Written by Jill Esbaum, Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
Calkins Creek (2024)
Gene Stratton-Porter was a farm girl who fell in love with birds, from the chickens whose eggs she collected to the hawks that preyed on them. When she grew up, Gene wanted nothing more than to share her love of birds with the world. She wrote stories about birds, but when a magazine wanted to publish them next to awkward photos of stuffed birds, she knew she had to take matters into her own hands. Teaching herself photography, Gene began to take photos of birds in the wild. Her knowledge of birds and how to approach them allowed her to get so close you could count the feathers of the birds in her photos.
Her work was unlike anything Americans had ever seen before – she captured the true lives of animals in their natural habitat. A pioneering wildlife photographer and one of the most popular authors of the early 20th century, this bird girl showed the world the beauty of nature and why it was worth preserving.
“This lively picture-book biography introduces readers to “one of America’s first bird photographers,” whose early-twentieth-century books about the natural world have inspired generations of conservationists and birders. Unconventional for her time, Stratton-Porter (1863–1924) develops her fascination with birds and their behaviors during a carefree childhood in rural Indiana. As a “grown-up married lady,” she writes about her birding experiences but declines to be published when she learns her words would be accompanied by unlifelike drawings of birds “posed in silly positions.” Photography changes everything for Stratton-Porter, and she embarks on a five-year project in the Limberlost Swamp near her home, photographing birds in their natural habitat (including “the world’s first photo series of a growing vulture chick”). Esbaum’s conversational text engagingly conveys her subject’s single-minded pursuit of her passion: sharing her love of birds with the world. Gibbon’s evocative acrylic-ink and colored-pencil illustrations depict the era and the beauty of the environs. Back matter includes more about Stratton-Porter and her influence; two photos of the subject and one of her photographs of a barn owl; a bibliography; and a list of Stratton-Porter’s own books.” –Kitty Flynn, The Horn Book
“…Esbaum relies on simply stated language and syntax, emphasizing Gene’s love of birds and allowing her determination to shine through. Gibbon’s glowing, detailed acrylic-and-ink illustrations appear in vignettes or in full-page or double-page spreads, matching and enhancing the text. Though greatly respected in her own time, Gene Stratton-Porter is far less well known today; this work rectifies that oversight—this self-taught woman naturalist will come alive for young readers. Fascinating and inspiring.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Seven-year-old bird-bewitched Geneva develops a reputation as an avian expert, helping injured birds recuperate and learning how to observe her feathered friends in their natural environment. As a grown-up, Gene returns to her cherished countryside and pens true stories about her beloved birds, but demands for accompanying artwork from a magazine make her realize she doesn’t want the birds portrayed in stiff, posed artwork. It finally occurs to Gene that photographs may be the answer, so off she goes to nearby Limberlost Swamp, 40 pounds of camera gear in tow. The fearless photographer sloshes and clambers through the difficult terrain to find content to share via umpteen articles and books, cementing her place in history as one of the first Americans to capture birds through a camera lens. It’s a pleasure to meet the bold bird ambassador and watch her flourish, and the vibrant acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations offer a superb sense of play and movement, beautifully matching Gene’s zest for adventures in the natural world. A splendid introduction to a lesser-known life that is sure to inspire.” –Emily Graham, Booklist
