Mr. Emerson's Cook

Annie Burns arrives in the U.S. from Ireland and immediately takes the job of cook in the Emerson house in Concord, Massachusetts. At first she's not so sure about working for a philosopher who would rather watch sunrises than taste her homemade pies. But after she writes a questioning letter to her mother, she receives a reply that stirs her imagination. Soon she succeeds in enticing Mr. Emerson to eat what she puts on the table. Author Judith Byron Schachner is a descendant of Annie Burns, and it's evident she tells this story with love and respect. The text is Transcendentalism in its most basic form. The illustrations are colorful and lively. Teens and adults can relate to the nuances of the plot, while the younger set can study the animals that appear in every scene. The chickens are wearing the booties that Thoreau made for them, and the cats are as playful on these pages as their breed can be in real life. A successful foray into the world of the Concord authors!

I just returned from the first day of the NCTE conference in NYC where I attended a session on using picture books in the secondary classroom in conjunction with American classics. Judith Byron Schachner was in attendance and read her wonderful book in a mellifluous Irish brogue. This book is not just for young children. It is a terrific way to introduce high school students to Emerson and Transcendentalism.