A Book for Black-Eyed Susan by Judy Young and illustrated by local Hunterdon County resident Doris Ettlinger is a lovely read for older children. In our school, 3rd grade studies pioneers and their struggles, with a focus on Laura Ingalls Wilder. This book was a great book to read, especially after studying this subject in school.
Our family has a very rich pioneer heritage, so I was particularly interested in reading this book which follows a young girl and her family as they cross the prairie.
After leaving their home in Missouri, the mother of the family dies, leaving behind a newborn baby, ten year old Cora and her father as they travel to fulfill their dreams of living out west. Hard decisions are made and the father decides to have Cora's aunt raise the baby and take her to California, separating their families. Cora lovingly creates a book to give to Susan, her baby sister, to remind her of her family and the home they came from. While the book is full of difficult decisions and tragedy, as many pioneer families endured, the book comes full circle and ends very sweetly.
I enjoyed reading this book and loved how detailed the illustrationswere. Doris Ettlinger really captured the essence of the trek pioneers made. She is a very talented artist. This was also a great opportunity to talk about American history with older children and really have a meaningful conversation about loss and the trials of our ancestors.
You can purchase A Book for Black-Eyed Susan at your local bookstore or online. You can also come meet Doris Ettlinger on April 16th at the Warren County Bazaar and Fun Festival in Washington, NJ. She will be at Gibson's Gym at 75 E. Washington Ave (Rt. 57) between 1pm-2:30pm. Here she will be reading two of her books and lead children in a Little House paper mural activity. She will also be selling and signing her books.
If you can't make that date, check her out for another book signing at the Book Garden in Frenchtown on April 30th from 2-4pm.
