Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty

by Claudia Friddell, Stacy Innerst (Illustrator)

Overview

Here is the story of how the Statue of Liberty got its pedestal when Joseph Pulitzer, a Jewish immigrant and famous newsman, created one of the first American crowdfunding campaigns to raise money for it.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684371303
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/18/2020
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	398,653
Product dimensions:	8.88(w) x 11.31(h) x 0.42(d)
Lexile:	NC1130L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

For children’s author Claudia Friddell, the next best thing to time travel is discovering and sharing exciting real life stories from long ago.  A former elementary school teacher, Claudia loves talking to students and teachers about the magic of bringing history to life through books. When she’s not visiting schools, digging for treasure in the library, or writing at her home in Baltimore, she’s reading, walking, and kayaking on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. To learn more about Claudia and her books, log onto www.claudiafriddell.com.

Stacy Innerst is the award-winning illustrator of multiple picture books, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Jonah Winter, The Music in George's Head by Suzanne Slade, and Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation by Peggy Thomas. Visit stacyinnerst.com.

Editorial Reviews

NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book

★ "In this soaring account, which spans Pulitzer's birth in Hungary to Lady Liberty’s debut in 1886, the author highlights both Pulitzer's rags-to-riches personal success story and his profound idealism: he 'had always loved words. And the word he loved best was liberty.' Innerst adds to the high tone of this celebration with impressionistically brushed scenes of Lady Liberty’s grand features, her frail-looking champion bouncing back from multiple reverses, and ordinary people pitching in coins and small bills to see the iconic statue raised at last. Though histories of the Statue of Liberty often mention Pulitzer’s campaign, this is the most detailed presentation for younger audiences to date. Just another immigrant getting the job done." —Booklist, starred review

"A poor Jewish immigrant who understood what liberty meant crusaded for Lady Liberty's pedestal. This is a well-written, inspiring ode to the contributions of immigrants. Pulitzer quotes and excerpts from some of his editorials are included; particularly wonderful are replicas of some handwritten letters from children who donated, literally, pennies. Atmospheric illustrations in brown and blue brushed on sepia-toned backgrounds give a historical feel... excellent information about Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty... appears in the backmatter. Pulitzer's permanent legacy now beams a beckoning welcome to all American newcomers—a timely reminder." —Kirkus Reviews

"This nonfiction picture book sheds light on Joseph Pulitzer’s connection to Lady Liberty and his role in bringing the American icon to the United States. Young readers will particularly enjoy reproductions of donation letters from kids, pledging money to support the cause. Innerst uses watercolor and acrylic paint, with some ink drawings. Back matter includes fun facts about the Statue of Liberty and Pulitzer, a bibliography, an afterword, a time line, and photos of the statue during its construction and inauguration. (T)his [biography] is a good jumping-off point for discussions of civic responsibility and philanthropy." —School Library Journal

"Friddell... [focuses] on New York World newspaper owner Joseph Pulitzer’s rags to riches backstory as a poor Hungarian immigrant who fought for the Union in the Civil War, worked odd jobs before his break into journalism, and used his public influence to cajole Americans into supporting Frederic Bartholdi’s monumental beacon. Innerst’s mixed media artwork, rendered in tan and sepia evocative of an era antedating color news coverage, have an airy, slightly hazy lightness that contrasts well with the weight of Liberty’s component copper parts scattered throughout scenes, awaiting their ultimate reassembly. Nine pages of end matter...could pivot a recreational read into a middle-grade research project." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Both the con­cep­tion and the exe­cu­tion of this won­der­ful book are excep­tion­al...Clau­dia Frid­dell and Sta­cy Innerst have ele­vat­ed this impor­tant mes­sage for young read­ers into a pro­found­ly orig­i­nal work of art." —Jewish Book Council

From the Publisher

04/01/2020

PreS-Gr 4—This nonfiction picture book sheds light on Joseph Pulitzer's connection to Lady Liberty and his role in bringing the American icon to the United States. Born in 1847 in Mako, Hungary, Pulitzer moved to America to fight in the Civil War and went on to become a successful newspaper publisher and philanthropist. At the 1878 Paris World's Fair, he became fascinated with the Statue of Liberty and began to actively campaign to bring the statue to the States. He eventually reached out to fellow Americans through his newspaper and offered to print the stories of anyone who made a donation. Young readers will particularly enjoy reproductions of donation letters from kids, pledging money to support the cause. Innerst uses watercolor and acrylic paint, with some ink drawings. Back matter includes fun facts about the Statue of Liberty and Pulitzer, a bibliography, an afterword, a time line, and photos of the statue during its construction and inauguration. VERDICT Although biographies about Pulitzer aren't likely to fly off the shelf, this one is a good jumping-off point for discussions of civic responsibility and philanthropy. A solid, if somewhat additional, purchase for most libraries.—Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, WA

School Library Journal

2020-02-09
A poor Jewish immigrant who understood what liberty meant crusaded for Lady Liberty’s pedestal.

Joseph Pulitzer immigrated 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 bought the New York World newspaper and generated some capital, but funds still fell short, the wealthy failing to contribute despite his fiery editorials. 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. This is a well-written, inspiring ode to the contributions of immigrants. Pulitzer quotes and excerpts from some of his editorials are included; particularly wonderful are replicas of some handwritten letters from children who donated, literally, pennies. Atmospheric illustrations in brown and blue brushed on sepia-toned backgrounds give a historical feel, with Pulitzer and most secondary characters depicted as white. Excellent information about Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty, including a timeline, appears in the backmatter.

Pulitzer’s permanent legacy now beams a beckoning welcome to all American newcomers—a timely reminder. (Informational picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews