books

The Taxing Case of the Cows: A True Story About Suffrage
Written by Iris Van Rynbach and Pegi Deitz Shea
Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010)

Almost 100 years after the American Revolution, Abby and Julia Smith were fighting against taxation without representation. Women hadn't been given the vote, and the Smith sisters refused to pay an unfair property tax that they had no voice in establishing. When the authorities confiscated their cows, the Smiths bought them back at auction, thus paying what they owed without paying their taxes. The cows were seized at tax time for a number of years, and the Smiths's stand attracted the attention of women's suffrage supporters across the country. Lively, carefully researched illustrations bring this historical episode vividly to life.

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Safely to Shore: America's Lighthouses
(Charlesbridge, 2003)
Iris brings the vibrant and fascinating history of American lighthouses to life in Safely to Shore: America's Lighthouses. Readers learn about the brave men, women and children who, as live-in lighthouse keepers, took care of the lighthouses and kept watch for ships in trouble. Shipwrecks, storms and stranded sailors make for dramatic reading, but for lighthouse families, daily life presented its own challenges.  Iris's charming watercolors and informative text present both the challenges and the beauty of bringing sailors safely to shore.

Washington D.C., A Scrapbook
Written by Laura Lee Benson (Charlesbridge, 1999)

Join four young tourists as they explore Washington D.C., from the Metro to the pandas in the zoo. In Washington D.C., A Scrapbook readers will find colorful illustrations, fun facts, photographs, and souvenirs, combined with a lively and informative text. An ariel view of the center of the city, places to visit, a time line of Washington's history, and a resource guide completes a perfect memento of a trip to Washington—even for the reader who has never left home.


"Kids' Pick of the List," Bookselling This Week Magazine

Captain Cook's Christmas Pudding
(Boyds Mills Press, 1997)
Sarah and Granny are making a Christmas pudding.  As they work together in the kitchen, measuring and mixing and stirring, Granny tells the story of Captain James Cook.  Besides being one of the world's most renowned explorers, he also discovered the exotic ingredients in the recipe during his explorations in the South Pacific. Beautifully detailed watercolors show alternating scenes of grandmother and grandchild in the kitchen and Captain Cook and his men in various locations on his journeys. This festive presentation also includes a recipe for the pudding and a map charting Captain Cook's explorations.
Five Little Pumpkins
(Boyds Mills Press, 1995)
An elaborately illustrated telling of the classic Halloween rhyme. "Two smiling witches, a clown, a ghost, and a devil go trick-or-treating to three spookily decorated Victorian houses...For an atmospheric and non-threatening Halloween experience, and for libraries that never have enough books for this popular holiday, it is a cheerful addition." -School Libary Journal Kansas State Reading Circle, Recommended Title Read, America! CollectionRead, America! Classics
Everything from a Nail to a Coffin
(Orchard Books, 1991)
A true story, this book traces the history of a building, and the stories of the people who owned and worked in it, on Main Street in Glastonbury, Connecticut, from its construction in 1874 to the present day. An accurate portrayal of change in America, this book resonates with the ties that bind a community. "A Fascinating and elegant presentation that will be a good addition to local history units and may well spur young enthusiasts to research sites in their own towns." -Booklist CBC and National Council of Teachers of Social Studies, Notable List
Once Inside the Library
Written by Barbara A. Huff (Little, Brown 1990)
To a child, few places are as magical as a library. Iris's illustrations beckon readers to step inside and browse in a verse evocation of the joys of books, libraries, and reading. Books Links Magazine cover feature
Over the River and Through the Woods
Written by Lydia Maria Child (Little, Brown, 1989)
This book, based on the well known song written in 1844 describes an adventurous ride to grandfather's house in a horse drawn sleigh."This famous holiday song is set against a festive, turn-of-the century New England backdrop...Van Rynbach's watercolors celebrate the open country with expansive vistas of chilly fields, busy skating ponds, and cozy-looking houses that beckon visitors." -Booklist Reading Rainbow Selection, Featured Book
Cecily's Christmas
(Greenwillow, 1988)
Cecily is an individualist. She can always be counted on to do her own thing, especially at Christmas. She causes mischief left and right, but on Christmas morning, Cecily proves she has as much holiday spirit as anyone. "The story, brimming with understated humor, is told in one short sentence per page... Pleasant watercolors with flattened perspectives are large enough to be seen in story hours while the interesting household details demands a closer look." -School Library Journal
The Soup Stone
(Greenwillow, 1988)
A retelling of a classic folk tale set in Revolutionary War-era New England. A soldier on his way home from the war, stops at a farmhouse and asks for food and shelter. With the aid of his mysterious and seemingly magic soup stone, he is able to coax the farmer and his family for all the ingredients for a tasty soup.