Eleanor Roosevelt’s life from childhood on is captured in a succinct text, with each page concluding with a relevant quote from the woman herself. Struggling through a difficult although financially privileged childhood, shy Eleanor’s life brightened when she was sent to school in England, where she became more confident and social. Her lifelong commitment to social activism began with her return to the United States at eighteen. “Very early I knew there were men and women and children who suffered.” As the wife of a politician during wartime, she organized military support efforts and petitioned the government for her causes, while raising five children and teaching school. Once she became First Lady, Eleanor traveled around the country to speak with those suffering during the Depression. After FDR’s death, she was appointed to the United Nations, where she dealt with human rights issues on an even larger scale. Full-page illustrations in a muted palette capture Eleanor’s individuality, portraying the high and low points of her long, influential life. Additional information includes a timeline and research sources, including suggested reading and websites. (Ages 8–12)

Eleanor Roosevelt was raised in a privileged but stern Victorian household, with an affectionate but mostly absent father and a critical mother who made fun of her daughter's looks. Alone and lonely for much of her childhood, Eleanor found solace in books and in the life of her lively and independent mind. Her intellectual gifts and compassionate heart won her the admiration of many friends -- and the love of her future husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt./DIV DIVWhile other young women of her class were spending time at dances and parties, Eleanor devoted her energies to teaching children in New York City's poorest neighborhoods. Later, she became the most socially and politically active -- and controversial -- First Lady America had ever seen. Ambassador, activist, and champion of civil rights, Eleanor Roosevelt changed the soul of America forever.

In her eloquent prose, Doreen Rappaport captures the essence of Eleanor’s character and the deep significance of her legacy. With beautiful paintings by Gary Kelley and selections from Eleanor's own writings, Eleanor’s Big Words is an extraordinary tribute to an extraordinary American.