Joy Hakim, noted children’s author and author of A History of Us: Willi the dog is a terrific guide to Virginia's Historic Triangle. This is a beautiful book with lots of gorgeous photographs. Congratulations to Ellen Rudolph!
Mary Ramos, International Children’s Digital Library Foundation: I had the opportunity to read your book, Willi Gets a History Lesson, and enjoyed meeting Willi and learning about her Virginia adventures. I am especially impressed with the photographs. I believe that there are many non-English speaking children throughout the world who, although they might not be able to read your book, will nonetheless delight in the pictures. Willi’s story is endearing and packed with information! We would be pleased to include Willi Gets a History Lesson in the ICDL collection.
Camille Agricola Bowman, architectural historian in the Tidewater Region Preservation Office of the Virginia Dept of Historic Resources: What a fun way to learn history! I have enjoyed following Willi through the historic triangle, and I hope that she will lead me on many more journeys. Thank you on behalf of many children who, like I, can better learn history through images rather than through boring lectures and rote memorization of dates!
Martha W. McCartney, award winning Virginian historian and author of Jamestown: An American Legacy: Willie Gets A History Lesson provides young readers with an opportunity to combine learning and having fun. Readers of all ages will enjoy the colorful and charming photos and the lively, informative text. Supplementary material, cited throughout this book, will encourage the interested student to delve deeper into the Historic Triangle's past.
Viky Pedigo, library/media specialist in the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (VA): The WILLI book catches the eye of children and adults alike; learning history from the perspective of a curious little dog searching for her master! Every parent and teacher will find it a valuable teaching tool in this year of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Virginia!
Lance Pedigo, Drum Major for Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums: Ellen Rudolph’s book, Willi Gets a History Lesson, is a fantastic adventure that allows children of all ages to laugh and learn as Willi, the jaunty little dog, makes his way through the historic triangle; Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. The included History Notes tie in perfectly to our schools SOLs. A real winner from a great author!
Dr. Dora Kay Phillips, Associate Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, Louisville, Kentucky, and W&M undergraduate: "I lived in or near Williamsburg for about 15 years, including working in Yorktown, visiting Jamestown and riding the Ferry across the James River. The book about Willi is wonderful, fun and fills me with nostalgic feelings. The photos are superb!
Brittany Brittan, Colonial Williamsburg Orientation Interpreter/School Group Services: This book invites the reader to go on a fantastic journey through Williamsburg's Historic Triangle. With the advent of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary in 2007, this book will become a staple on bookshelves across America. Willie, the dog, is so patriotic, he captures hearts and opens the eyes of adults and children everywhere, enabling the reader to gain a newfound love of history and country. Dr. Rudolph does an excellent job relating very complicated points down to the level that children can both understand and enjoy. Huzzah!!!
Anne Dobson, retired, Pearson Learning: I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this delightful book. First of all, the idea around which the story is centered is a winner. Your photographs are the real focus for me, and they drive the story line beautifully. Wow, when you undertake something, you do it first-class! I also saw Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown from a dif-ferent perspective, learning some things I did not know. Your appendices are particularly rich and resourceful, and they add dimension to the book.
Lois Wright, Director of Evaluation and Education at Virginia Commonwealth University VISSTA: This is clearly a multilayered book that can be appreciated on many levels. Though touted as a children’s book, the quality of the photos and detail in the historical notes raise it to another level (particularly given the large num-bers of adult readers out here who love animals and see nothing at all strange about a doggie tour of the area). I see it as an appropriate adult-to-adult gift and coffee-table book. I resonate to the concept of the book. Often when books try to do too many things at once, they fail on one or more levels, but Dr. Rudolph has managed to navigate the levels well.
Phyllis Haislip, noted children’s author and author of Lottie's Courage: The photos are great and I especially like the fact that there are lots of notes about the area’s natural history. Someone asked me the other day at CW who “Williamsburg” was. So people certainly need to know about the history and wildlife of the area! I am impressed with all the work that has gone into this book. No knows, unless they do such things themselves, how much time, energy and hard work it takes to “create.” There is a lot to recommend the book – the wonderful photos, all the information about how the book was made, and the historical and nature notes.
Virginia McLaughlin, Dean, College of William & Mary School of Education: “What a neat idea to do a children’s book, especially when it combines Dr. Rudolph's talents in education and photography of animals and Williamsburg. I really do like the idea of seeing a dog’s eye view of Williams-burg and Jamestown. It makes the sites more accessible to young readers. And Willi is such a personable character! The other animals that he meets are fun too.
LouAnne Sexton, Art Director, Williamsburg Magazine: I love it! This imaginative, well-written and interactive book is perfect for children (and adults) who are interested in history and love animals. I love the photos and admire all the work that Dr. Rudolph has done to put the book together. An explanation of how the images were combined for each photo is excellent. The maze, coloring plates, historical and nature notes are great finishing touches.
Barbara Driscoll, grandparent and long-time resident of Williamsburg, Virginia: McRae is 7, a rising second grader, and Parker is 4. Both grandchildren enjoyed the book immensely. McRae could read much of it but they both just wanted to keep moving on to the pictures! They love dogs! We had a wonder-ful time and they loved it because they are so familiar with the sites and, with Willie doing funny things, they were thrilled. They did worry about Willie and were so pleased with the ending. Your pictures with the birds, other ani-mals etc. are a delight. I also thought your reminders of the historical significance of this area are educational for all ages.
Bill and Ellen Kelso; Dr. William M. Kelso is Director of Archaeology for APVA Jamestown Rediscovery: Ellen and Willi, we love the book! Willi sure covered everywhere. Hope you will visit Jamestown in 2007, as Willi needs to meet the Queen!
Denise Goodfellow, noted author and bird illustrator in Australia’s Northern Territory What a great little book, and what a fantastic way of taking history to children (and adults)! I love the balance of pathos combined with the way that Willi becomes distracted and quite joyful by the events, and by other creatures (including people) that she meets.
Leanne Kurland, Trustee, College of W&M Endowment Association: What a delightful book! So enjoyed the clever story line (being a “naturalized” citizen!) and the pictures were wonderful!
Libbey Hodges Oliver, Manager, the Williamsburg Farmer’s Market and author of Williamsburg Christmas: You are so clever. It was fun to read. Problem is I want to stop and look at it all and share with others. I loved the Yorktown onions, you didn’t miss anything!
Pamela Wilson, Virginia Educator: Ellen, you ROCK and so does your WILLI book! This is something that will stay within children's psyches forever. It gives them a sense of history...meaning...a sense of "where did I come from?" Their roots. Their beginnings. It is soooooooo powerful on a subconscious level. I salute you. We all want to know where we came from...it makes us, it forms us, it also gives us a sense of security. It defines us. It makes us feel grounded and rooted and we know where we belong. Well done. Well done, indeed, Missy Ellen!
