What do you think?
Rate this book
Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight For the Statue of Liberty
When Joseph Pulitzer first saw the Statue of Liberty's head in Paris, he shared sculptor Auguste Bartholdi's dream of seeing France's gift of friendship stand in the New York harbor. Pulitzer loved words, and the word he loved best was liberty. Frustrated that many, especially wealthy New Yorkers, were not interested in paying for the statue's needed pedestal, Pulitzer used his newspaper, the New York World, to call on all Americans to contribute. Claudia Friddell's text and Stacy Innerst's illustrations capture this inspiring story of how one immigrant brought together young and old, rich and poor, to raise funds for the completion of a treasured national monument.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2020
2 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Friddell
10 books25 followersFor children’s author Claudia Friddell, discovering exciting stories from long ago is a lot like treasure hunting. Claudia's narrative nonfiction books include: Saving Lady Liberty, Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call, George Washington’s Spies, Goliath, Hero of the Great Baltimore Fire, To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam, Road Trip! Cool Off and Ride, and her new YA book, The Mysterious Virginia Hall, out now! A former teacher, Claudia loves to share her journeys and joys of bringing history to life through books with students, teachers, and history lovers of all ages. When she’s not visiting schools, digging for treasure in the library, or writing at her home in Baltimore, Claudia is reading, walking, and kayaking on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 6, 2021
Author Claudia Friddell and illustrator Stacy Innerst tell the story of Hungarian-American journalist and activist Joseph Pulitzer and his campaign to build the base for the Statue of Liberty in this engaging work of picture-book biography. Emigrating to the United States as a young man, Pulitzer fought in the American Civil War, and eventually became a newspaper man. As the owner of The New York World, he ran editorials promoting fundraising efforts aimed at building the base for the Statue of Liberty, before Bartholdi's massive monument arrived from France. Finding that the wealthy and powerful were indifferent, Pulitzer turned to the American people, promising to print the names and stories of any member of the public, if they made a donation to the fund. His efforts paid off, the necessary money was raised, and in October of 1886 the great statue was unveiled...
Although familiar with Joseph Pulitzer's name, thanks to the Pulitzer Prizes created through his bequest, I knew very little about the man himself, going in to Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty, and therefore found it most informative. Friddell's narrative emphasizes the importance that Pulitzer always placed on liberty, and on justice for the ordinary people, and she focuses on how those ideals played out, as he worked toward the goal of raising the funds for the statue's base. The author's biographical blurb on the rear dust-jacket flap describes Pulitzer's efforts as a "crowd-funding" campaign, which is an interesting way of looking at it, applying a more recent lens to the historical events described within. While this certainly wasn't the first time in history that a public monument was funded through subscription from many donors, Pulitzer's campaign was groundbreaking, in the sense that he used the media to enlist the wider public, rather than just appealing to elites. In any case, the story here is inspiring, reminding young readers that the general American public helped to fund the base of one of our most beloved and recognizable national icons. The Statue of Liberty belongs to the people, and the people helped to fund it. It's worth recalling of course, that the French people funded the creation and construction of the statue itself, and that it was a gift from their nation to ours. The accompanying artwork from Innerst, done in gouache, acrylic and ink, is striking, and although not exactly to my taste, aesthetically speaking, works very well with the text. The back matter includes a note from the author, fun facts about Pulitzer and about the Statue of Liberty, a detailed timeline, and a list of sources. Recommended to young biography and history lovers, and to any child interested in the Statue of Liberty. As it briefly mentions Emma Lazarus, it could pair very nicely with titles like Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty .
Although familiar with Joseph Pulitzer's name, thanks to the Pulitzer Prizes created through his bequest, I knew very little about the man himself, going in to Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty, and therefore found it most informative. Friddell's narrative emphasizes the importance that Pulitzer always placed on liberty, and on justice for the ordinary people, and she focuses on how those ideals played out, as he worked toward the goal of raising the funds for the statue's base. The author's biographical blurb on the rear dust-jacket flap describes Pulitzer's efforts as a "crowd-funding" campaign, which is an interesting way of looking at it, applying a more recent lens to the historical events described within. While this certainly wasn't the first time in history that a public monument was funded through subscription from many donors, Pulitzer's campaign was groundbreaking, in the sense that he used the media to enlist the wider public, rather than just appealing to elites. In any case, the story here is inspiring, reminding young readers that the general American public helped to fund the base of one of our most beloved and recognizable national icons. The Statue of Liberty belongs to the people, and the people helped to fund it. It's worth recalling of course, that the French people funded the creation and construction of the statue itself, and that it was a gift from their nation to ours. The accompanying artwork from Innerst, done in gouache, acrylic and ink, is striking, and although not exactly to my taste, aesthetically speaking, works very well with the text. The back matter includes a note from the author, fun facts about Pulitzer and about the Statue of Liberty, a detailed timeline, and a list of sources. Recommended to young biography and history lovers, and to any child interested in the Statue of Liberty. As it briefly mentions Emma Lazarus, it could pair very nicely with titles like Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty .
December 12, 2022
I didn't know a darn thing about Pulitzer apparently!
July 2, 2020
This picture book biography shares Joseph Pulitzer's immigration story and his efforts to run the first crowdfunding campaign in order to fund a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. This book is very well-written, has creative mixed media illustrations, and brings that era of history to life with wonderful detail. I thoroughly enjoyed this, because in addition to telling the advertised story, it also captures other significant aspects of the time period and culture. This brought it all to life so vividly, in such a brief amount of time, that I was delighted.
The author never talks down to her readers, or assumes a lack of awareness or interest. It is written for children, but the prose is well-written and direct, not presented in a quirky, playful way that undercuts the seriousness of the story. Also, although some books would take a story like this and use it as a springboard to make political statements about the present, this book takes history seriously and recreates an era of the past. There are lots of interesting parallels to modern times, but instead of pushing a particular interpretation, this book invites reflection and discussion.
There are also detailed historical notes in the back, with photographic reproductions, a timeline, and additional information. This book is deeply educational, and it is more than just factually accurate. It also captures the different moods and opinions of the time, and encourages readers to consider the thoughts, values, and experiences of people in the past, instead of only filtering history through the lens of an author's takeaway point about the present.
I highly recommend this for school, family, and personal use. It's great for both kids and adults, with a wonderful attention to period detail, a brief introduction to lots of different historical realities, and an inspiring message about Pulitzer's love of liberty. The only thing about this book which I found disappointing is that it does not include the full text of "The New Colossus," the poem that Emma Lazarus wrote to help raise money for the project. The book mentions her involvement and quotes a few lines, but the author did not include the full poem in the back of the book, as I had hoped.
That poem is one of my favorites, and I memorized it in high school. Due to its cultural significance and the fact that it has been in the public domain for years and years, I hoped that the author would include it as supplementary material after mentioning the poem in the book. However, even though she did not, this can be a good opportunity for teachers and parents to enrich children's reading experience with additional research, looking up and learning about the poem together.
Here is the full text:
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The author never talks down to her readers, or assumes a lack of awareness or interest. It is written for children, but the prose is well-written and direct, not presented in a quirky, playful way that undercuts the seriousness of the story. Also, although some books would take a story like this and use it as a springboard to make political statements about the present, this book takes history seriously and recreates an era of the past. There are lots of interesting parallels to modern times, but instead of pushing a particular interpretation, this book invites reflection and discussion.
There are also detailed historical notes in the back, with photographic reproductions, a timeline, and additional information. This book is deeply educational, and it is more than just factually accurate. It also captures the different moods and opinions of the time, and encourages readers to consider the thoughts, values, and experiences of people in the past, instead of only filtering history through the lens of an author's takeaway point about the present.
I highly recommend this for school, family, and personal use. It's great for both kids and adults, with a wonderful attention to period detail, a brief introduction to lots of different historical realities, and an inspiring message about Pulitzer's love of liberty. The only thing about this book which I found disappointing is that it does not include the full text of "The New Colossus," the poem that Emma Lazarus wrote to help raise money for the project. The book mentions her involvement and quotes a few lines, but the author did not include the full poem in the back of the book, as I had hoped.
That poem is one of my favorites, and I memorized it in high school. Due to its cultural significance and the fact that it has been in the public domain for years and years, I hoped that the author would include it as supplementary material after mentioning the poem in the book. However, even though she did not, this can be a good opportunity for teachers and parents to enrich children's reading experience with additional research, looking up and learning about the poem together.
Here is the full text:
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
May 16, 2020
I love finding stories of everyday people who make history to share with my third graders. I think it's important for them to know that every single person can make a difference if they believe in something and work hard enough.
Saving Lady Liberty is one of those stories! In it we meet Joseph Pulitzer as an immigrant who essentially organizes the first crowd-sourced fundraiser to raise the money needed to build the base for the Statue of Liberty. He is stunned to see that New York and it's wealthy citizens aren't jumping at the chance to make a home for the incoming sculpture, so he takes the problem to his fellow liberty-loving immigrants and common men.
The author cleverly weaves in his dedication to one word -"liberty" - as she traces his path from orphan to immigrant to newspaper man to visionary. The wonderful mix of painting and collage mixed media feeling illustrations help to bring history to life for the young reader. The source material -complete with facts, timelines, primary sources, and additional resources - at the back makes my social studies teacher heart super happy!
It's a wonderful story to teach students the power of one person to truly make a difference in the world.
Saving Lady Liberty is one of those stories! In it we meet Joseph Pulitzer as an immigrant who essentially organizes the first crowd-sourced fundraiser to raise the money needed to build the base for the Statue of Liberty. He is stunned to see that New York and it's wealthy citizens aren't jumping at the chance to make a home for the incoming sculpture, so he takes the problem to his fellow liberty-loving immigrants and common men.
The author cleverly weaves in his dedication to one word -"liberty" - as she traces his path from orphan to immigrant to newspaper man to visionary. The wonderful mix of painting and collage mixed media feeling illustrations help to bring history to life for the young reader. The source material -complete with facts, timelines, primary sources, and additional resources - at the back makes my social studies teacher heart super happy!
It's a wonderful story to teach students the power of one person to truly make a difference in the world.
July 7, 2021
"Joseph Pulitzer loved words. And the word he loved best was liberty.Maybe that's because Joseph, the son of a wealthy Jewish merchant, enjoyed freedoms that other Jewish boys outside of Pest, Hungary could not. But after his father died when Joseph was eleven, his world changed forever."
That is Claudia Friddell's opening which lures readers into turning the page.
The book proceeds to show how Joseph was left penniless--unable to even get a job in the army because of his poor eyesight. He immigrated to the U.S.and went from guard duty in the Civil War (where he'd rather plan battles on the chess board than be in a battle) to a poor immigrant who couldn't speak English (although he was fluent in French, German, Hungarian, and Yiddish).
After weeks of sleeping on park benches, Joseph hopped a train and headed for St. Louis--a city filled with German-speaking immigrants. When he wasn't working or learning how to read and write English, Joseph played chess in the library. He caught the attention of an owner of a German newspaper and finally got a job he loved--he was a reporter!
Grateful for the freedom to write what he chose, Joseph uncovered corruption and inequality. His brash manner and relentless drive didn't earn him many friends but no matter--Joseph kept moving up until he owned the newspaper alongside his chess-playing boss.
Joseph married and traveled to the 1878 Paris World's Fair where he was entranced by Graham Bell's talking machine and the "colossal copper leaf of Auguste Bartholdi's unfinished statue, Liberty Enlightening the World.."
But although the United States had agreed to build a pedestal for the statue, New Yorkers didn't want to pay for it. When he returned to the States, Joseph vowed to convince his fellow citizens to pay to have the pedestal built and installed on Bedloe's Island (renamed Liberty Island in 1956).
Pulitzer bought the New York World newspaper and put Lady Liberty in the middle of the masthead: He wrote editorials and scolded wealthy NewYorkers.
"What a burning disgrace it will be to the United States if the statue of the goddess is brought to our shores on a French government vessel and is met by the intelligence that our people, with all their wealth, have not enough public spirit, liberality, and pride to provide a fitting pedestal on which it can be placed!"
No matter how hard he tried to raise the money for the pedestal, Pulitzer didn't have enough. Finally he came up with a new plan. "If a person donated even a penny, he would print their name and their story in the World."
His idea worked. Stories poured in and Pulitzer printed them all. Two of my favorite pages show letters from children with their contributions. One child sold squash and pumpkins and sent in ten cents, another raided his "frog-bank" and combined his earnings with his friends for another ten cents. One kindergarten class sent in $1.35.
Finally, Lady Liberty was loaded into 214 crates and sailed across the stormy Atlantic.
Eight years after Pulitzer first saw Lady Liberty, he "witnessed Bartholdi unveil his magnificent monument ready to welcome every traveler with a torch of hope and a promise of freedom."
This is an excellent curriculum resource in grades 2-6. Giveaway on my blog ends July 16, 2021.https://carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com...
That is Claudia Friddell's opening which lures readers into turning the page.
The book proceeds to show how Joseph was left penniless--unable to even get a job in the army because of his poor eyesight. He immigrated to the U.S.and went from guard duty in the Civil War (where he'd rather plan battles on the chess board than be in a battle) to a poor immigrant who couldn't speak English (although he was fluent in French, German, Hungarian, and Yiddish).
After weeks of sleeping on park benches, Joseph hopped a train and headed for St. Louis--a city filled with German-speaking immigrants. When he wasn't working or learning how to read and write English, Joseph played chess in the library. He caught the attention of an owner of a German newspaper and finally got a job he loved--he was a reporter!
Grateful for the freedom to write what he chose, Joseph uncovered corruption and inequality. His brash manner and relentless drive didn't earn him many friends but no matter--Joseph kept moving up until he owned the newspaper alongside his chess-playing boss.
Joseph married and traveled to the 1878 Paris World's Fair where he was entranced by Graham Bell's talking machine and the "colossal copper leaf of Auguste Bartholdi's unfinished statue, Liberty Enlightening the World.."
But although the United States had agreed to build a pedestal for the statue, New Yorkers didn't want to pay for it. When he returned to the States, Joseph vowed to convince his fellow citizens to pay to have the pedestal built and installed on Bedloe's Island (renamed Liberty Island in 1956).
Pulitzer bought the New York World newspaper and put Lady Liberty in the middle of the masthead: He wrote editorials and scolded wealthy NewYorkers.
"What a burning disgrace it will be to the United States if the statue of the goddess is brought to our shores on a French government vessel and is met by the intelligence that our people, with all their wealth, have not enough public spirit, liberality, and pride to provide a fitting pedestal on which it can be placed!"
No matter how hard he tried to raise the money for the pedestal, Pulitzer didn't have enough. Finally he came up with a new plan. "If a person donated even a penny, he would print their name and their story in the World."
His idea worked. Stories poured in and Pulitzer printed them all. Two of my favorite pages show letters from children with their contributions. One child sold squash and pumpkins and sent in ten cents, another raided his "frog-bank" and combined his earnings with his friends for another ten cents. One kindergarten class sent in $1.35.
Finally, Lady Liberty was loaded into 214 crates and sailed across the stormy Atlantic.
Eight years after Pulitzer first saw Lady Liberty, he "witnessed Bartholdi unveil his magnificent monument ready to welcome every traveler with a torch of hope and a promise of freedom."
This is an excellent curriculum resource in grades 2-6. Giveaway on my blog ends July 16, 2021.https://carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com...
December 16, 2020
Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty is a children's picture book written by Claudia Friddell and illustrated by Stacy Innerst. It is centered on a poor Jewish immigrant who understood what liberty meant and crusaded for Lady Liberty's pedestal.
Joseph Pulitzer was a newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World. He became a leading national figure in the Democratic Party and was elected congressman from New York. He crusaded against big business and corruption, and helped keep the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Friddell's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. This is a well-written, inspiring ode to the contributions of immigrants. Friddell used Pulitzer quotes and excerpts from some of his editorials, particularly wonderful are replicas of some handwritten letters from children who donated, literally, pennies to house Lady Liberty. Backmatter includes information about Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty and a timeline. Atmospheric illustrations by Innerst in brown and blue brushed on sepia-toned backgrounds give a historical feel.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Joseph Pulitzer emigrated to the U.S. from Hungary as a teen to join the Union Army, entering the newspaper business after the Civil War. Traveling in Paris in 1878, Pulitzer saw the exhibited head of the Statue of Liberty. Americans had agreed to build the pedestal in New York’s harbor for this French gift, but New Yorkers refused to pay. Pulitzer hatched a desperate ploy – he urged ordinary people to donate even tiny amounts and promised to print their names and stories in his newspaper. Money and tales poured in, and finally Lady Liberty stood.
All in all, Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty celebrates Pulitzer's permanent legacy, which now beams a beckoning welcome to all American newcomers.
Joseph Pulitzer was a newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World. He became a leading national figure in the Democratic Party and was elected congressman from New York. He crusaded against big business and corruption, and helped keep the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Friddell's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. This is a well-written, inspiring ode to the contributions of immigrants. Friddell used Pulitzer quotes and excerpts from some of his editorials, particularly wonderful are replicas of some handwritten letters from children who donated, literally, pennies to house Lady Liberty. Backmatter includes information about Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty and a timeline. Atmospheric illustrations by Innerst in brown and blue brushed on sepia-toned backgrounds give a historical feel.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Joseph Pulitzer emigrated to the U.S. from Hungary as a teen to join the Union Army, entering the newspaper business after the Civil War. Traveling in Paris in 1878, Pulitzer saw the exhibited head of the Statue of Liberty. Americans had agreed to build the pedestal in New York’s harbor for this French gift, but New Yorkers refused to pay. Pulitzer hatched a desperate ploy – he urged ordinary people to donate even tiny amounts and promised to print their names and stories in his newspaper. Money and tales poured in, and finally Lady Liberty stood.
All in all, Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty celebrates Pulitzer's permanent legacy, which now beams a beckoning welcome to all American newcomers.
December 30, 2022
"Joseph Pulitzer had always loved words. And the word he loved best was liberty."
Shannan and I bought Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight For The Statue Of Liberty to provide some historical reading for our young grands. Claudia Friddell's story is easy to follow, clear, and . Stacy Innerst's illustrations are marvelous. A great book for children -- and adults!
An multi-lingual immigrant from Hungry, Joseph Pulitzer, left his homeland for the U.S. and the opportunity to pursue his dream of being a soldier. Tables turned and Pulitzer "couldn't wait for the war to end." Moving to Missouri and finding that he loved the Press, Pulitzer taught himself English, and eventually became co-owner of the paper.
After selling his share, Pulitzer and his wife traveled to Paris for the World's Fair. Taken by the colossal copper head of Lady Liberty, Pulitzer worked incessantly to bring the statue back to an America who didn't want to pay for the pedestal to hold it.
This book tells the story of Pulitzer's tenacious (and brilliant) fight to bring Lady Liberty to the United States. We have the brilliant and pesky immigrant to thank for the statue, and Friddell and Innerst for bringing the story to the lives of young readers (and olders ones too!).
Recommendation: Put this book on your shelves -- even if you don't have children and grandchildren. It is that good! A powerful story of sacrifice, patriotism and tenacity!
The Afterword is fantastic for kids and adults!! And kudos to the author for the fine bibliography and scholarship!
Shannan and I bought Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight For The Statue Of Liberty to provide some historical reading for our young grands. Claudia Friddell's story is easy to follow, clear, and . Stacy Innerst's illustrations are marvelous. A great book for children -- and adults!
An multi-lingual immigrant from Hungry, Joseph Pulitzer, left his homeland for the U.S. and the opportunity to pursue his dream of being a soldier. Tables turned and Pulitzer "couldn't wait for the war to end." Moving to Missouri and finding that he loved the Press, Pulitzer taught himself English, and eventually became co-owner of the paper.
After selling his share, Pulitzer and his wife traveled to Paris for the World's Fair. Taken by the colossal copper head of Lady Liberty, Pulitzer worked incessantly to bring the statue back to an America who didn't want to pay for the pedestal to hold it.
This book tells the story of Pulitzer's tenacious (and brilliant) fight to bring Lady Liberty to the United States. We have the brilliant and pesky immigrant to thank for the statue, and Friddell and Innerst for bringing the story to the lives of young readers (and olders ones too!).
