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Her Right Foot
Her Right Foot
Her Right Foot
Ebook43 pages9 minutes

Her Right Foot

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this ebook

If you had to name a statue, any statue, odds are good you'd mention the Statue of Liberty. Have you seen her?
She's in New York.
She's holding a torch.
And she's taking one step forward.
But why?
In this fascinating, fun take on nonfiction, uniquely American in its frank tone and honest look at the literal foundation of our country, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris investigate a seemingly small trait of America's most emblematic statue. What they find is about more than history, more than art. What they find in the Statue of Liberty's right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is essential to an entire country's creation. Can you believe that?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 19, 2017
ISBN9781452162935
Author

Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers, a former professional stundman, is the editor of McSweeney's and the author of the New York Times bestseller A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

Read more from Dave Eggers

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Reviews for Her Right Foot

Rating: 4.417525665979381 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A story that tells you how such an American landmark like the Statue of Liberty came from, and what stands for.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Her right foot was a great picture book about the statue of liberty. This book tells about every element of the statue of liberty, how her seven crowns represent the seven seas of the world, her book carries the date of the declaration of independence. The statue was a gift from France. The statue of liberty's right food is on the move! It is as if she walked across the ocean! I think this book would be wonderful to teach young children the origins of American's most Iconic statue.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book compiles the history and many facts about the Statue of Liberty with just a few words on each page of clear pen and ink illustrations. But beyond the history and the art of the statue, the author discovers a powerful message in the statue's right foot. Leveled for K-3.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Adult novelist/essayist/publisher Dave Eggers, perhaps best known for such books as A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and for founding the publishing house McSweeney's, turns to children's literature with Her Right Foot, which offers a non-fiction picture-book examination of the iconic Statue of Liberty. In a distinctive, conversational style, one in which the narrator interrupts himself to question the reader from time to time, this book sets out the history of the creation of the statue, her transportation across the seas from France - did you know she came from France? (the narrator asks) - and the fact that her right foot is raised, and that she is in motion. What does this forward motion mean...? Quite a bit, as it happens.Although I have never read Eggers' adult work, and have no particular attachment to the catalogue of McSweeney's, I am of course familiar with his books, and with his high profile in the publishing world. Given that this is so, I was curious to see what he would do with a children's book. All in all, I was quite impressed, finding the narrative quite engaging, with its chit-chatty style. More importantly, I think younger children will find the style engaging, and will learn something in the process. The artwork by Shawn Harris, who makes his debut here,
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Moving explanation of the Statue of Liberty written for early elementary.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Love the engaging, conversational tone of this book, giving the history, art appreciation and fun facts about the Statue of Liberty. Ultimately, the soaring but simple ending embodies what the statue and this country stand for. Readers will come away with a greater appreciation for the values of liberty, courage and acceptance.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In this nonfiction picture book, Eggers talks about the history of the Statue of Liberty and then about the importance of what it represents -- the welcoming of immigrants to the United States. With all the xenophobic political rhetoric we've been hearing in the past year or so, this is a welcome change, especially for children who are immigrants themselves or children of immigrants and thus in need of some reassurance. However, it's also important for non-immigrant children as a reminder to be kind and have an open heart. The illustrations aren't as realistic as I would normally care for in a nonfiction text, but they fit well with Eggers's somewhat facetious tone and the overall attempt to make nonfiction engaging with young children. (With the Common Core highlighting the need for more nonfiction texts, this is a good book to make available to show kids that nonfiction does not necessarily equal dry.) Despite the heft of the book, the text on each page is limited to one to three sentences, so it reads fairly quickly. I could see this being a good read-aloud or read-alone for elementary school-age children or even for those in junior high school.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love it! I've never been to NYC, so have not had the pleasure of seeing the statue in person. I had never heard about Her Right Foot before. An important detail and a delightful read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    There are many good books about the Statue of Liberty for children and adults. David Egger’s book The Right Foot is distinctive for its vibrancy, its idiosyncratic voice and gorgeous illustrations just right for a young audience. Egger takes us through a fun-filled, amusing ride of the facts, known and unknown, about the Statute of Liberty. What makes The Right Foot distinctive is when Egger’s excitement builds as he notices something new, something he did not notice before. The Statue of Liberty’s right foot is lifted, it’s moving and it’s walking! It is walking towards the “huddled masses” yearning to be free. It is not just a passive statue but an open, moving, reaching out statue that welcomes immigrant’s to the shores of the Unites States. Eggers believes that “"Liberty and freedom from oppression are not things you get or grant by standing around like some kind of statue. No! These are things that require action." And so here we see the Statue of Liberty taking the required action and it requires us to take action too. It is especially poignant and persuasive to hear this message in these difficult days of division about immigrants and refugees and who can come/not come to our borders for a better life
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I am a Statue of Liberty fan from way back- ever since I participated in the penny drive to restore her in first grade during the last century. This book is perfect.

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Her Right Foot - Dave Eggers

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