My second grader is going through a stage of extreme interest in figures from the past. She has been drawn lately to women who have made a difference in the history of our country, such as Harriet Tubman and Clara Barton, and our trips to the library have included stops in the nonfiction section to learn more about them. Patricia Polacco’s new book Clara and Davie takes a different route to Barton’s story, for while we’ve read many books about her actions founding the American Red Cross and providing medical care to Civil War Soldiers, with this touching picture book, my daughter and I both learned more about her childhood experiences that shaped the woman she was to become.
Born the fifth child in the family, Clarissa was nicknamed Clara by her next oldest sibling Davie, who especially adored her from the very beginning. When her mother died shortly after she was born, the care of Clara was left to her older siblings, and the bond between her and Davie grew even stronger. Though separated by ten years in age, Clara’s childhood was shaped by the experiences she and Davie had exploring and playing outdoors, and the love and attention given her by her brother.
Speaking presented a great challenge for Clara, for a pronounced lisp left her unable to speak clearly. Her oldest sister Dolly, who was her primary caregiver, saw her lisp as a laziness and resorted to punishments in an effort to get her to speak correctly. Bullied at school and punished at home, Clara became withdrawn and shy around people, until it came to the point of Davie convincing their father that Clara’s lisp should not be punishable, and that she would learn best by being schooled at home by the family. In this way, she was educated by her siblings, learning both academic and practical skills that suited life on a farm.
Clara’s special skills related to nature and animals became apparent, and an illness in the family prompted her to learn everything she could from the medical books in the library. With her growing experience caring for the animals on their family farm, Clara was found to be knowledgeable and helpful after a neighbor boy twisted his ankle, and most importantly, after Davie suffered a serious accident. Clara became determined to help Davie survive and recover, against the odds.
Polacco’s beautifully paced storytelling makes this a wonderful book to read slowly, and adults should be encouraged to help younger readers learn even more about Clara Barton’s life after reading. Don’t miss the author’s note in the end where some information can be found about Barton’s path as the founder of the American Red Cross, and even a surprising connection between Clara Barton and author Patricia Polacco!