Recommendation: Put this book on your shelves -- even if you don't have children and grandchildren. It is that good! A powerful story of sacrifice, patriotism and tenacity!
The Afterword is fantastic for kids and adults!! And kudos to the author for the fine bibliography and scholarship!
May 8, 2021
In this last year or so I've come across so many picture books about the Statue of Liberty! ( Her Right Foot and Let Liberty Rise!: How America’s Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty). I feel like I know everything there is to know about it but then I read another book and learn something new. At first, I wasn't into the style of this one but it grew on me as I read. It was cool to hear about Pulitzer's life and the Statue of Liberty. I read about the "crowdfunding" in another book but I think this one explained it better. I especially liked the page with the letters from people who had sent in their money.
Now I'm wanting to learn more about Pulitzer and I want to go visit the Statue of Liberty!
Now I'm wanting to learn more about Pulitzer and I want to go visit the Statue of Liberty!
August 22, 2020
When Joseph Pulitzer first saw the Statue of Liberty's head in Paris, he shared sculptor Auguste Bartholdi's dream of seeing France's gift of friendship stand in the New York harbor. Pulitzer loved words, and the word he loved best was liberty. Frustrated that many, especially wealthy New Yorkers, were not interested in paying for the statue's needed pedestal, Pulitzer used his newspaper, the New York World, to call on all Americans to contribute. Claudia Friddell's text and Stacy Innerst's illustrations capture this inspiring story of how one immigrant brought together young and old, rich and poor, to raise funds for the completion of a treasured national monument.
While there have been several recent books about the history of The Statue of Liberty, I learned so many interesting facts that I have never known.
While there have been several recent books about the history of The Statue of Liberty, I learned so many interesting facts that I have never known.
August 26, 2025
this is not a picture book for primary school children. middle school students who have mastered certain vocabulary and concepts will garner a great deal from this book. pulitzer may have created the very first "go-fund-me" source of raising money for a cause. neither the government nor the millionaires wished to fund the building of the base for the statue, but once pulitzer, a newspaper owner, promised to publish the names and stories of all contributors, school children, scout troops, small business operators, etc. send pennies, dimes, dollars to contribute to the completion of the base for the statue. businesses closed for the dedication of the statue -- all except wall street. the boys in the wall street offices sent streams of ticker tape into the streets -- creating the first ticker-tape parade.
October 7, 2020
I first learned of Joseph Pulitzer's dedication and contribution to the Statue of Liberty last year when I read Liberty Arrives!: How America's Grandest Statue Found Her Home. I was blown away by the details of that book, and I was a bit embarrassed that I knew so little of Pulitzer. This picture book biography delves deeper into Pulitzer's life, and what an incredible one he had. More and more I keep reading about people who lost so much, risked what little they had, found refuge in America, and went on to do such incredible things.
June 13, 2021
Marking this immigrant because the Statue of Liberty is such an important symbol of immigration.
Book basically has Joseph homeless, poor, and unable to speak English. Then, he gets a job at a German-language newspaper. Then, all of the sudden he owns a newspaper in New York City and is leading the charge to build the pedestal.
There's nothing that talks about where he got all the money (surely not writing news articles?) or how he learned English.
I have a soft spot for the Statue of Liberty because my 9th grade American History teacher loved her (and the Brooklyn Bridge) and we studied her a lot.
Also like the framing of this as one of the earliest geographically non-confined crowd funding campaigns. It also shows the power of the press in influencing public opinion.
Book basically has Joseph homeless, poor, and unable to speak English. Then, he gets a job at a German-language newspaper. Then, all of the sudden he owns a newspaper in New York City and is leading the charge to build the pedestal.
There's nothing that talks about where he got all the money (surely not writing news articles?) or how he learned English.
I have a soft spot for the Statue of Liberty because my 9th grade American History teacher loved her (and the Brooklyn Bridge) and we studied her a lot.
Also like the framing of this as one of the earliest geographically non-confined crowd funding campaigns. It also shows the power of the press in influencing public opinion.
