The Lady in the Blue Cloak

Bibliography:
Kimmel, Eric A. 2006. The Lady in the Blue Cloak: Legends from the Texas Missions. Ill. by Susan Guevara. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823417387

Plot Summary:
Eric Kimmel showcases the stories of four different missions from across Texas in this compilation work. From a woman who tells the indigenous people of the Texas Territory that a friar will come to tell them of God to stories about losing loved ones, each retelling is accompanied by a oil on canvas picture. Many mission origination stories are included in the work, as well as an origin of some phrases popular among people of the modern city of San Antonio. There are stories of loss, love, kindness, why it is important to follow the rules included and all have a historical nature about them.

Critical Analysis:
Each story has that critical element of legends: some extraordinary, mystical power is at work, even if we do not know it. What is more interesting is that these stories give clear morals within each selections. All are set in a time period far before Texas was even a state, lending some historical interpretations to the stories. The writing is easily understood by an older reader, although some younger student may find the subject matter difficult to follow. The stories themselves are not necessarily fluid and may contain some "foreign" words, which an elementary school reader could find hard to understand.

Each story is introduced by a striking oil painting and although the illustration is one per story, the picture tells so much of the story that is included. The colors are lush and the each illustration is informative of the story plot to which it corresponds. The paintings have the air of religiosity, which lends itself nicely to the topic of the book.

Awards and Reviews:
Naylor Award - Daughters of the Texas Revolution

"Each of these six selections opens with a full-page illustration that captures the heart of its story...the tales are all well told and engaging." - SK Joiner, School Library Journal

"The background is 17th-, 18th- and early 19th-century Texas, then under the rule of Spain and Mexico, and the conflicts between Spanish colonizers and Indians is evident in these brief tales, which include strong moral lessons." - Kirkus Reviews

"There are very few collections of these stories available for the age group, and the mysticism, faith, and magic--captured in reverential oil paintings bordered with angels, saints, and other religious imagery--will resonate with some children, particularly Catholics and Texans, for whom the symbolism and history may be more familiar." - Gillian Engberg, Booklist

Connections:
*Especially for those in Texas, this can be used in conjunction with a unit on Texas history. Read some non-fiction choices about the history of Texas Missions and compare what you have read between the two books.
*Take a picture that had several elements and have the students create their own story based on it.
*Have a reader's theater based on one or more of the stories in the work. Students can be groups of charging Comanches or friars protecting their mission.

Book Jacket found on: http://www.flipkart.com/lady-blue-cloak-eric-kimmel/0823417387-t7w3fm5ibc