Health & Fitness
Check It Out - Queen of the Falls
The surprising true story of the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
QUEEN OF THE FALLS (written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg)
In 1901, the first person went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Who was this daredevil? Unbelievably, it was a 62-year-old retired charm school teacher named Annie Edson Taylor. To this day, she is the only woman to survive the Falls alone.
Chris Van Allsburg, best known for his Christmas fantasy, The Polar Express, tells Annie’s story through straightforward text and large, black and sepia illustrations that have the feel of old photos. There is nothing dull about these color-free illustrations, though: the perspectives and facial expressions make each page exciting and often humorous.
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Parents, and, even more likely, grandparents, will enjoy sharing this story with children ages 5 and up, and the children may beg for their next vacation to be 350 miles north and west. If that drive is too long, visit Van Allsburg on this YouTube clip for photos, video, and his description of the creation of the book. Available at the .