Kite that Bridged Two Nations

Alexis O'Neill is the author of picture book biographies about people who made an impact on the world such as Homan Walsh (The Kite That Bridged Two Nations), Jacob Riis (Jacob Riis’s Camera), and Melvil Dewey (The Efficient, Inventive (Often Annoying) Melvil Dewey) as well as books about friendship such as in The Recess Queen, and others. In addition to writing books for kids, she is an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. The California Reading Association awarded Alexis the Dr. Marcus Foster Memorial Award for making significant and outstanding contributions to reading throughout California. She lives in southern California with her husband and can be reached at alexisoneill.com.Terry Widener is the award-winning illustrator of more than thirty children’s books, including Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book, The Babe and I, a California Young Reader Gold Medal Award, and America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and ALA Notable Children’s Book. He lives with his wife in Texas. Visit terrywidenerart.com.

"O'Neill's spare text communicates both grandeur and dignity and manages to cover a good amount of territory. . . Widener's full-page acrylic paintings closely follow the narrative, emphasizing the harsh winter landscape and giving a clear sense of the odds against spanning the gorge. An extensive author's note spells out what is known and not known about the story and supplies additional facts abou the building of the bridge." -- Booklist"Widener's acrylic paintings capture the determination of the boy, the frozen, deeply chilly landscape, and the danger and power of the falls . . . memorable and dramatic." -- Kirkus Reviews