Patricia Zelver

This book was excellent! When I opened it, the very first page, I smiled with approval. As I continued to read and to look at the beautifully constructed illustrations depicting the towers, I was an immediate fan. The book is about an Italian immigrant nicknamed Old Sam, who lived in an impoverished neighborhood in Los Angeles. With junkyard scraps, he created the Tower of Watts, which is a landmark in Los Angeles to this day. He inspired his neigborhood and made something beautiful within a town where beauty was nowhere to be found. Old Sam is one of many immigrants who have left a significant impact in this country. Books with stories such as Old Sam's are needed to inform many who unfortunately do not know the importance of immigrants and their contribution to the United States.… (altro)

This is a picture book about Simon Rodia and the magnificent towers he constructed in Watts out of steel, concrete, broken tiles he brought home from work, and other discarded materials. At first, his neighbors thought he was crazy, but after years of working on the towers the whole world knew about Rodia and his art. The story ends, "Watts is still a poor part of Los Angeles. But no other place has the Watts Towers". It is nice for children who grow up without much money to know that great artwork is not just the property of the rich. Frane Lessac's exciting gouache paintings fill the book with color.… (altro)