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

by Claudia Friddell Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross

Overview

Joseph Pulitzer always loved the word liberty. It's no surprise that when he first saw Lady Liberty's head in Paris, Pulitzer shared sculptor Auguste Bartholdi's dream of seeing France's gift of friendship stand in New York's harbor. Frustrated that Americans, especially wealthy New Yorkers, were not interested in paying for the statue's pedestal, Pulitzer used his newspaper, the World, to call on all Americans to contribute. This is the inspiring story of how one immigrant brought together young and old, rich and poor, to raise funds for a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, an everlasting beacon of freedom.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

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

School Library Journal

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

Kirkus Reviews

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)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159678034
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	06/20/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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