Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who!: The Story of a Cleaner and Greener America

by Tracy Nelson Maurer, Ginnie Hsu (Illustrator)

Overview

Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who! is Tracy Nelson Maurer's lively picture book biography of Lady Bird Johnson, with a focus on her environmentalist passion and legacy as First Lady.

Who fought to stop pollution? Who helped make America cleaner and greener? Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who!

Claudia Alta Taylor was a lonely girl, shy as a butterfly growing up in Texas. She never dreamed she'd blossom into a visionary leader whose love for wildflowers, beautiful landscapes, and building community compelled her to lead the effort to combat pollution in the United States. A lifelong environmentalist, Lady Bird Johnson embraced her platform as First Lady to promote policy that beautified America’s roadways, waterways and parks, inspiring people to take pride in the places they live.

With elements of women’s history, civics, and conservationism, this is a timely and informative picture book biography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250240361
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	02/23/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Tracy Nelson Maurer is the author of over a hundred books, including Samuel Morse, That's Who! and John Deere, That's Who! and many other nonfiction books for children. She lives near Minneapolis with her family, and loves to interact with readers on her frequent school and library visits.

Ginnie Hsu is an illustrator, designer, animator, maker and educator living in upstate NY where she teaches illustration at the University of Syracuse. Her love for drawing began in her childhood in Taiwan, and her work is often inspired by everyday life, nature, human living, travel and old artifacts she randomly finds. She loves mixing new and traditional media to create magic for all. Her illustrated books include A Home Named Walter and Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who! and her publishing clients include Quarto, Old Dungate Press, Henry Holt, and Feiwel and Friends at Macmillan.

Editorial Reviews

A 2022 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Selection

"[A] fitting introduction that will support further research about Johnson’s life and contributions. Back matter includes additional facts, resources, and a bibliography of works for young and adult readers. Hsu’s light, airy illustrations utilize thematic wildflowers to vividly frame key moments and people. Recommended for elementary biography collections looking for titles centered on female influencers and environmental champions." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2021

K-Gr 3—Former First Lady Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson (1912–2007), like her namesake the ladybug, spent her childhood among flowers, nature, and the wilderness surrounding her Texas country home. Johnson was a quiet and shy child who preferred picking wildflower bouquets over speaking in front of audiences; however, her confidence and influence grew as she reached adulthood and became First Lady. Maurer's picture book biography follows a similar narrative format as her previous works about Samuel Morse and John Deere. The chronological text follows Lady Bird's noteworthy accomplishments through her childhood, her marriage to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and her political endeavors such as drawing the nation's attention to pollution, preservation, and conservation. Though the early life of Johnson is detailed, Maurer races through the Kennedy administration and historic events of the 1960s. Overall, this title is a fitting introduction that will support further research about Johnson's life and contributions. Back matter includes additional facts, resources, and a bibliography of works for young and adult readers. Hsu's light, airy illustrations utilize thematic wildflowers to vividly frame key moments and people. VERDICT Recommended for elementary biography collections looking for titles centered on female influencers and environmental champions.—Jamie Jensen, Wayne Cox Elem. Sch., Roanoke, TX

School Library Journal

2020-12-15
According to Lady Bird Johnson, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

Born into a wealthy, White family, Claudia Alta Taylor was shy and loved nature, which likely accounted for her nickname: Lady Bird, bestowed by the children of her Black nanny. Vivid, colorful, if stiffly posed illustrations and accessible text with well-chosen anecdotes (her future husband, Lyndon Baines Johnson, proposed to her on their first date) are accompanied by summarizing questions tied to the refrain “Lady Bird Johnson, that’s who!” The text describes how she struggled with shyness yet ran a company and managed the family finances, supported her husband’s political campaigns, and eventually became first lady of the United States. The relative limitations she faced are briefly mentioned: Women in the mid-20th century didn’t typically own businesses, and most first ladies didn’t work to support legislation. Overall, she is portrayed as a conservationist who tried to bring people together through her highway-beautification campaigns during a time when the American people were divided about the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. While her attempts can be seen as either visionary or superficial depending on the beholder, and other environmental advocates may have achieved more, children interested in the environment and climate change will easily see how her actions played a role in the history of environmentalism. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 78.6% of actual size.)

A portrait of a first lady who hoped to make America beautiful. (notes, bibliography, acknowledgements) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews