Swamp Angel Review by Allison Trippe

Bibliography

Isaacs, Anne. 1994. Swamp Angel. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York, NY: The Penguin Group.    ISBN: 978-0140559088

Plot Summary

Swamp Angel is an entertaining American Tall Tale about the greatest woodswoman in all of Tennessee. When an enormous black bear threatens settlers in a nearby town, Swamp Angel comes to their rescue. The extraordinary girl faces the bear, known as Thundering Tarnation, with confidence, might, and strength. She tosses him high into the sky, lassos him with a tornado, and wrestles the bear through the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Tarnation recovers and pins Swamp Angel at the bottom of a lake. Just when it seems as if Swamp Angel will surely lose the battle, she cleverly outsmarts the bear, escapes from being held captive, and defeats Tarnation. In the end, the whole state of Tennessee celebrates her bravery and accomplishment. Through humor and extreme exaggeration, author Anne Isaacs creates a memorable, original folklore.

Critical Analysis

Anne Isaacs, author of Swamp Angel,  masters the art of writing a tall tale with her imagery, alliterative narrative, and hyperbolic descriptions. The book begins with an exposition providing readers with background information about young Angelica Longrider. The main character, Swamp Angel, is a larger-than-life heroine developed through quick-witted wording and eye-catching illustrations. The plot contains plenty of action to keep readers engaged and turning pages. Isaacs combines metaphors, similes, rhyme, dialogue, and alliteration to unfold the narrative set somewhere in a Tennessee wilderness in the time of settlers and pioneers.

When the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist begin, outlandish and humorous obstacles help readers advance quickly to the resolution. Cultural markers representative of the frontier days of the southeast region of the United States are present throughout the book. Coonskin hats, buckskins, log cabins, bonnets, wagons and storehouses help readers identify the setting. The universal theme of good triumphing over evil is present amidst this original tall tale.

Illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky creates vivid images, mostly in the form of two-page spreads. He uses oil paintings with veneer borders to support the mood of the rural Tennessee frontier. Zelinsky’s illustrations contain quintessential characteristics of 19th Century American Folk Art. His artwork for Swamp Angel includes portraits and landscapes with particular attention given to strong color, highlights and shadowing. He creatively captures the humor and outlandish scenes in a visual format to effectively complement the author’s style.

Awards, Recognitions and Review Excerpts

• 1995 Caldecott Honor Book
• 2013 Phoenix Picture Book Award by the Children's Literature Association
• 1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
• 1994 ALA Notable Book
• New York Public Library, 100 Books Every Child Should Read
• New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 1994
• School Library Journal Best Books of 1994
• Booklist Children's Editors Choices 1994
• Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 1994
• Time Magazine's 8 Best Children's Books, 1994
• Parenting Magazine Reading-Magic Award, 10 Best Books of 1994
• 1995 Notable Trade Book in Language Arts, National Council of Teachers of English

From Kirkus Review: “It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's (The Wheels on the Bus, 1990) altered-state, American primitive paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading.”

From Horn Book: “Move over, Paul Bunyan, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers. . . Visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember.”

Connections

• Compare and contrast Swamp Angel with other American tall tales such as:
• Paul Bunyan. ISBN: 978-0688058005
• Pecos Bill. ISBN: 978-0688099244
• John Henry. ISBN: 978-0140566222
• Use this book to help teach students the elements of tall tales.
• After reading Swamp Angel, students can write their own tall tale.
• Study the qualities and characteristics of the artwork, and compare it to 19th Century American folk art.
• Locate Tennessee on a map and discuss the Southeast region of the United States. Discuss how the setting influences the plot.

*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.