Tigers and Tea With Toppy
By:
Illustrator: Matte Stephens
Author’s and artist’s notes. Sources. Excerpt adapted from “How One Paints and Models an Animal” by Charles R. Knight. Black-and-white historical photographs and drawings. Full-color gouache illustrations.
ISBN: 9781338134278
JLG Release: Jan 2019
Topics:
Charles Robert Knight (1874–1953)
, Homes and haunts
, New York City
, Family
, Rhoda Knight Kalt (1936– )
, Wildlife artists
, Grandparents and grandchildren
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
School Library Journal*, Publishers Weekly, The Horn Book Magazine
School Library Journal
Rhoda loves to visit her grandparents every weekend. She and her grandfather, Toppy, spend time at their favorite places. At the American Museum of Natural History, Toppy shows Rhoda through the museum where they stop and look at Toppy’s paintings. Rhoda’s grandfather turns out to be Charles R. Knight, world-renowned wildlife artist. Rhoda love Rhoda loves to visit her grandparents every weekend. She and her grandfather, Toppy, spend time at their favorite places. At the American Museum of Natural History, Toppy shows Rhoda through the museum where they stop and look at Toppy’s paintings. Rhoda’s grandfather turns out to be Charles R. Knight, world-renowned wildlife artist. Rhoda loves to listen to him talk about the animals he’s studied and painted. He’s as good a storyteller as he is a painter. As a boy, Toppy loved to draw and he spent hours learning about animals so he could draw them. Despite poor eyesight that worsened over time, he never gave up on his dream. After their time at the museum, Rhoda and Toppy go back to the house to have dinner with Grandma Nonnie. Toppy works on his book about drawing animals. Even though he can barely see, he continues to pursue the craft he loves so dearly. Combining the talents of Kerley with the experiences of Kalt, along with the art of Stephens and Knight himself, makes for a powerful book. VERDICT Not only is this a story of the tender relationship between a grandfather and granddaughter, it’s also a powerful story of following one’s dreams and passions, despite life’s challenges. A first purchase for most libraries.–Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT
Book Details
ISBN
9781338134278
First Release
January 2019
Genre
Fic
Dewey Classification
Trim Size
12" x 8 1/2"
Page Count
48
Accelerated Reader
Level 4.3; Points: 0.5;
Scholastic Reading Counts
Level 0; Points: 0;
Lexile
Level AD870L
Format
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Scholastic Press
Potentially Sensitive Areas
Topics
Charles Robert Knight (1874–1953), Homes and haunts, New York City, Family, Rhoda Knight Kalt (1936– ), Wildlife artists, Grandparents and grandchildren,