December 1, 2020
I love this story of how Pulitzer, a lover of words, persuaded all Americans to help fund the construction of the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty gifted to us from all of France.
Wonderful details, great illustrations, pleasing format, and a tremendous amount of back matter make this nonficiton book a treat! Another fabulous book published by Calkins Creek!
Loved the opening and closing lines.
Opening: "Joseph Pulitzer loved words. And the word he loved best was liberty."
Closing: "Joseph Pulitzer had always loved words. And the word he loved bes was liberty."
Wonderful details, great illustrations, pleasing format, and a tremendous amount of back matter make this nonficiton book a treat! Another fabulous book published by Calkins Creek!
Loved the opening and closing lines.
Opening: "Joseph Pulitzer loved words. And the word he loved best was liberty."
Closing: "Joseph Pulitzer had always loved words. And the word he loved bes was liberty."
May 29, 2021
While a picture book - this is a concise account of the challenge of building the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. We hear about the Pulitzer Prize each year, but this really was my first, (regrettably) introduction to the man behind the prize. It was interesting to learn about the life and work of Joseph Pulitzer. His work to support the Statue of Liberty was new to me. In future reading, or re-reading about Lady Liberty, I hope I will be more attentive to the inclusion of Pulitzer.
Surely a good addition to library collections.
Surely a good addition to library collections.
June 9, 2021
This book was so cool. I knew the gist of the fundraising efforts before, but I still learned a lot from this book. I also really loved that a lot of the photographs of the Statue of Liberty were ones I hadn't seen before, not just the same ones we show over and over again. Very cool. Will pair with Her Right Foot.
July 15, 2020
A fascinating slice of Pulitzer's life, his dogged rise to success and dedication to the Statue of Liberty. The illustrations have a lovely old-timey sepia tone palette with an eye-catching array of perspectives. Strong backmatter.
This will be great for 3rd grade biography projects, and for any studies of patriotism or NY history.
This will be great for 3rd grade biography projects, and for any studies of patriotism or NY history.
November 28, 2022
As I was searching for another library book, I came across this gem of a picture book. Who knew that Pulitzer had championed the cause of Lady Liberty in this way? After I finished reading, I handed the book over to my husband to read—and he then read it with our 7-year-old grandson. The inclusion of real letters from a handful of US citizens was touching. Recommended!
December 23, 2020
A really good book about Pulitzer. I learned so much about him and his role obtaining the Statue of Liberty. I couldn't believe how many Americans A great book to use with students. Well written and researched.
June 13, 2021
Part biography of Pulitzer, part story of the pedestal fund for the Statue of Liberty.
There's a middle section of letters sent with small amounts of money for the fund; those are in cursive. Lots and lots of endnotes.
There's a middle section of letters sent with small amounts of money for the fund; those are in cursive. Lots and lots of endnotes.
November 19, 2020
I thought I knew a little about the history of the Statue of Liberty, Pulitzer’s role was new to me. Well researched, great illustrations, excellent back matter.
November 20, 2020
You learn something new every day and today I learned that Joseph Pulitzer was instrumental in getting the Statue of Liberty set up in NY harbor.
April 6, 2021
Team this up with Her Right Foot and you can't go wrong. Excellent story of Joseph Pulitzer and the power of crowd funding.
May 5, 2021
This is a great book for older elementary students to learn history of the Statue of Liberty & Joseph Pulitzer. The facts at the end are good too.
May 6, 2021
I found the book to be very interesting. Joseph Pulitzer went on a mission to fund the base for the statue of liberty.
June 3, 2021
The story of Joseph Pulitzer's fundraising campaign for a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.
July 9, 2021
Nothing like quality non fiction in storybook form.
July 9, 2021
3.5 stars for this account of Joseph Pulitzer's plea for Americans to fund the base for the statue of Liberty
August 23, 2021
An elementary level picture book biography of Joseph Pulitzer the journalist and how he was inspired to raise funds for the base of the Statue of Liberty. elementary and up
October 16, 2022
Inspirational story about Joseph Pulitzer. I loved it! Well written with great illustrations. A terrific picture book biography!
December 30, 2020
A fun read that is as interesting for adults as for kids. Note for COMU 330.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews