Clara Barton: Spirit of the American Red Cross #33
Patricia Larkin
Simon Sullivan, Illustrator

Larkin, Patricia. (2004). Clara Barton: Spirit of the american red cross. New York:
Aladdin.

Awards:

Grade Level: 1-4

Content Area: Social Studies

Standards: Social Studies: History, Civics, and Economics (Explain why certain civic responsibilities are important for studying historical figures.)

Author’s Credibility: The author’s main source of information was Elizabeth Brown Pryor’s Clara Barton: Professional Angel.

Summary: A short biography of Clara Barton, the lady who started the chapter of the Red Cross in the United States in 1881. Even though the Red Cross had been organized in Switzerland in 1863, the United States was not a part of it. Clara worked hard to get the U.S. to become a part of that organization. At that time, the Red Cross only helped war victims. Clara added, “and for victims of natural disasters”.

Access Features: Chapters, timeline of Clara’s life

Illustrations: Watercolors

Text Structure: Chronological

Response: I would use this book with civil rights for women. Clara was denied a job as a teacher because was a woman. I enjoyed reading about Clara Barton because she got up the courage to work where she saw the need. How many times we see someone in need and we do nothing? Reading all these different books have made me think about too much philosophical things.

Other Books:

Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross, Augusta Stevenson
Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights, Deborah Hopkinson