the reader through the everyday life of a giant artist from observation of the simplest details to the creation process of a sculpted work of art, from his early days to the completion of the Lincoln Memorial. I can't wait to see the Lincoln Memorial in person again.