Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg.  Houghton Mifflin, 2011, 37 pages. 

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 9-12

Recommended for: Ages 4-8

On the subject of mature ladies doing extraordinary things, who could top Mrs. Annie Edson Taylor, the first human being to actually go over Niagra Falls in a barrel?  No kidding–in 1901, the 63-year-old, poor-but-respectable widow decided she could make her fortune by performing this daring feat and later touring the country lecturing about it.  She hired a publicist and a barrel-maker, planned every detail, and . . . did it!!  The aftermath didn’t quite work out like she expected, for Mrs. Taylor did not have a dashing stage presence–in fact her audiences simply could not believe this grandma was the famed Niagra Falls barrel-rider.  Soon enough, other daredevils followed in her footsteps and stole some of her thunder.  But Annie was the first, and that was always her consolation.  Too bad she couldn’t have had Chris Van Allsburg as her publicist, the author-illustrator of such household names as Jumanji and The Polar Express.  But his name alone should be enough to put Mrs. Taylor on the map again.  His monetary reward will be greater, but he’s earned it: the sepia-toned, pointillist style fleshes out a bygone era and compliments Annie’s stubborn, slightly dotty character.  The picture of her expression while going over the falls is priceless.

Cautions: none

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/morality rating: n/a
• Artistic value: 4.5

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