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Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life
No matter how the question is answered, one thing is There has hardly been a life in the last century that Eleanor Roosevelt has not affected, in one way or another. From securing safe, low-cost housing for Kentucky's poor, to helping her grandchildren hang a tire swing on the White House's south lawn, to representing America as the first female delegate to the United Nations, Eleanor rarely kept a second of her life for herself -- and she wouldn't have had it any other way.
In this stunning "scrapbook" biography, Candace Fleming, author of the acclaimed Ben Franklin's Almanac, turns her keen eye to our nation's premier First Lady. Filled with photographs of everything from Eleanor's speech at the 1940 Democratic National Convention to her high school report card, as well as fascinating stories about life in and out of the White House, Our Eleanor gives us a remarkable perspective on a remarkable woman, and presents to a new generation an Eleanor to call its own.
In this stunning "scrapbook" biography, Candace Fleming, author of the acclaimed Ben Franklin's Almanac, turns her keen eye to our nation's premier First Lady. Filled with photographs of everything from Eleanor's speech at the 1940 Democratic National Convention to her high school report card, as well as fascinating stories about life in and out of the White House, Our Eleanor gives us a remarkable perspective on a remarkable woman, and presents to a new generation an Eleanor to call its own.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Candace Fleming
67 books553 followersI have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
July 11, 2014
This complete biography of Eleanor Roosevelt chronicles her early childhood to her years alone after Franklin’s death in 1945. Her transition from an upper class woman to one who fought for and espoused several social causes is well depicted. She actively canvassed for woman’s rights and labour rights - particularly during the depression years. She supported African Americans in their struggle for racial equality. She participated in the making of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. This is a remarkable woman who made change a constant part of her life.
This book is well made with several illustrations. It is not just a coffee table book with pretty pictures. Several important people in Eleanor’s life are well portrayed like Louis Howe, Lorena Hickock and Joseph Lash. However Harry Hopkins is overlooked. The author does speculate on Eleanor’s sexual orientation and a possible affair with another man. She fortunately presents this in a non-judgemental manner. These are events of long ago and her husband was not known as the most attentive of human beings. Also mentioned is the immense file that the F.B.I. kept on Eleanor.
Also, regretfully, Franklin’s mother, Sara, gets another poor portrayal as an overbearing and intrusive “mother-in-law”. It is not pointed out that she provided extensive care for her grand-children over the years. Both Franklin and Eleanor were not particularly effective parents – they were young and naïve when they married and not well prepared for parenthood. Sara looked after her grand-children while both Franklin and Eleanor were pursuing their careers or vacationing. She was always available as a substitute parent. Candace Fleming and other authors have not given her credit for this. See “Sara and Eleanor” by Jan Pottker for a completely different point of view. And congratulations to 10-14 year olds who read this book (this is the age group cited on the dust jacket) – I am way beyond that age and the book appealed to me!
This book is well made with several illustrations. It is not just a coffee table book with pretty pictures. Several important people in Eleanor’s life are well portrayed like Louis Howe, Lorena Hickock and Joseph Lash. However Harry Hopkins is overlooked. The author does speculate on Eleanor’s sexual orientation and a possible affair with another man. She fortunately presents this in a non-judgemental manner. These are events of long ago and her husband was not known as the most attentive of human beings. Also mentioned is the immense file that the F.B.I. kept on Eleanor.
Also, regretfully, Franklin’s mother, Sara, gets another poor portrayal as an overbearing and intrusive “mother-in-law”. It is not pointed out that she provided extensive care for her grand-children over the years. Both Franklin and Eleanor were not particularly effective parents – they were young and naïve when they married and not well prepared for parenthood. Sara looked after her grand-children while both Franklin and Eleanor were pursuing their careers or vacationing. She was always available as a substitute parent. Candace Fleming and other authors have not given her credit for this. See “Sara and Eleanor” by Jan Pottker for a completely different point of view. And congratulations to 10-14 year olds who read this book (this is the age group cited on the dust jacket) – I am way beyond that age and the book appealed to me!
December 11, 2022
Writer Candace Fleming’s book Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look At Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life was published in 2005. Fleming’s Our Eleanor hopes to be a be a scrapbook of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. Fleming hopes to illustrate Eleanor Roosevelt’s life through illustrations, artifacts, and documents of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life (Fleming VIII-IX). Fleming’s book, Our Eleanor is around 156 pages long. The book has a wonderful layout. The book has black-and-white illustrations. The book has a timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life at the beginning (Fleming X-XIII). The book includes “An Abridged Roosevelt Family Tree (Fleming XIV-XV). One fact that I learn from Fleming’s biography of Eleanor Roosevelt was that Eleanor’s birth name was Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, but everyone called her Eleanor Roosevelt (Fleming 3). The book has seven different chapters based on different themes or eras of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. The book contains a bibliography that lays out her use of sources, both primary and secondary sources (Fleming 159-172). According to Fleming’s author website, she studied history in college. A reader can tell that Fleming has a very solid background in historical research (Candace Fleming: Biography). Fleming’s book, Our Eleanor is an excellent and interesting overview and/or introduction to the life of Eleanor Roosevelt for both younger and older readers.
Work Cited:
Fleming, Candance. “Biography-Candance Fleming.” Last modified: June 12, 2022. Candace Fleming: Biography
Work Cited:
Fleming, Candance. “Biography-Candance Fleming.” Last modified: June 12, 2022. Candace Fleming: Biography
March 3, 2024
pretty good! a very interesting life. her mom was so mean tho - who calls their baby "more wrinkled and less attractive than the average" ???
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
Eleanor Roosevelt was very like a diamond in the rough. She wasn't much to look at on the outside, but she was stunningly beautiful on the inside. She was strong, multi-faceted, rare, and flawed.
Author Candace Fleming did a wonderful job of showing all aspects of the amazing Mrs. Roosevelt, from her childhood to her death. This was a clearly unbiased portrait, backed by research and notes galore. Fleming does not patronize her young readers. She shows the good, the bad, and the ugly about one woman's life.
The best part about the book is its scrapbook style layout, which allows the reader to peek at little snippets at a time, or read long passages. Full of rare photographs, letters, and little known facts, this book is one of the best biographies I've ever read!
Eleanor Roosevelt was very like a diamond in the rough. She wasn't much to look at on the outside, but she was stunningly beautiful on the inside. She was strong, multi-faceted, rare, and flawed.
Author Candace Fleming did a wonderful job of showing all aspects of the amazing Mrs. Roosevelt, from her childhood to her death. This was a clearly unbiased portrait, backed by research and notes galore. Fleming does not patronize her young readers. She shows the good, the bad, and the ugly about one woman's life.
The best part about the book is its scrapbook style layout, which allows the reader to peek at little snippets at a time, or read long passages. Full of rare photographs, letters, and little known facts, this book is one of the best biographies I've ever read!
September 7, 2012
Candace Fleming can always be counted on to bring to life historic characters not only through her verbal descriptions of their lives, but by an amazing choice of scrapbook materials: photos, letters, artifacts. As someone who has spent significant time studying Eleanor Roosevelt, I appreciated Fleming’s approach and even learned a few new things myself. This is a wonderful book for its words and visuals and should be accessible to a wide variety of young readers.
January 29, 2024
I feel like I know Eleanor Roosevelt now. This wealthy upper crust lady was an enigma. She had everything except a good self concept. She thought herself unattractive and incompetent most of her life, yet she was anything but that. She was Franklin's Roosevelt most important political asset, yet their marriage was not one to be envied. She took the unpaid role of First lady very seriously, and used her title much to the benefit of those in need. She secured low-income housing for poor Kentuckians. She was the first female delegate to the UN. The list goes on and on. Americans with every kind of need wrote to her begging for help--and she helped as much as she could.
I learned so much from this book--some really startled me. First was the fact that she had an anti-semitic tilt. According to this book, most Americans did. I had no idea that this was the way our ancestors felt. They somewhat agreed with Hitler trying to stifle the Jews prosperity--of course most did not agree to the genocide he espoused. Second, I had no idea of the influence Franklin's overbearing mother, Sara, had on his presidency and the raising of her grandchildren. Due to Sara's domination each child had a nanny--and hardly saw their mother. She didn't feed them or put them to bed. Third the author just matter of factly --not judgmentally--talks about Eleanor's friendship with known lesbians. One can make up their own ideas about Eleanor's sexuality.
Fourth, it was common knowledge that Franklin was unfaithful to Eleanor with his secretary and mistress, Lucy Mercer Rutherford. What I didn't know was that Lucy was with him in the spa at Warm Springs, Georgia when he died!! Oh my! The book tells of early in their marriage Franklin's affair with Lucy was discovered. Eleanor was totally shattered and ready for a divorce. Franklin begged her to forgive him and he promised to never see Lucy again. HA! Eleanor thought he was true to his word. Then years later the servants at Warm Springs Georgia tell Eleanor that Lucy had been staying there for a long time!
All four Eleanor's sons were "losers" who had alcohol problems and couldn't keep a wife or a job. Elliot committed suicide. So Sad. Her only daughter was more successful than her sons--still she was divorced twice.
My feeling after reading this was, "Oh I'm blessed! Not with Eleanor's wealth and status, but with a wonderful husband and family." Money sure doesn't buy happiness and love.
I learned so much from this book--some really startled me. First was the fact that she had an anti-semitic tilt. According to this book, most Americans did. I had no idea that this was the way our ancestors felt. They somewhat agreed with Hitler trying to stifle the Jews prosperity--of course most did not agree to the genocide he espoused. Second, I had no idea of the influence Franklin's overbearing mother, Sara, had on his presidency and the raising of her grandchildren. Due to Sara's domination each child had a nanny--and hardly saw their mother. She didn't feed them or put them to bed. Third the author just matter of factly --not judgmentally--talks about Eleanor's friendship with known lesbians. One can make up their own ideas about Eleanor's sexuality.
Fourth, it was common knowledge that Franklin was unfaithful to Eleanor with his secretary and mistress, Lucy Mercer Rutherford. What I didn't know was that Lucy was with him in the spa at Warm Springs, Georgia when he died!! Oh my! The book tells of early in their marriage Franklin's affair with Lucy was discovered. Eleanor was totally shattered and ready for a divorce. Franklin begged her to forgive him and he promised to never see Lucy again. HA! Eleanor thought he was true to his word. Then years later the servants at Warm Springs Georgia tell Eleanor that Lucy had been staying there for a long time!
All four Eleanor's sons were "losers" who had alcohol problems and couldn't keep a wife or a job. Elliot committed suicide. So Sad. Her only daughter was more successful than her sons--still she was divorced twice.
My feeling after reading this was, "Oh I'm blessed! Not with Eleanor's wealth and status, but with a wonderful husband and family." Money sure doesn't buy happiness and love.
August 5, 2019
I found this book to be amazing not just in the scope of the information covered, but in the way the material was presented. You are drawn into the book by the magazine article type format. Each page is laid out with different articles and photographs to draw your interest and to allow you to choose what you will read first and then next. I often chose the article that drew my interest and then hopscotched my way around the page according to my level of understanding.
I was introduced to Candace Fleming through other books that I had read. I chose this biography based on the my enjoyment and the level of information that she presented. There is fact, background information of how all this fit into the news of the time and MUCH delightful humor.
I was unaware of the difficult childhood that Eleanor endured and how she overcame much of that damage. I also did not know all that she was involved in during Franklin's runs for office and the goodwill that she tirelessly offered. All this is a time when women were not even footnotes in men's public lives. That rich life she led after Franklin's death was astounding.
I was introduced to Candace Fleming through other books that I had read. I chose this biography based on the my enjoyment and the level of information that she presented. There is fact, background information of how all this fit into the news of the time and MUCH delightful humor.
I was unaware of the difficult childhood that Eleanor endured and how she overcame much of that damage. I also did not know all that she was involved in during Franklin's runs for office and the goodwill that she tirelessly offered. All this is a time when women were not even footnotes in men's public lives. That rich life she led after Franklin's death was astounding.
February 21, 2023
Having almost worked my way through Fleming's very deep bench of books, I will reiterate that how she approaches her writing is a marvel because whatever she writes about she writes about with as much checked bias as she can- presenting "nothing but the facts, ma'am". I didn't walk away from this having the standard rate of emotions about learning about this historical lady, a First lady. She was flawed, so was her presidential husband. She loved people but she also wasn't the lovey-dovey Mother. She was dealing with how to be a good person with the money and prestige she was raised from and political action, 'how it's always been done' and always being called an ugly duckling. One of the more powerful pieces was the poem she had by her bedside when she died.
She was a complex woman. She affected many lives. She was a woman of power and fortitude. The presentation not necessarily as a linear chronology but as a themed grouping did well for a deeper understanding of her as a person.
She was a complex woman. She affected many lives. She was a woman of power and fortitude. The presentation not necessarily as a linear chronology but as a themed grouping did well for a deeper understanding of her as a person.
May 11, 2017
I read Our Eleanor to approach a school project on her humanitarian work, and it gave me all that I needed, even though it was her biography. There is a balance between her importance in the American public eye, and personal strength as a woman. The scrapbook puts everything in her life in a dense, chronological perspective. While Fleming, who I know does exceeding amounts of research, uncovers facts that a roosevelt expert perhaps wouldn't know, she does not patronize the reader. Every word taught me something new. Although this is a Jr.-leveled book, I don't think any other book would have the same balance of informational depth, and simplicity. This book will make you fall in love with Eleanor, whether your partisan beliefs go left or right.
October 29, 2019
The book is worth the photos, but, unfortunately, the story that unfolds is basically an underpinning for negative gossip regarding the Roosevelts. Considering that Franklin D. Roosevelt was President four times, I can't imagine that he really was such a weak character who just referred to his mother for comfort. Eleanor has a reputation for being open minded and caring. So, it's very hard to believe that she was so passive/aggressive, with her mother-in-law and weak, in regard to her children, then, bloomed after having affairs with women... who were politically active. I don't recommend reading this book unless you want to see how gossip can work backwards to determine how someone, who fit the gossip, might have grown up.
April 24, 2019
Our Eleanor is a wonderful biography book done on Eleanor Roosevelt. This book is done in a scrapbook style book which I really enjoyed. Although this is a scrapbook style of book it is not a simple book that you only look at the pictures. This offers a lot of information of Eleanor’s upbringing and how and why she was so passionate in everything she did. The text was very descriptive and the pictures complemented the text nicely. As for use in a classroom setting I think this book could be used as a great tool to learn information on. If I student were to do a research project on Eleanor Roosevelt I believe this would be a fantastic book to start their research with.
November 29, 2020
Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming is an easy text augmented with generous photographs. The text does not omit the many controversies that rumbled through the lives of Eleanor and FDR. Interesting small vignettes are included. Especially interesting was a call she received from Frank Sinatra. She had no idea who this person was. She instructed her secretary to find out who the person was and what he wanted. He was requesting that she appear on his television program which she did. When he asked her what word she might like to leave with maybe 25 million viewers, Eleanore said, "Hope" and she and Sinatra broke into a duet of High Hopes. The book carries Source Notes and Index.
November 8, 2018
Not knowing much about Eleanor Roosevelt, I was hoping to get a glimpse into her life. Thankfully, this book was written in such a way that I was able to understand why people and admired her and have moments of dim admiration--both for her and for her husband. Candace Fleming successfully weaves information from both Eleanor's personal and professional life to create a large picture.
August 13, 2019
Extremely fascinating antecdotes and stories about her life, presented in a very easy to read scrapbook format. In our homeschool (grades 3 + 4), I read aloud the book, “Childhood of Famous Americans: Eleanor Roosevelt, Social Activist” while supplimenting with tangents drawn from my own reading of this scrapbook. Highly recommend.
August 2, 2020
What I know from finishing this book - is that I want to read more. What a remarkable woman. Her confidence, her hurt, her worry and her commitment to others though her family was critical and biting was striking to me. I might want to take on a mantra - What would Eleanor do? - but I think I have to learn more first. Time to read her autobiography.
September 28, 2023
Really enjoyed this! I particularly liked the scrapbook format and read it leisurely. Great for those who are an Eleanor fan or would just like to learn more about her . She was by far ahead of her time.
May 14, 2018
I found this book in the Junior section at the library, yet it's the most in-depth account of her life and adventures that I have ever read.
February 18, 2014
Our Eleanor is a very personal look at the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. This book not only chronicle’s the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, but provides a photographic journal and scrapbook of this remarkable woman’s America.
Critical Analysis:
It is apparent that Candace Fleming took the time to get to know one of America’s most provocative First Ladies. Choosing a scrapbook format as an organizational style, Fleming crafts a personal look at Mrs. Roosevelt’s life. The divisions in the work follow developmental lines, not always chronological, but always coherent. Students will relate to young Nell’s unhappy and somber childhood and Eleanor’s frank statements about her insecurities. Future historians will enjoy the photographs of Mrs. Roosevelt snapped as she visited the slums, work projects, prisons, and soup kitchens. Society minded girls will enjoy reading about the elegance surrounding the First Lady.
Choosing the scrapbook approach to the telling of Eleanor’s story was a brilliant decision. Fleming presents the story as if one were sitting on the sofa, flipping through the pages of memories of a life well lived. The heavyweight cream paper stock, the beautiful typeset, and the framed photographs reinforce the scrapbook format. This book doesn’t require an ordered reading, rather a pensive turning of pages, pausing when a photo or quotation captures the imagination. Beginning with a timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and ending with a detailed index, this biography is an excellent resource for the study of American life in the early twentieth century. As an added touch, the sources used in compiling the contents of this work of art are carefully cited as they appear in the story, not by page number but by category. Candace Fleming has produced an intimate portrait of a First Lady who changed the course and public expectations of all the First Ladies to come.
Critical Analysis:
It is apparent that Candace Fleming took the time to get to know one of America’s most provocative First Ladies. Choosing a scrapbook format as an organizational style, Fleming crafts a personal look at Mrs. Roosevelt’s life. The divisions in the work follow developmental lines, not always chronological, but always coherent. Students will relate to young Nell’s unhappy and somber childhood and Eleanor’s frank statements about her insecurities. Future historians will enjoy the photographs of Mrs. Roosevelt snapped as she visited the slums, work projects, prisons, and soup kitchens. Society minded girls will enjoy reading about the elegance surrounding the First Lady.
Choosing the scrapbook approach to the telling of Eleanor’s story was a brilliant decision. Fleming presents the story as if one were sitting on the sofa, flipping through the pages of memories of a life well lived. The heavyweight cream paper stock, the beautiful typeset, and the framed photographs reinforce the scrapbook format. This book doesn’t require an ordered reading, rather a pensive turning of pages, pausing when a photo or quotation captures the imagination. Beginning with a timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and ending with a detailed index, this biography is an excellent resource for the study of American life in the early twentieth century. As an added touch, the sources used in compiling the contents of this work of art are carefully cited as they appear in the story, not by page number but by category. Candace Fleming has produced an intimate portrait of a First Lady who changed the course and public expectations of all the First Ladies to come.
January 27, 2014
A very personal look at the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. This book not only chronicle’s the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, but provides a photographic journal and scrapbook of this remarkable woman’s America.
It is apparent that Candace Fleming took the time to get to know one of America’s most provocative First Ladies. Choosing a scrapbook format as an organizational style, Fleming crafts a personal look at Mrs. Roosevelt’s life. The divisions in the work follow developmental lines, not always chronological, but always coherent. Students will relate to young Nell’s unhappy and somber childhood and Eleanor’s frank statements about her insecurities. Future historians will enjoy the photographs of Mrs. Roosevelt snapped as she visited the slums, work projects, prisons, and soup kitchens. Society minded girls will enjoy reading about the elegance surrounding the First Lady.
Choosing the scrapbook approach to the telling of Eleanor’s story was a brilliant decision. Fleming presents the story as if one were sitting on the sofa, flipping through the pages of memories of a life well lived. The heavyweight cream paper stock, the beautiful typeset, and the framed photographs reinforce the scrapbook format. This book doesn’t require an ordered reading, rather a pensive turning of pages, pausing when a photo or quotation captures the imagination. Beginning with a timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and ending with a detailed index, this biography is an excellent resource for the study of American life in the early twentieth century. As an added touch, the sources used in compiling the contents of this work of art are carefully cited as they appear in the story, not by page number but by category. Candace Fleming has produced an intimate portrait of a First Lady who changed the course and public expectations of all the First Ladies to come.
It is apparent that Candace Fleming took the time to get to know one of America’s most provocative First Ladies. Choosing a scrapbook format as an organizational style, Fleming crafts a personal look at Mrs. Roosevelt’s life. The divisions in the work follow developmental lines, not always chronological, but always coherent. Students will relate to young Nell’s unhappy and somber childhood and Eleanor’s frank statements about her insecurities. Future historians will enjoy the photographs of Mrs. Roosevelt snapped as she visited the slums, work projects, prisons, and soup kitchens. Society minded girls will enjoy reading about the elegance surrounding the First Lady.
Choosing the scrapbook approach to the telling of Eleanor’s story was a brilliant decision. Fleming presents the story as if one were sitting on the sofa, flipping through the pages of memories of a life well lived. The heavyweight cream paper stock, the beautiful typeset, and the framed photographs reinforce the scrapbook format. This book doesn’t require an ordered reading, rather a pensive turning of pages, pausing when a photo or quotation captures the imagination. Beginning with a timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and ending with a detailed index, this biography is an excellent resource for the study of American life in the early twentieth century. As an added touch, the sources used in compiling the contents of this work of art are carefully cited as they appear in the story, not by page number but by category. Candace Fleming has produced an intimate portrait of a First Lady who changed the course and public expectations of all the First Ladies to come.
April 15, 2009
Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming
Antheneum Books For Young Readers - New York - 2005 - 156 pages
This nonfiction books gave a fascinating account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life from her birth through her death. I didn’t know that much about Mrs. Roosevelt before I read the book but she is now one of my personal heroes. She came from a priviledged background but all during her adult life she stived to connect with the common man and to create a world that was just and equal for all people. She also did a great deal for her husband while he was president that he could not do because of his polio. I’m not sure that FDR would have been the president he was without his strong and courageous wife. I did like that the book showed Eleanor from every side and didn’t sugar coat her negative features. She was not the world’s best mother and she struggled to raise her children. Early on she held on to some of the prejudices of the class from which she came. She was often depressed and moody. The book even alludes to speculation regarding her sexual preferences. All in all I think this book was a very interesting read and I would recommend it to others who like history and biographies. It may be difficult to entice teens to read a book like this if they were not already interested in the topic. Girls would probably like the book better because the subject of the book is female.
4Q - 2P - S
The cover is a younger picture of Eleanor Roosevelt. She looks happy and appealing in the picture.
Too Good to be True (Nonfiction)
Antheneum Books For Young Readers - New York - 2005 - 156 pages
This nonfiction books gave a fascinating account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life from her birth through her death. I didn’t know that much about Mrs. Roosevelt before I read the book but she is now one of my personal heroes. She came from a priviledged background but all during her adult life she stived to connect with the common man and to create a world that was just and equal for all people. She also did a great deal for her husband while he was president that he could not do because of his polio. I’m not sure that FDR would have been the president he was without his strong and courageous wife. I did like that the book showed Eleanor from every side and didn’t sugar coat her negative features. She was not the world’s best mother and she struggled to raise her children. Early on she held on to some of the prejudices of the class from which she came. She was often depressed and moody. The book even alludes to speculation regarding her sexual preferences. All in all I think this book was a very interesting read and I would recommend it to others who like history and biographies. It may be difficult to entice teens to read a book like this if they were not already interested in the topic. Girls would probably like the book better because the subject of the book is female.
4Q - 2P - S
The cover is a younger picture of Eleanor Roosevelt. She looks happy and appealing in the picture.
Too Good to be True (Nonfiction)
April 26, 2016
A “scrapbook” biography on the life First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. This collection of newspaper clippings, speeches, letters and photographs gives a chronological snapshot of Mrs. Roosevelt’s life. This unique perspective allows the reader to glimpse how other people viewed this great lady. The book is a collection of photographs taken of Mrs. Roosevelt throughout her life. These actual copies gave the book the feel of a magazine and clippings from newspapers, magazines and letters create a scrapbook of her life.
Presidents, Biography, Civil Rights, Women of United States History,
TEKS:
§113.16 Social Studies, Grade 5, Beginning with School Year 2011-2012 .
(b) Knowledge and Skills
(5) State and federal laws mandate a variety of celebrations and observances, including Celebrate Freedom Week.
(C) identify the accomplishments of individuals and groups such as Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, Dwight Eisenhower, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Colin Powell, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who have made contributions to society in the areas of civil rights, women's rights, military actions, and politics
Presidents, Biography, Civil Rights, Women of United States History,
TEKS:
§113.16 Social Studies, Grade 5, Beginning with School Year 2011-2012 .
(b) Knowledge and Skills
(5) State and federal laws mandate a variety of celebrations and observances, including Celebrate Freedom Week.
(C) identify the accomplishments of individuals and groups such as Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, Dwight Eisenhower, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Colin Powell, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who have made contributions to society in the areas of civil rights, women's rights, military actions, and politics
July 6, 2014
Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming
What do you know about Eleanor Roosevelt? Did you know that she was friends with Amelia Earhart and flew with her from Washington D.C. to Baltimore. Eleanor even considered getting her own pilot's license. However, her husband Franklin vetoed the idea saying, "I know how Eleanor drives a car. Imagine her flying an airplane!" (Eleanor was a terrible driver and once had as many as 3 car accidents on one journey.)
Did you know that she traveled at least 40,000 miles her first year in the White House? She wanted to meet people firsthand and see the effects of the Great Depression.
Most importantly, Eleanor was a friend to the people. She took a trip 2 1/2 miles underground to check the conditions of coal minors. She visited the Puerto Rican slums and then urged the president to create a housing project there. She read aloud to orphan children and inspected their asylum.
These are just a few of the facts you will learn if you read Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming. I promise you will be amazed by what you learn about this groundbreaking first lady.
What do you know about Eleanor Roosevelt? Did you know that she was friends with Amelia Earhart and flew with her from Washington D.C. to Baltimore. Eleanor even considered getting her own pilot's license. However, her husband Franklin vetoed the idea saying, "I know how Eleanor drives a car. Imagine her flying an airplane!" (Eleanor was a terrible driver and once had as many as 3 car accidents on one journey.)
Did you know that she traveled at least 40,000 miles her first year in the White House? She wanted to meet people firsthand and see the effects of the Great Depression.
Most importantly, Eleanor was a friend to the people. She took a trip 2 1/2 miles underground to check the conditions of coal minors. She visited the Puerto Rican slums and then urged the president to create a housing project there. She read aloud to orphan children and inspected their asylum.
These are just a few of the facts you will learn if you read Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming. I promise you will be amazed by what you learn about this groundbreaking first lady.
May 15, 2009
I expected to skim this but ended up reading it cover to cover because it was so fascinating. I loved the scrapbook format, with lots of black-and-white photographs and primary documents, such as handwritten letters, newspaper clippings, and political cartoons. Short entries -- none more than two pages long -- make it easy to read about Eleanor's early life, her marriage, motherhood, her work as First Lady, and her time as a United Nations delegate. It also offers background on key events such as World War II, Civil Rights, the Depression. Fleming's text is compelling and comprehensive, with details on Eleanor's faults as well as her many strengths. The author tastefully notes FDR's affairs as well as addresses rumors about Eleanor's sexual preferences. An index will help young researchers find specific topics since the book is mostly structured chronologically. Fleming's extensive research relied on Eleanor's own autobiographies, personal papers, scrapbooks, and childhood diaries, as well as the FDR Library's oral history transcripts.
August 10, 2011
I initially thought the scrapbook format would make this biography of Eleanor Roosevelt for older children and teens more daunting to read, perhaps even be something more to dip into rather than read straight through. Instead, I found it to be very satisfying, rather like hearing a lot of stories about Eleanor's life that taken together built a composite picture that really makes her personality come alive. Though largely an admiring and positive portrayal, the book does not shy away from Eleanor's faults or her detractors. This book provides a great place to start for learning about Eleanor Roosevelt and the times she lived in and a great jumping off point for learning more about whatever aspect is particularly appealing. The photos are fully integrated into the text, both prompting and further illuminating the anecdotes presented. Especially nice are the extensive source notes at the back of the book for all the original documents and oral history transcripts that were consulted.
March 6, 2010
This biography of Eleanor Roosevelt chronicles her life from her unhappy childhood to her marriage which became unhappy because of the interference of her mother-in-law through her years as a public figure. The book is organized thematically and only loosely chronologically. Fleming suggests Eleanor Roosevelt connected better with the public and her friends than she did with her own family. Fleming paints an objective portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt, praising her virtues and triumphs without glossing over her shortcomings. The result is a real person with real flaws who tried to do what she thought best for the world. The thematic organization sometimes complicates the timeline of Roosevelt’s life, but the style also creates a vivid portrait of the subject. Chapters are divided into short subsections. The book is illustrated with photographs and reproductions of important documents. The book contains source notes and an index.
January 2, 2013
I love Eleanor Roosevelt's story and the way it is portrayed in this book for young people. There are primary source representations on almost every page - photos, newspaper, magazine, diary, letters, etc - with well researched and readable text. The book captures Eleanor's spirit and amazing life while showing her struggles and character flaws as well. It doesn't shy away from tough issues as it addresses questions that arose about Eleanor's sexuality in a straightforward, dignified manner as well as acknowledging some anti-Semitic feelings on her part at one time. The work is well documented with Picture Credits and Source Notes and has a Table of Contents with an Index as well. Candace Fleming's biography of Eleanor Roosevelt reads like a wonderful story about overcoming adversity and serves as a concrete example of life-long learning and service. Eleanor's life inspires me and is sure to do the same for many young people.
