Review by Booklist Review
Born into slavery, Elizabeth Keckly worked hard from childhood onward, first under those who enslaved her and later to provide for her family. As a skilled seamstress in St. Louis, she was able to buy freedom for herself and her son after borrowing the money from loyal clients. In 1860, after moving to Washington, DC, she designed and made dresses for the wives of the political elite. Mary Todd Lincoln became a close friend over the next few years, when each was stricken by the death of a son and President Lincoln was assassinated as well. Keckly later wrote a memoir, but she died in poverty. In this picture book, the use of italics indicates quotes from Keckly's memoir and differentiates them from Schofield-Morrison's words. The interplay works well, offering Keckly's viewpoint within an account that speaks to children today. Created with mixed media, including oil paint, paper, textured fabric, ribbon, appliqué, embroidery, and lace, Zunon's handsome illustrations suggest the subject's times as well as her talents. A fitting introduction to a remarkable woman.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Featuring plentiful italicized block quotes from Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly's (1818--1907) memoir, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House, this picture book biography centers the Black seamstress's indomitable spirit, from being "born a slave," buying her freedom and that of her son with her dressmaking skills, and sewing for D.C.'s elite, including First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Schofield-Morrison offers accessible, starkly rendered prose, highlighting accounts of Lizzy witnessing an auction of an enslaved child and being "brutally beaten," alongside historical context. Employing the chorus "stitch by stitch," Schofield-Morrison emphasizes Keckly's resolve: "Lizzy agreed to receive money from her patrons only under the condition that she would repay them... stitch by stitch." Zunon embroiders Keckly's oft-difficult life story across lush, multilayered mixed-media spreads, featuring a beguiling tapestry of oil paint, paper, fabric, ribbon, embroidery, lace, and appliqué, in this sobering profile. Back matter features an author's note, timeline, and bibliography. Ages 7--10. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--This picture book biography is a heroine's journey from slavery to freedom. Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hobbs Keckly (1818--1907) was born into slavery in Virginia. She learned to read, write, and sew from her mother, amidst the brutality and sorrow of slavery. Lizzy became an accomplished seamstress and her skills enabled her to support herself and even buy her own freedom after 37 years of slavery. She established her own dress shop as a free woman and acquired high-profile clients, becoming First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker. Quotes from Lizzy's autobiography are scattered throughout the narrative, and are given a powerful presence on the page through the skillful use of text and font styles. Repetitive phrasing highlights the connection of her livelihood to her freedom. Readers can find out more about Lizzy's accomplishments, such as creating opportunities and associations for other African American women and children, in the author's notes, time line, and bibliography in the back matter. The illustrations are a remarkable collage of painted scenes that are combined with decorative paper, fabric, lace, ribbon, braid trim, and intricate embroidery. This creates a three-dimensional presentation that brings to life the creativity and craftsmanship of Lizzy's dresses. VERDICT A title that stitches together the journey of a determined and resilient heroine from the past. An essential purchase that will strengthen all biography collections.--Rita Christensen, Orem P.L., UT
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Review by Horn Book Review
Born into slavery, Elizabeth Keckly (sometimes spelled Keckley) followed in her mother's footsteps as a seamstress and dressmaker, eventually earning the twelve hundred dollars she needed to buy her and her son's freedom. One the eve of the Civil War she moved from St. Louis to Washington, where her work caught the attention of the wives of leaders on both sides of the growing conflict -- Varina Davis, wife of Jefferson Davis; Mary Anna Custis Lee, wife of Robert E. Lee; and Mary Todd Lincoln. When Keckly's party dress for Mrs. Lincoln was a success, she was commissioned to make at least fifteen more over the next couple of years. Schofield-Morrison's (I Got the Christmas Spirit, rev. 11/18) text effectively combines a third-person narrative with italicized, unflinching first-person quotations drawn from Keckly's memoir, Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House. The refrain "stitch by stitch" runs throughout the text, a thread complemented by Zunon's (I Am Farmer, rev. 1/19; Off to See the Sea, rev. 1/21) illustrations using a variety of media, including fabric, lace, ribbon, and applique. A handsome introduction to a remarkable woman and her craft. An author's note and a bibliography are appended. Dean Schneider November/December 2021 p.140(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Schofield-Morrison fashions a poignant tribute to the remarkable life and craft of Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hobbs Keckly, a formerly enslaved woman who broke the color line in haute couture. In straightforward prose seamlessly woven through with excerpts from Keckly's 1868 autobiography, the text traces Keckly's unlikely journey from a slave plantation to the White House. Born enslaved in Virginia in 1818, she survived a childhood of unutterable cruelty but set her mind to learning the craft of sewing from her mother. Sent by her master to work for a White tailor without pay, Keckly endured further hardships, but her talent and toil eventually earned her a clientele of affluent women. After purchasing freedom for herself and her son, she went on to become a successful businesswoman, highly sought-after tailoress, and trendsetting fashionista, even serving as the official dresser for first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Zunon's breathtaking and masterful mixed-media illustrations--incorporating oil, paint, fabric, ribbon, paper, embroidery, and appliqué--beautifully capture the artistry of Keckly's dresses. A dazzling picture book cut through with the thread and thrum of an inspiring but unsung life. (author's note, timeline, bibliography) (Picture book biography. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
