This Is Texas: A Children's Classic

Sasek's children travel guides simply catch the spirit of the big cities and countries of the world. The clever and appealing verse and the charming illustrations make this series not only informative but also fun to read.

Ok, it's doubtful anyone will ever read this review, but as Mr. Sasek has passed away, this is the only tribute I can leave him. I was born in Texas, and have lived my whole life there. For many people outside of Texas, our devotion to our state and the pride we take in being Texan can be confusing. After all, most people think Texas consists of nothing but cowboys and oil wells. But those who have lived here know that Texas is far more than the sum of her parts. As a child, my parents bought this book, and we read it together. This book made me realize how lucky I am to have been born here, and what pride I should have in my state. How odd that this lesson would be taught by a writer from Prague! True, the book does contain many of the cliches associated with Texas (such as the aforementioned cowboys and oil wells), but it really tries to show that Texas is so much more. Mostly, I remember that, instead of focusing on one city in the state, this book covered the whole territory, from El Paso to Houston. From the King Ranch to the Mexican Border. As Sasek himself said in 'Books are by People': "Doing 'This is Texas' I had to travel 3,000 miles by bus to see all I had to see!" It shows in the quality of his writing. Honestly, however, I can say that the one thing that sticks with me most from this book is the art. Mr. Sasek was an exceptionally gifted artist with a very quirky style that made everything seem vibrant and dynamic, but still utterly approachable. If there is any finer illustration in a children's book that the image of Tent Maker Creek Canyon on pages 48 and 49 of the original hard-cover edition, I've yet to see it. Evocative, poignant, yet still fun to view, his illustrations are what made him a superior author. If there is any one critique that can be leveled against the book, it is that the information in the book is rather dated. However, for me at least, the book makes me nostalgic for times when technology had not conquered the world, and Texas was a state of plains and prairies, as much as a state of oil and microchips. Miroslav Sasek traveled the globe painting beautiful pictures and writing books that have touched peoples live. Of his work, I can only say this: my wife is currently pregnant with our first child, and it will be my great honor to read this book with him/her when they are old enough. There can be no greater legacy than that.