Reviews - Riverside Public Library

Booklist Reviews

It's 1943 and Diana Hopkins, the 10-year-old daughter of FDR's chief advisor, lives in the White House with her father. She plays spy by riding the dumbwaiter down to the kitchen and thwarts potential enemies by sticking pins in seat cushions, but these antics land her in trouble. After the president proposes victory gardens, though, Diana learns to prepare soil, plant seeds, water seedlings, and care for growing plants. And when rabbits devour half the seedlings, she learns to start over. In the end, Diana, her father, and the Roosevelts enjoy a supper made with homegrown produce. The president, the First Lady, and their dog have minor roles, but this clearly written story centers on Diana's White House escapades and her gardening experience. Created with pencil, gouache, and digital elements, the illustrations use expressive lines and quiet colors to suggest the period and define the characters. An appended note offers background information. Fictionalized from the reminiscences of Diana Hopkins Halsted, this picture book offers an engaging historical tale with a unique setting. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Based on a true story and with illustrations evoking the era, this book follows ten-year-old Diana, who lived in the White House while her father, Harry Hopkins, was President Franklin Roosevelt's chief advisor. Diana gets into mischief until, anxious to help the war effort, she volunteers to tend the White House Victory Garden; her efforts inspire the nation. A warm story with lots of curriculum connections. Copyright 2017 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

Based on a true story, Carbone's story shines a light on the little girl who became the face of the first White House victory garden. It was 1943, and the United States was at war. Everyone was contributing to the war effort: men were fighting for their country overseas. Women were producing heavy machinery in factories. Ten-year-old Diana Hopkins, who lived in the White House (her father was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's chief adviser), wanted to help too. At first, she thought she might be a spy and practiced by sneaking into the dumbwaiter. But the housekeeper was not pleased. Then she stuck pins in chairs all around the White House to keep "enemies" at bay. That didn't go well either, especially since Mrs. Roosevelt's friend actually sat on one! One day, President Roosevelt presented Diana with the perfect opportunity. Soon, Diana was turning over soil, fertilizing, and planting beans and tomatoes. By the time her vegetables were ready for harvesting, Diana not only p rovided a bounty for the White House table, but also inspired the whole country to plant victory gardens. Carbone's straightforward text features just the right details to engage children. It is complemented by Hill's mix of simple line drawings and muted colors that evoke the era's austerity. Diana is white, as are the president's advisers, but many of the White House staff as well as passers-by on Pennsylvania Avenue are black or brown. An important piece of our history brought down to a child's level. (author's note) (Informational picture book. 4-10) Copyright Kirkus 2016 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

A 10-year-old living in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's White House finds a way to contribute to the WWII effort in Carbone's (Heroes of the Surf) endearing picture book, based on a true story. Diana Hopkins, the ever-curious daughter of the president's chief advisor, tries being a spy, an important sign-hanging official, and a fighter of enemies, all of which get her into trouble. ("She put pins in all the satin chairs in the Red Room, the Green Room, and the Blue Room. Sharp pins, sticking straight up. That would send enemies away in a hurry.") When the president decides the White House needs its own Victory Garden, Diana jumps at the chance to help. Hill's (Percy and TumTum) vignettes playfully depict Diana's well-meaning mischief and her gardening work with Mrs. Roosevelt and the groundskeeper. The mixed-media illustrations, with their limited palette of muted grays, browns, and pinks, engender a warm, uplifting mood. An author's note includes a photograph of a young Diana with Eleanor Roosevelt and offers more information about the success of the WWII Victory Garden movement. Ages 5–8. Illustrator's agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Group. (May)

School Library Connection

In simple, rhyming text, a brother and sister explore a dark cave and all the sights, sounds, and animals that can be found there. A surprise awaits the reader as we discover the cave is really a blanket cave in their bedroom. Using the same "cave" materials, the children switch to another game with similar results. Young readers will giggle at the imaginative findings in the cave and their creativity when the cave is thwarted. Readers will want to imitate the story actions and develop their own alternatives. Repetitive, simple text makes this a great choice for the beginning reader, and the bright illustrations will appeal to the "read-to-me" crowd.

- K-5 - Susan Boatwright - Recommended

School Library Journal Reviews

K-Gr 3—Diana (Hopkins) Halsted, the daughter of one of Franklin Roosevelt's close advisors, lived at the White House during World War II. Without other children around, she spends most of her time with Fala, the Roosevelts' dog. After her playful activities get her in trouble with the White House staff, it is decided that a good way to direct Diana's energy would be for her to take care of a Victory Garden on the lawn. The 10-year-old becomes part of a publicity plan to encourage people all over the country to help the war effort by growing their own food. This book connects with the current day as Michelle Obama and many schools are involved in gardening, and demonstrates how that movement has roots in the 1940s. An author's note describes conversations with the real Diana, who is still living. The style of the illustrations reflects the time period. Created with pencil, gouache, and digital methods, sepia-toned backgrounds are drawn but not filled in or completely colored. Painted people and Fala are fully colored and appear more solid. They are arranged on the pages almost like characters on a stage or paper dolls being moved through different scenes. The effect is visually interesting but not highly engaging for children. The pictures reflect great attention to detail, with people of varying races featured in street scenes in Washington, DC. Front endpapers show the garden plants sprouting, while those at the back include vegetables ready for harvest. VERDICT The many curricular tie-ins make this book a good choice for school libraries.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA