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Queen of the Falls

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 1,127 ratings · 221 reviews

She could remember standing in a park near the falls, hypnotized by the sight and sound, and holding her father’s hand as they took a walk that would lead them closer. That’s what everyone wonders when they see Niagara . . . How close will their courage let them get to it?

At the turn of the nineteenth century, a retired sixty-two-year-old charm school instructor named Ann...more

Hardcover, 38 pages

Published April 4th 2011 by Houghton Mifflin

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2012 Mock Caldecott

10th out of 82 books — 166 voters

Newbery 2012

45th out of 136 books — 554 voters

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Jan 14, 2011 Betsy rated it 5 of 5 stars

The word “daredevil” conjures up different images for different people. Speaking for myself, when I hear it I instantly picture someone like Evel Knievel leaping over cars on a motorcycle. I do not picture sixty-two year old charm school matrons climbing into barrels. The name “Chris Van Allsburg” also conjures up a variety of interesting images. A person might think of his books The Mysteries of Harris Burdick or The Sweetest Fig (or, my personal favorite, The Stranger). And until now, they als...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-award-possibilities, picturebooks

Weird book. What an unlikeable protagonist.

Apparently, reading about enclosed spaces and ESPECIALLY enclosed spaces in water freaks me out almost the way some people get freaked out just reading about spiders and rats and stuff like that, which I've never completely understood. I kind of wanted to throw up a little the first time I read this, even though I knew the outcome would be okay. I kept putting myself in the place of Annie, and also in the place of the people opening the barrel, who DIDN...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Julia Jasztal rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mommy's review from 12/11/11 -

I understand what the author was trying to do with this and it definitely is written well.... but I don't know that this women is a great person to feature in such a manner.
It seems like everyone is forgetting that what she did could have killed her. That what she did, some would argue because of what she did has, in fact, killed people.
No one had ever gone over Niagara Falls in any type of vessel before this woman, Annie Edson Taylor, did just that in 1901. Why di...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Sarah Hutchinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographical-picture-book

This book is about the miraculous and adventurous journey of Annie Edison Taylor. When Annie was sixty two she decided that after all her years of being a dance and manners instructor she was going to become rich by creating a barrel that she could ride over Niagara Falls in. In 1901 she took this great trip over the falls in only a wooden barrel stuffed with pillows. She survived but her claim to fame but it did not make her rich. It turned out that people were more interested in the barrel she...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Ch13_megan Carlisle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fic

Queen of the Falls tells the story of Annie Edson Taylor, a 62 year old charm school teacher who was down on her luck. She dreamed of adventure, fame and fortune but could quite figure out how to achieve them. Then one day she got it! All she needed to do was travel down Niagara Falls in a specially constructed barrel...and live! Will she do it? Will she survive? And if so, will her dreams come true?

Van Allsburg tells the true story of the first woman to go over Niagara falls alone. She is depic...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Kayla Krecklow rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first read about this book I couldn't believe that it could be an autobiography or biography. Nobody would ever put themselves in a wooden barrel and throw themselves over a waterfall as tall as a seventeen story building. However, after doing a little research I found the story was fiction and was happy that this never actually happened to an elderly woman.

The story is about a sixty-two year old teacher who didn't have enough students to keep her school open anymore so is decided what to...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Emily Duncan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

If you lived in the early 1900’s what would be the most adventurous thing you could do? Skydiving, hang gliding, and bungee jumping were not invented yet. Ever thought about falling down a waterfall? In 1901, is you wanted to be famous the best way to get your name in lights was to go over the one of the largest waterfalls in American, in a wooden barrel. In Chris Van Allsburg’s Queen of the Falls, 62 year old Annie Edson Taylor is seeking that fame and fortune. After Annie’s Charm School goes o...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographical-picture-book

I personally had no idea that anyone had ever gone over the falls in a barrel, particularly an elderly woman. That being said, the idea of this book will absolutely fascinate kids. This is a much more compelling biographical story than others like it, because students rarely learn about true stories in which the protagonist doesn't really get recognition in the course of the book. However, it still has the simple message that just because you're an underdog, that doesn't mean that you cannot acc...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Brittney Griffith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

The illustrations by Chris Van Allsburg are absolutely breathtaking. A few of the pictures look so realistic that you feel that these characters are real people being photographed. The amazing detail in the illustrations of Niagra Falls are so impeccable that I feel like I am viewing a real snapshot of the rapid waters. The illustrations do not completely stay on the full realistic side of the spectrum, however. I think this is a great technique by Mr. Van Allsburg. He keeps a sense of childlike...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Tami rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-aloud-recommendation, picture-books-for-any-age

My first exposure to Chris van Allsburg was in 1985 when a family for whom I babysat gave me a copy of The Polar Express, which had just been published and won the Caldecott Award (for illustrating children’s literature). Like most others who have since read and enjoyed the book I was mesmerized by the illustrations and the story combined. It was later the first Chris van Allsburg book I read to my children.

I have seen the movie JUMANJI (made in 1995, starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, David...more My first exposure to Chris van Allsburg was in 1985 when a family for whom I babysat gave me a copy of The Polar Express, which had just been published and won the Caldecott Award (for illustrating children’s literature). Like most others who have since read and enjoyed the book I was mesmerized by the illustrations and the story combined. It was later the first Chris van Allsburg book I read to my children.

I have seen the movie JUMANJI (made in 1995, starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, David Alan Grier and a young Kirsten Dunst–with Bebe Neuwirth in a small role as well), but did not realize it was based on another picture book by Chris van Allsburg (published in 1981). Recently I checked out Jumanji from the library, as well as its sequel Zathura (published in 2002).

Jumanji also won the Caldecott Award for its illustrations and it was well-deserved. The illustrations in both books are black and white and amazing in their depth and detail. I read these as bedtime stories with my children (who are 7 and 8, going into 2nd & 3rd Grade). Both children were fascinated with the story of a board game coming alive in such a wildly adventurous way. As soon as we finished Jumanji they wanted to read Zathura. Zathura continues the story of Jumanji with another pair of siblings finding the same game. When these brothers play the game they are thrust into a space, rather than a jungle, adventure. Jumanji has the stronger story line, but both books held my children entranced from beginning to end.

Van Allsburg’s newest book is Queen of the Falls. It is the story of Annie Taylor, the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. We read this as a family for a bedtime story this evening and all four of us really enjoyed the story. As adults, my husband and I were familiar with the idea of going over the falls in a barrel, and knew that some people had done it, but neither of us knew anything about the first person to do so. Our children were fascinated by the whole idea. The vocabulary and details in the story are exciting and keep the story moving. Our entire family enjoyed the story and it gave us a new topic for discussion after we had finished reading–as well as the childrens’ request to visit Niagara Falls. The illustrations do not disappoint fans of Van Allsburg. They are black and white and rich in detail and substance. The confusion of the 1901 public when confronted with the contradiction of Annie’s actions and her appearance–a key element of her story–is captured perfectly in the illustrations.

There is quite a lot of text on each page so these picture books are great for older children. They are great choices for independent reads and for read-alouds at home and in the classroom. Van Allsburg’s body of work includes many other picture books as well, but these are the ones with which I am the most familiar.

I think it’s important not to forget about picture books when children progress to reading chapter books. They are still a great imagination tool–especially in the hands of those such as Chris van Allsburg.
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Mar 03, 2012 Bdalton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-biography

Chris Van Allsburg has won the Caldecott medal for picture book fiction and received two Caldecott Honor medals as well. This is his first venture into juvenile non-fiction. He chooses a story that has many fantasical elements, similar to his fiction work. it is a story that will resonant with many American's who are facing financial hardtimes.

It's the turn of the last century (1901). Annie Taylor is a retired dance instructor from Michigan. She doesn't have much money saved for retirement and...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Josiah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Chris Van Allsburg's illustrating work in this book is enough to inspire some real moments of "Wow". A few of his drawings of Niagara Falls, in particular, are so brilliantly evocative that I could practically hear the deafening roar of the crashing waters falling from the seventeen-story height of the massive falls, and share in a portion of the escalating apprehension among the spectators as they helplessly watch a middle-aged woman go over the waterfall all by herself in a wooden barrel. Chr...more Chris Van Allsburg's illustrating work in this book is enough to inspire some real moments of "Wow". A few of his drawings of Niagara Falls, in particular, are so brilliantly evocative that I could practically hear the deafening roar of the crashing waters falling from the seventeen-story height of the massive falls, and share in a portion of the escalating apprehension among the spectators as they helplessly watch a middle-aged woman go over the waterfall all by herself in a wooden barrel. Chris Van Allsburg has created some astonishing moments in this book.

Sort of a biography of a lesser-known public figure, Queen of the Falls tells the story of Annie Taylor, a teacher at a charm school for children whose fortunes begin to decline when her school shuts down due to lack of interest and she is rendered unemployed. Ms. Taylor is probably the last person that one would expect to formulate the daredevil idea of going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, becoming the first person to ever try the trick, but this is exactly the plan that she hits upon to reverse her bad luck and get herself started down the path to fame and fortune. If she is to have any hope of surviving such a fall in order to actually gain from her bold risk, though, a lot of careful planning will have to go into the effort.

As the day of her big stunt arrives, Ms. Taylor proves her mettle simply by getting into the barrel and allowing her handlers to push her into the river. As the current increases its speed and the point of no return is reached, Annie Taylor steels herself for what will, in all likelihood, be the end of her life. The gathered crowd looks on in nervous expectation as the barrel teeters on the lip of the falls, turns, and plunges to the bottom...

Chris Van Allsburg has done some really nice things with this book, both in the story and illustrations. Queen of the Falls teaches us something about the nature of courage, that it can be found even in the seemingly most unlikely places. If we're willing to take a chance on something that's really important to us, then we can even find it inside ourselves. All in all, I definitely recommend this book for fans of Chris Van Allsburg's haunting, dreamlike style of artwork, and I would probably give it the full two stars. (less)

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Feb 02, 2012 Jessica Richards rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: caldecott-winner

The book Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg is an exhilarating story about a woman who dared to do what no one else had done before. The story set in 1901 is about an amazing woman named Annie Edson Taylor who on her birthday decided to do what no one else had ever done and take a plunge down Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Annie who was 62 at the time and a once prep school teacher, thought that this great plunge would bring her fame and fortune beyond her wildest dreams but Annie was v...more The book Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg is an exhilarating story about a woman who dared to do what no one else had done before. The story set in 1901 is about an amazing woman named Annie Edson Taylor who on her birthday decided to do what no one else had ever done and take a plunge down Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Annie who was 62 at the time and a once prep school teacher, thought that this great plunge would bring her fame and fortune beyond her wildest dreams but Annie was very wrong. Annie even had people pay for the barrel that she would ride down the falls in. She found that after the fall when she spoke to crowds no one would listen and people even went as far as to try to steal her beloved barrel. In fact no one really wanted to hear of her story at all until about ten years later when a man, who happened to be a reporter, asked her to relive her story to him.

I loved this book and I think it would be great to read to a group of fifth graders to learn about courage and strength. It is also a great book for girls to read so that they feel that they have a woman role model who was strong and courageous. The text in this book reads just like the story of her life as she would tell it. The book was read from the perspective of someone telling Annie's story. This would also be a great book to learn about history and people from the past that have been known for something famous.

I strongly believe that this book should have won the Caldecott award for its marvelous illustrations. First of all the books illustrations are a perfect description of the text on each page. Basically the picture was an exact summary of what was being talked about on that particular page. The illustrations look as if they are made from pencil drawing which shows the great detail that the illustrator puts into each of the pencil marks he makes. The pictures are so real and look as if they could come alive at any moment in time. The illustrator seems to portray the early era of the book perfectly by the black and white pictures. I simply could get lost in the detail that he adds in the faces of the people and the small details add that extra special something to each of the pictures. For example one picture in the book is of a woman reading a a newspaper and you can see the wrinkles in her face and the small details of the newspapers. (less)

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Jan 27, 2012 Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Robert by: Michelle Fralinger

Shelves: van-allsburg, biography, author-study, nonfiction, 4-0, women, read-aloud

My daughter announced this morning that she had to read a biography by Tuesday for a book report. This is the first I heard of it. I asked her what book she was reading. She said she had a biography about Miley Cyrus. Yeah, that's not going to happen. I asked her if her teacher had agreed to it. Beetle acted shamefacedly; she informed me that she had drawn all over her book. She knows better.

After dropping her off, I headed to work. I asked a colleague of mine, a second grade teacher, if she wou...more My daughter announced this morning that she had to read a biography by Tuesday for a book report. This is the first I heard of it. I asked her what book she was reading. She said she had a biography about Miley Cyrus. Yeah, that's not going to happen. I asked her if her teacher had agreed to it. Beetle acted shamefacedly; she informed me that she had drawn all over her book. She knows better.

After dropping her off, I headed to work. I asked a colleague of mine, a second grade teacher, if she would recommend a biography or two. A little while later she delivered a stack of biographies. This one caught my eye as I am a fan of Chris Van Allsburg.

This has Van Allsburg's signature drawings. And while it is a biography, the tension that we come to expect in his books are there. Such rich language. It is gripping reading about the actual descent of the 62-year old woman over Niagara Falls.

I teach fourth grade. I read this aloud to my students. It's funny what one remembers. I was always a good child at school, but I have a memory from when I was in fourth grade of telling a fanciful tale. We must have been discussing Annie Edson Taylor. Anyhow, I announced to my teacher and classmates that I had an uncle who went over the Falls in a barrel. Um, yeah. That was a lie. I do not know what prompted that. That was not the kind of thing I had ever done before or since. I am sure I was not believed. At the back of Queen of the Falls, we learn that only about 10 folks have ever successfully done so.

Teaching where I teach, I had to spend some time explaining what charm school is. There definitely isn't anything like that around here. And that such a refined woman would decided on such a stunt. But money woes will drive people to do all sorts of things.

I found this biography (not my favorite genre) compelling. What an interesting woman Taylor was. Van Allsburg presented her so well and really kept the interest up.

This is the longest Van Allsburg book I recall reading. It took nearly 45 minutes to read this aloud to my students.

This may not be the best book for my daughter to read for her book report, but it is a winner in my book. FWIW, Beetle's book report is not due on Tuesday. ;)(less)

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Dec 12, 2011 Janice added it

No living American picture-book artist hits notes as high as Chris Van Allsburg does as often as he does. For more than thirty years he has been writing books that are at once dramatic and restrained by elegant taste. He never panders to children or their parents with cuteness or dumbing-down. And because he writes and illustrates his stories, his words and pictures work as a duet instead of dueling solos.

Van Allsburg achieves his effects partly through superb pencil draftsmanship. He collects M...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

So, I read this book aloud to a group of 3rd-5th graders. Beforehand, I estimated it would take me about 20 minutes to read this to them. Nope, it took 40 MINUTES! And the kids were with me every step of the way! I wanted a book that would hook the kids with an interesting angle, and I have found that books based on real stories really engage the older students. I started out by showing a real photo of Annie Edson Taylor and asking the kids what impressions they had. I then showed a real photo t...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Katie Agras rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't know where to start with this book. Everything about it is superb from the story itself, to the illustrations. Without opening the book, I would have never expected the story that lie inside. Sixty-two year old Annie Edson Taylor, just closed her school of etiquette and had no idea what she was going to do for money. One day she came up with the bright idea to ride down the Niagera falls in a barrel! Annie thought for sure that this would make her famous and she would could earn her fort...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Dolly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents reading with their children

Shelves: 2011, childrens, canada, biography, nonfiction, other-usa

This is a fascinating account of the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls, in a barrel. The illustrations are very vivid, in grainy sepia tones, which gives them an old fashioned feel. And the narrative is long, but quite interesting. Our girls were not anxious for me to read this book. In fact, we've had this one at home for several weeks and it's time to return it, so despite their protests, I chose to read it. They were engrossed from the beginning and I think they really ended u...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Meghan Porter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chris Van Allsburg did a wonderful job illustrating the story of Annie EdsonTaylor in Queen of the Fallu . This is the story of a woman who will stop at nothing to find fame and fortune. After her charm school is closed down, Annie remembers when she went to Miagra Falls with her father when she was a little girl. All of a sudden, Annie has the great idea to construct a barrel that would hold her, and allow her to go down the Falls. After successfully completing the fall, Annie and her manager...more Chris Van Allsburg did a wonderful job illustrating the story of Annie EdsonTaylor in Queen of the Fallu . This is the story of a woman who will stop at nothing to find fame and fortune. After her charm school is closed down, Annie remembers when she went to Miagra Falls with her father when she was a little girl. All of a sudden, Annie has the great idea to construct a barrel that would hold her, and allow her to go down the Falls. After successfully completing the fall, Annie and her manager are convinced that americans all over would want to came and watch her speak and listen to her tell her story, but this turns out to be far from the truth. People are put off by by the 60 year old woman and Annie does not get the fame and fortune that she thought she would. After several manager leaving her, one of whom steals the barrel she used to go down the falls, Annie is forced to sit by the falls and sell postcards of her adventure along with a new barrel.

This story both made me happy and made me feel sorry for Annie. She was not able to get the recognition that she deserved for her bravery and that was upsetting as a reader. While visiting Niagra Falls with my family I had heard of people going over the falls in barrels, but I never knew that the first person to do it was woman. As a woman, I found that very empowering, especially for the time. In 1901 woman were looked down upon and were not taken as seriously, which is why I felt very sorry for Annie. If a man had gone down the falls, no matte how old he was, people would have lined up days in advance to hear him speak. It made me upset to think that people would not give the same respect to a wman who showed so much bravery.

I have really become a fan of Chris Van Allsburg's artwork. He does a beautiful job giving details to his pictures and you can tell all of the emotions that the characters have. I think that my favorite illustrations in the entire books are on the 4th book opening when Annie gets the idea to go over Niagra Falls in the barrel. The first picture on the verso page shows Annie deep in thought staring at her newspaper, but then on the recto page you can almost see the lightbuld above her head as she realizes what she has to do. On the filp side however, in wider shots, like the last picture in the book, Van Allsburg gives less detail to the characters and focuses more on the background and of the falls themselves.

I really enjoyed the book. I fel that it was entertaining, but also taught me some new things. (less)

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Sep 13, 2011 Traci rated it 5 of 5 stars

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg tells the triumphed story of Annie Taylor, better known as the Queen of the Falls, and her journey over Niagara Falls in 1901. Annie Taylor, who started off as a charm school teacher, struggled to make ends meet. She realized she needed to make money quickly unless she wanted to end up in a poor house. She decided she would go over Niagara Falls in a barrel to become famous and rich. She builds her barrel and makes the journey to falls to begin her fatefu...more Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg tells the triumphed story of Annie Taylor, better known as the Queen of the Falls, and her journey over Niagara Falls in 1901. Annie Taylor, who started off as a charm school teacher, struggled to make ends meet. She realized she needed to make money quickly unless she wanted to end up in a poor house. She decided she would go over Niagara Falls in a barrel to become famous and rich. She builds her barrel and makes the journey to falls to begin her fateful journey over the falls. However, her fame doesn't last long as people do not want to listen to an old woman tell her story. She ends up selling souvenirs in the park to tourists who want to learn about the Queen of the Falls.

Being a history teacher, I was mesmerized by this story. I had no idea that Annie Taylor existed until I read this book. How could anyone make the journey over Niagara Falls in a barrel? Taylor's story was heart stopping as you read it from beginning to end. On the front cover the text is raised, showcasing Taylor's barrel going over the fall. The barrel is raised as well, and you can imagine Taylor in the barrel as you run your fingers over it. If you take off the jacket, there is a stamp of the barrel as well. On the back cover is Taylor waving hello to the tourists who came to watch her go over the fall. The colors of the front and back cover are a dark blue, giving me the depth of the waters at the fall. The opening pages are grey, opening to the grey tinted pictures in the book. The artistry of the pictures lend to the story at each page turn. Taylor looks as if she could walk off the page. Her facial expressions throughout the story are amazing, especially the ones showcasing her going over the falls. Going beyond the pictures, the detail of Taylor's story lends the reader a new hero. I was amazed that an elderly woman would take the risk to carry out her vision. Chris Van Allsburg has no holes in the story and covers her journey in great detail. This story would enhance any history lesson during this time period. Quite an impressive feat to make a historical account entertaining, interesting, lifelike, and mesmerizing.
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Sep 01, 2011 Sarah BT rated it 5 of 5 stars

About the Book: Annie Taylor is finding that no one is attending her charm school classes anymore and she's bored. Convinced that there is fame and fortune waiting for her, this 62-year-old woman decides to have an adventure. She comes up with the idea of floating over Niagara Falls inside of a barrel. The barrel makers think she's crazy at first, but Annie shows them her detailed plans and believes she's found a way to survive. With a publicist hired, Annie travels to New York and excites the c...more About the Book: Annie Taylor is finding that no one is attending her charm school classes anymore and she's bored. Convinced that there is fame and fortune waiting for her, this 62-year-old woman decides to have an adventure. She comes up with the idea of floating over Niagara Falls inside of a barrel. The barrel makers think she's crazy at first, but Annie shows them her detailed plans and believes she's found a way to survive. With a publicist hired, Annie travels to New York and excites the crowd about her upcoming journey. Will she survive the trip over the falls?

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: May means school visits to promote the summer reading program at my library. As part of my visits, I take books along to booktalk to the students and I'm always looking for something that's new and will get the tweens and teens excited. When I heard about Queen of the Falls I knew it would be one of those great booktalk books that would get the students talking.

Queen of the Falls is a short non-fiction. The illustrations are great, as can always be expected from Chris Van Allsburg. He brings Annie to life and gives the illustrations so much detail, they're easy to pour over-and great to show off during booktalking! The fact that the story is non-fiction and based on an event that no one has heard much about-if at all-adds to story. The premise sounds like it's a made up, tall tale, but the fact that it's true adds to the allure. I think this is especially true for tweens whose eyes seem to grow wide when I mention it's true!

I wish there had been a bit more to the book and maybe a bit more detail added about
Annie Taylor's life. This might be a case where there just wasn't enough source material to really flesh the story out more and Chris Van Allsburg does a fantastic job with what he does have. The book is entertaining and engaging and a memorable read.

While an easy non-fiction, the story is something that I think will have wide-appeal and I plan on booktalking it all the way up to high schoolers. Each time I talk about the question is always "but does she survive?" and I love when a book really engages the audience like that! Annie Taylor has quite a story and she's an amazingly daring woman and I'm glad her story has been told!

Book Pairings: Pair this one with biographies of other showmen and daredevils like The Great and Only Barnum by Candance Fleming and Escape! The Story of the great Houdini by Sid Fleischman

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Jul 30, 2011 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ncbla

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As it has for many, Niagra Falls has fascinated me for much of my life because of its enormity and the seemingly unstoppable rush of the water over the Falls. When I finally had the chance to visit the area a few years ago when I was in Toronto and took a side trip, I was not disappointed. The Falls lived up to all the hype and all of my imagination about them. And like Annie Edson Taylor and a host of others before me, I dared myself to go as close as I possibly could while also remaining safel...more As it has for many, Niagra Falls has fascinated me for much of my life because of its enormity and the seemingly unstoppable rush of the water over the Falls. When I finally had the chance to visit the area a few years ago when I was in Toronto and took a side trip, I was not disappointed. The Falls lived up to all the hype and all of my imagination about them. And like Annie Edson Taylor and a host of others before me, I dared myself to go as close as I possibly could while also remaining safely on dry ground. There is something of a siren song about Niagra Falls, and visitors simply cannot stop staring at the water that pounds relentlessly down, down, down to the area far below. In this extraordinary picture book, Van Allsburg gives us an up close and personal view of one woman's determination for financial independence and fame. When her charm school shuts its doors, Annie Edson Taylor, 62, searches desperately for a way to raise a financial nest egg for her future years and happens upon an article that leads to her crazy plan to construct a sturdy barrel in which she will ride over Niagra Falls. The text includes many details about her plans and takes readers to the edge of the Falls with this elderly woman, strapped in, surrounded by pillows to cushion her from the water's pounding. I felt as though I were both inside that barrel, helpless against the water and rocks, and on the sidelines, watching to see how this daredevil would fare. When she survives, though, and goes on tour, Annie does not become rich and famous. Audience members were bored by her story and expected to see a younger, more attractive woman on stage. Betrayed by two different men she hired to promote her talks, she ends up selling postcards to tourists.

Everything about this story drew me in, and my emotions vacillated from excitement to anxiety to disappointment for this woman and then to somber reflection about our society's continued interest in daring feats and celebrity. I loved the daredevil, almost suicidal quality of Annie's desperate bid of financial security. How sad that she ends up forgotten despite the courage this feat required! That certainly attests to what many of us find engaging today: It's more about style than substance.

The illustrations in this book are simply amazing, showing the rapidity of the water and the way the barrel was churned about as it headed over the falls. As always with Chris Van Allsburg's work, the facial expressions tell plenty of stories of their own. They forced me to return to them over and over to marvel at this man's craftsmanship. Readers, young and old, will not want to miss this book which is so much more than a partial biography or an adventure tale. (less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s, biography

Chris Van Allsburg is one of my very favorite children's authors. His books are always a great way to introduce kids to a literary genre because he supplements his text with rich, spectacular drawings. In telling this story about a woman who goes over Niagara Falls in a barrel (WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?!?!?), children can understand about the elements of a biography while being entertained about this little-known story with unexpected results. Since biographies are written after the fact, it is rar...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars

Chris Van Allsburg's books lend themselves to writing activities in a classroom. I have always enjoyed reading them and using them in various ways. This book would be excellent for an introduction to biographies. It has wonderful drawings like the author's other books and tells a little known story about the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive. It would be great to get a video clip of the falls and any primary sources such as newspaper reports of people gathering to watc...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Strengths: This book is typical Van Allsburg with an intriguing story, never before told in picture book format. What is especially interesting is that this is a true story. I guess sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. The author starts by putting us at the top of the waterfall with Annie, just as she is about to go over the falls (without telling us who is in the barrel). Then he explains why Annie decided to do such a crazy stunt, she hoped it would make her rich, so she wouldn't h...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Sarah W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-nonfiction, history, daredevils, oddities, biography, 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When Annie Edson Taylor's work as a finishing teacher dried up, the elderly woman comes up with a plan to secure her financial future. All she needs is a well made, customized barrel and everything else will fall into place. Ms. Taylor made a mistake when looking to hire someone to make the barrel by telling him that she was going to use the barrel to go over Niagara Falls. Not wanting to be associated with a death, the craftsman refuses to build the barrel.

Ms. Taylor was not to be thwarted, eve...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Tasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

What does a daredevil look like? What traits must they embody? Take the first person who ever went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Who do you think that person might be? I’ll bet you didn’t think of a retired charm school teacher named Annie Edson Taylor. She decided to try for fame and fortune through her stunt. So she had a custom-made barrel designed and created, riding it over the falls in 1901. This picture book follows her through her decision, preparations, over the falls, and then how he...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Connie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, j-nonfiction

I went to Niagara Falls for the first (and only time) when I was only 9 years old. I was a fearful child and I must say the power of the Falls terrified me.I couldn't even bring myself to go on the boat named the Maid of the Mist which travels safely under the falls with tourists every day. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the stories of the courageous yet foolhardy people who dared to brave the Falls in barrels and any number of contraptions. Some successful. Some not. When we first received th...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Lisa Frase rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

Last summer I took a side trip to Niagara Falls on my way home from the Highlight's Foundation Writer's Workshop in Chautauqua, New York. I remember driving towards Niagara and seeing a huge cloud of what appeared to be smoke. It turned out to be mist coming off of the falls. I love waterfalls, but I must say, Niagara Falls is the most powerful natural phenomenon I've had the opportunity to witness. And this is coming from a girl who has lived through a hurricane.

Not long ago, I was perusing Ama...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, age-childrens, non-fiction

Queen of the Falls is the true story of former charm school teacher, Annie Edson Taylor, who decides that the path to fame and fortune is surviving a trip over Niagra Falls in a barrel. No one expects Annie, a grandmotherly sort, to make it, but her specially-designed barrel does the job and to everyone's amazement, she has only minor injuries after the barrel ride. Annie's plan is to then tour the country speaking about her accomplishment, but no one seems to believe her...

I saw this Chris Van...more

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About Chris Van Allsburg

Chris was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 18, 1949, the second child of Doris Christiansen Van Allsburg and Richard Van Allsburg. His sister Karen was born in 1947.

Chris’s paternal grandfather, Peter, owned and operated a creamery, a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. It was named East End Creamery and after they bottled the milk (and made the ot...more Chris was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 18, 1949, the second child of Doris Christiansen Van Allsburg and Richard Van Allsburg. His sister Karen was born in 1947.

Chris’s paternal grandfather, Peter, owned and operated a creamery, a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. It was named East End Creamery and after they bottled the milk (and made the other products) they delivered it to homes all around Grand Rapids in yellow and blue trucks.

When Chris was born, his family lived in an old farm house next door to the large brick creamery building. It was a very old house that, like the little house in Virginia Lee Burton’s story, had once looked over farmland. But by 1949, the house was surrounded by buildings and other houses. Chris’s father ran the dairy with Chris’s three uncles after his grandfather Peter retired.

When Chris was three years old, his family moved to a new house at the edge of Grand Rapids that was part of a development; a kind of planned neighborhood, that was still being built.

There remained many open fields and streams and ponds where a boy could catch minnows and frogs, or see a firefly at night. It was about a mile and a half to Breton Downs School, which Chris walked to every day and attended until 6th grade, when the Van Allsburg family moved again.

The next house they lived in was an old brick Tudor Style house in East Grand Rapids. It was a street that looked like the street on the cover of The Polar Express. The houses were all set back the same distance from the street. Between the street and the sidewalk grew enormous Elm trees whose branches reached up and touched the branches of the trees on the other side of the street. Chris moved to this street with his mom, dad, sister, and two Siamese cats. One named Fafner and the other name Eloise.

Chris went to junior and senior high school in East Grand Rapids. He didn’t take art classes during this time. His interests and talents seemed to be more in the area of math and science.

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