From Publishers Weekly
A contemporary Italian-American family living in New York City makes its annual pilgrimage to Liberty Island to celebrate the birthday of the Statue of Liberty in this poignant picture book. Young Mike thinks a picnic in blustery October is just plain dumb ("Why do we always have to do this?"); he's embarrassed by his grandparents' unflagging enthusiasm for this outing. But when Mike observes a family of new Americans who have also come to pay their respects to Lady Liberty, he gains insight into this symbol of freedom--and his Italian grandparents' gratitude at arriving in the United States. Bunting's (So Far from the Sea) patriotic story includes several hallmarks of now-familiar immigrant stories but never grows soppy, due in large part to Mike's lightly irreverent voice. Carpenter (Twinnies, with Bunting) captures a touch of the "huddled masses" as she depicts crowds on the subway and on the ferry in her vibrant acrylics. Ages 5-10. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-Every year on October 28th, Tony's extended family packs a picnic, lawn chairs, blankets, and a birthday cake, and heads to the Statue of Liberty to celebrate Lady Liberty's "birthday." Despite Tony's annual embarrassment, Grandma's need to express her emotions over her long-ago acceptance by her chosen country is paramount, and the family respects that. This year, a chance encounter with a family of new emigres opens Tony's eyes to just what the statue symbolizes, and he joins openly in the final toast, proud and unashamed. Carpenter's colorful acrylics are realistic but soft edged, conveying in their slightly blurred edges the feeling of a chilly, blustery day in New York Harbor, seen through eyes moist with tears (brought on by the wind, the emotions, or both). Bunting warmly captures the lasting emotional impact that the first sighting of the statue can have on hopeful new arrivals. (One slight slip-the text calls the statue "white"-but the illustrations show Liberty in her coppery-green patina.) An excellent choice for an October 28th read-aloud (along with Emma Lazarus's poem), and for a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday to You."-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Bunting (I Have an Olive Tree, p. 719, etc.) once again explores larger themes through a quiet family story. Every October, on Lady Liberty's birthday, Tony and his extended family have a picnic on Liberty Island. The family rendezvous at Battery Park to take the ferry out to the island. Waiting in line, Tony, who thinks the picnic is pretty corny, is approached by a woman, obviously a new immigrant. She gestures her alarm when the ferry departs without her; she is soothed when Tony motions that the ferry will return. Once on the island, Tony's family has the picnic before toasting the statue and blowing kisses to her. Later, Tony spies the woman he had helped earlier, and the way they look up at the statue, ``so still, so respectful, so . . . so peaceful, makes me choke up.'' This sense of refuge drifts through Bunting's text, as fundamental and natural an element of life as are the everyday incidentals she braids into the story and all of which are exquisitely caught by Carpenter's vivid illustrations. (Picture book. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Book Description
Tony thinks it's dumb to go all the way to Liberty Island for a birthday picnic. But that's before he understands what the Statue of Liberty means to Grandma.
Card catalog description
A boy finally comes to understand why his grandmother insists that the family come to Ellis Island each year to celebrate Lady Liberty's birthday.
About the Author
EVE BUNTING first glimpsed the Statue of Liberty when she sailed into New York Harbor as an immigrant from Ireland. She is the author of many books, including the three titles in the Little Badger series and the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz. She lives in Southern California.
NANCY CARPENTER has illustrated numerous books for children, including Twinnies, also written by Eve Bunting. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
A Picnic in October ANNOTATION
A boy finally comes to understand why his grandmother insists that the family come to Ellis Island each year to celebrate Lady Liberty's birthday.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Tony thinks it's dumb to have a picnic in October every year. He thinks it's dumb to go all the way to Liberty Island for a birthday, too. It's too far. And it's too cold. And it's just plain embarrassing. But that's what he thinks before he helps the lady who can't speak English—and before he begins to understand what the Statue of Liberty means to Grandma.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
A contemporary Italian-American family living in New York City makes its annual pilgrimage to Liberty Island to celebrate the birthday of the Statue of Liberty in what PW called a "poignant picture book." Ages 6-9. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Publishers Weekly
A contemporary Italian-American family living in New York City makes its annual pilgrimage to Liberty Island to celebrate the birthday of the Statue of Liberty in this poignant picture book. Young Mike thinks a picnic in blustery October is just plain dumb ("Why do we always have to do this?"); he's embarrassed by his grandparents' unflagging enthusiasm for this outing. But when Mike observes a family of new Americans who have also come to pay their respects to Lady Liberty, he gains insight into this symbol of freedom--and his Italian grandparents' gratitude at arriving in the United States. Bunting's (So Far from the Sea) patriotic story includes several hallmarks of now-familiar immigrant stories but never grows soppy, due in large part to Mike's lightly irreverent voice. Carpenter (Twinnies, with Bunting) captures a touch of the "huddled masses" as she depicts crowds on the subway and on the ferry in her vibrant acrylics. Ages 5-10. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature - Carolyn Dennette Michaels
This is a picture book about a New York City family's bus and ferryboat ride to attend their Grandmother's annual October birthday party on Liberty Island, home of the Statue of Liberty. We see and hear young Tony as he struggles to make personal sense of his family's ritual event. To Tony, the whole performance is too far, too cold, and just plain too embarrassing--until he understands why. Art and text present a strong three-generation family supporting their matriarch. Tony comes to realize the value of family in the trip to Grandmother's birthday picnic. Art depicting harbor vistas and "zoom ins" of family faces make a satisfying storybook whole.
Art & Photography
Book Info