Read
November 30, 2014Fleming, C. (2005) Our Eleanor: A scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. New York. Antheneum Books for Young Readers.
Information- Biography
Starred Reviewed by School Library Journal
This biography offers an in depth look at the life of Eleanor Roosevelt from her birth to the time of her death. The book offers readers a look into her growth from a child to an adult as well as her development in the political world. Not only does the book have text that gives the reader information but there is an extensive amount of pictures and documents added to the text to help provide more information. This book is best suited for older readers due to some mature content regarding affairs. This book could be used within a classroom to discuss timelines, the characteristics of biographies, and even as a way to take a closer look at Eleanor's life as part of a history lesson.
Information- Biography
Starred Reviewed by School Library Journal
This biography offers an in depth look at the life of Eleanor Roosevelt from her birth to the time of her death. The book offers readers a look into her growth from a child to an adult as well as her development in the political world. Not only does the book have text that gives the reader information but there is an extensive amount of pictures and documents added to the text to help provide more information. This book is best suited for older readers due to some mature content regarding affairs. This book could be used within a classroom to discuss timelines, the characteristics of biographies, and even as a way to take a closer look at Eleanor's life as part of a history lesson.
April 14, 2016
This wonderful and very informative biography on Eleanor Roosevelt is one to remember. It is very apparent that Candace Fleming did a lot of research on one of the most influential First Ladies. From the first page to the last page, you get to know Eleanor inside and out, there is not a moment of her life that is not discussed and looked into. From her early years, to the years following her husbands death, all readers of this book are shown all sides of her life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not only is there very informative text, but there are also very detailed photographs to go along. The book is set up in a scrapbook format, so there are many photographs on each page. As I read this biography, I imagined life back in the early 1900s when she was alive, and I marvel at all of the advances that have come about since she was a young girl. Through this excellently written biography, I feel as though I know Anna Eleanor Roosevelt on a greater level.
November 7, 2016
Read for 5420 class
A very complete look at Eleanor Roosevelt's life from childhood through her death and her legacy. I learned a lot about her; her impact on the role of First Lady; how she was FDR's "eyes and ears", especially in regards to the every(wo)man; and the tireless work she did to help those most affected by the calamity of the decade, whether that be the Great Depression or WWII.
Author Candace Fleming does a fairly good job of presenting an objective version of Eleanor, including all of the humanitarian work she did, but also not shirking how Eleanor wasn't the best mother.
Includes an extensive bibliography, showcasing the copious research Fleming performed to write this scrapbook autobiography.
I'm not usually a fan of biographies, but this one was decent and well-written/presented. The scrapbook format helped keep me turning the pages as biographers have a habit of not knowing when to shut up concerning their subject.
A very complete look at Eleanor Roosevelt's life from childhood through her death and her legacy. I learned a lot about her; her impact on the role of First Lady; how she was FDR's "eyes and ears", especially in regards to the every(wo)man; and the tireless work she did to help those most affected by the calamity of the decade, whether that be the Great Depression or WWII.
Author Candace Fleming does a fairly good job of presenting an objective version of Eleanor, including all of the humanitarian work she did, but also not shirking how Eleanor wasn't the best mother.
Includes an extensive bibliography, showcasing the copious research Fleming performed to write this scrapbook autobiography.
I'm not usually a fan of biographies, but this one was decent and well-written/presented. The scrapbook format helped keep me turning the pages as biographers have a habit of not knowing when to shut up concerning their subject.
April 18, 2010
A surprisingly intimate look at a public figure. I'd known about Eleanor Roosevelt's good works during and after her husband's presidency, but nothing about her life as a wife, mother, and human being out of the public eye. Through newspaper clippings and rarely seen photographs, Fleming takes the reader inside Roosevelt's life. The format of the book, broken into short sidebar-style pieces focused around a single topic or event, causes the narrative to feel a little disjointed. Fleming also chose to divide the chapters by topic rather than chronologically, resulting in some confusion as the events ping-pong back and forth across decades. I wouldn't recommend the book to introduce the life of Eleanor Roosevelt to a complete beginner, but rather to enhance study for a reader with some background knowledge.
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