Hanging off Jefferson's Nose

Gr 3–6—What would it be like to be the son of the man who was the sculptor of Mount Rushmore? Lincoln Borglum was only 12 when his father took the commission. As he grew up, he learned about every aspect of the project, and eventually, at age 26, became the superintendent under his father. When Ghutzon Borglum died suddenly from complications of surgery, Lincoln was ready to step in and bring the project to a satisfying conclusion. This slightly fictionalized narrative of Borglum's life is engaging and informative. Coury includes details about how the monument was made, working conditions, equipment, and techniques. Although this is a biography, there is as much information about how the mountain was actually sculpted as in Judith Jango-Cohen's Mount Rushmore (Lerner, 2011) or Dana Meachem Rau's Mount Rushmore (Compass Point, 2002). Comport's acrylic and pastel illustrations do a good job of capturing the spirit of the text. The pictures of the mountain and scenery seem almost photorealistic, while the people are slightly less detailed and more stylized. The difference reinforces the grandeur and permanence of the sculpture while portraying the varying emotions of the people. This is an interesting biography with good curriculum tie-in potential.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT