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Midwest Book Review on July 20, 2010
"Goliath, Hero of the Great Baltimore Fire" is an illustrated children's historical book about a brave, larger-than-life fire horse named Goliath who pulled the Fire Engine 15 to help put out the 1904 great Baltimore fire... "Goliath" is a great historical experience book for readers ages 6-12. Additional information about Goliath and the Great Fire of Baltimore are found in the Afterward and the list of Fire Terms at the end of the book.

Books to Buy, Books to Borrow
Kendal Rautzhan, Pocono Record
This true story of the devastating Baltimore fire of 1904 and its hero, Goliath, is exciting, eloquently told, and beautifully illustrated.

Dr. Pete Petersen,
author of the centennial book
The Great Baltimore Fire, Children are drawn into this compelling adventure with its colorful artwork and spell binding story of the challenges of yesteryear when fire engines were towed to raging fires by teams of horses.

Beth Brandenburg’s Review of Author Visit at Wilson Elementary School in Coppell, Texas November 4th, 2020:

Wilson Elementary 5th graders had the best celebration for the Statue of Liberty’s birthday. Claudia Friddell partnered with the National Park Service and Zoomed with our class for a question-and-answer session. Prior to the Zoom, Mrs. Friddell took time out of her busy schedule and contacted me several times to ensure this day would be special for the students. She sent a recorded reading of Saving Lady Liberty. During the reading, my learners were so engaged with the book. This book is filled with beautiful words and beautiful pictures. Mrs. Friddell also provided a lesson on Asking Good Questions. My learners came up with thought-provoking questions about Saving Lady Liberty. Mrs. Friddell was so welcoming and personable with my 5th graders. She took her time to answer questions with answers that lead to more discussions after the Zoom. They enjoyed asking her questions about the book and about her career. My learners will be talking about this day for a long time. Hands down, she is this class’s favorite author. We can’t wait to read Grace Banker and the Hello Girls Answer the Call.

BookPage
We may think of crowdfunding as a contemporary innovation of our social media age, but in their impressive nonfiction picture book Saving Lady Liberty: Joseph Pulitzer's Fight for the Statue of Liberty, author Claudia Friddell and illustrator Stacy Innerst celebrate the 19th-century campaign of Hungarian immigrant and self-made publishing icon Joseph Pulitzer to raise more than $100,000 for the Statue of Liberty.

Friddell traces Pulitzer's early life and struggles as a newcomer to America, but focuses mainly on his efforts to use the pages of his newspaper, the New York World, to launch a public awareness and fundraising campaign for Lady Liberty. In 1884, when funds for the statue's pedestal ran dry, Pulitzer scolded wealthy New Yorkers for their lack of support and used the New York World to make an appeal to the masses. More than 120,000 people responded, and Pulitzer fulfilled his promise to print all their names in his newspaper. Over a million people attended the dedication and unveiling ceremony of the statue in October of 1886.

Innerst's sepia-toned illustrations evoke the book's late 19th-century setting and make effective use of design elements, including newspaper headlines and examples of delightful handwritten letters that accompanied small donations from children. A boy named Mark sold “two pumpkins and one squash at the market this morning” and sent along 10 cents. There's even a humorous note from the dog, a forerunner to today's trend of canine social media stars.

Historians young and old will appreciate the book's extensive back matter, which includes an afterword, timeline, a wonderful selection of historical photographs, facts about Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty, a bibliography and online resources.

Inspiring and well executed, Saving Lady Liberty is a timely reminder of the power of ordinary people to exemplify the best American ideals.

Kirkus Reviews
A poor Jewish immigrant who understood what liberty meant crusaded for Lady Liberty's pedestal. This is a well-written, inspiring ode to the contributions of immigrants. Pulitzer quotes and excerpts from some of his editorials are included; particularly wonderful are replicas of some handwritten letters from children who donated, literally, pennies. Atmospheric illustrations in brown and blue brushed on sepia-toned backgrounds give a historical feel... excellent information about Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty... appears in the backmatter. Pulitzer's permanent legacy now beams a beckoning welcome to all American newcomers—a timely reminder.

School Library Journal
This nonfiction picture book sheds light on Joseph Pulitzer’s connection to Lady Liberty and his role in bringing the American icon to the United States. Young readers will particularly enjoy reproductions of donation letters from kids, pledging money to support the cause. Innerst uses watercolor and acrylic paint, with some ink drawings. Back matter includes fun facts about the Statue of Liberty and Pulitzer, a bibliography, an afterword, a time line, and photos of the statue during its construction and inauguration. (T)his [biography] is a good jumping-off point for discussions of civic responsibility and philanthropy.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Friddell... [focuses] on New York World newspaper owner Joseph Pulitzer’s rags to riches backstory as a poor Hungarian immigrant who fought for the Union in the Civil War, worked odd jobs before his break into journalism, and used his public influence to cajole Americans into supporting Frederic Bartholdi’s monumental beacon. Innerst’s mixed media artwork, rendered in tan and sepia evocative of an era antedating color news coverage, have an airy, slightly hazy lightness that contrasts well with the weight of Liberty’s component copper parts scattered throughout scenes, awaiting their ultimate reassembly. Nine pages of end matter...could pivot a recreational read into a middle-grade research project.

World Magazine Children's Books
In Saving Lady Liberty (Calkins Creek, 2020), Claudia Friddell tells the story of Joseph Pulitzer, a poor Jewish immigrant who became a crusader for the magnificent monument in New York’s harbor. Pulitzer used the power of the press to rally ordinary Americans to fund the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. The book includes original quotes, editorial excerpts, and letters from children who donated, as well as interesting facts about Pulitzer and the statue.

Below is an excerpt from my interview with Esther Hershenhorn from TeachingAuthors.com.

Claudia had arrived with an eye-opening, little-known story about the fire horse Goliath – the horse that had saved Baltimore during the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. Claudia’s heart beat loudly each time she spoke about Goliath, when she shared her research, when she read aloud her fictional tale. I knew instantly she had a winner of a story - only a non-fiction telling true to horse and event.

—continue reading (pdf file)

Marion M., Library Media Consultant, Mishawaka, IN
During World War I, Grace Banker and a group of female telephone operators volunteered to provide communication services between General Pershing's headquarters in France and the frontlines. In so doing, this Signal Corps, headed by Grace, actually became the first 23 female combatants. Over the course of their service, the group had to endure fires, explosions, long hours, and nearby shelling. Grace herself eventually became the first female awarded the Army's Distinguished Service Medal. Illustrator Elizabeth Baddeley did exhaustive research at the World War I Museum in Kansas to represent the period accurately. Her illustrations are rendered in blues, grays, browns, and sepias, employ a combination of dusty red ink, acrylic, and digital media, and are full of action and humor. They depict subtle details such as Banker's own uniform, period correct telephone switchboards, headsets, barracks, recruitment posters, bunkers, and even the clock showing 11:11 on November 11th when the cease fire occurred. Words from Banker's diary appear throughout the text either via speech bubbles or written in contrasting blue print. This picture book for older students provides material not readily available about the Signal Corps and the early role of women in the military. It also provides needed backdrop for the suffrage movement happening about the same time. Ample back matter is also included, providing additional information on such topics as the home front during WWI, the members of the Signal Corps, and a description of how switchboards operated. Bibliography. Timeline.

Danielle R. NetGalley
I absolutely loved learning about Grace Banker and the other Hello Girls. These were women I didn't learn about in school, and it was great getting to know this piece of history. The book does a good job with detailing the events of the switchboard operators in World War I, and how important these ladies were. The illustrations were great, and a lot of care and research went into creating this book. Though it is geared towards younger readers, it's very informative for adults as well. Especially if your school failed to teach about these tremendous women.

Megan S. NetGalley
Grace Banker and her Hello Girls Answer the Call is a beautiful tribute dedicated to the service of some really amazing women. Grace and her Hello Girls served diligently from the front lines. They worked every day to transfer the thousands of messages from the frontlines of WWI. They never stopped in times of danger. Instead, they bravely served their country as they pressed forward.

Kirkus
An overlooked hero of World War I is given her due. In a more innocent time, when going to war was considered an adventure, Grace Banker answered the U.S. Signal Corps’ call for women telephone operators. College educated when women generally weren’t and already training switchboard operators at 25, she was named chief operator of a group known as the Signal Corps Girls and sent overseas to connect military calls from England to France, sometimes from secret locations. Quotes from Banker’s diary and letters accompany Friddell’s straightforward, descriptive text, bringing to life her dedication, humor, and fearlessness. Baddeley’s appealing, comics-style illustrations provide a strong sense of time and place, depicting the White protagonist amid a mostly but not all-White cast; some of the doughboys are soldiers of color. The focus is on her accomplishments and the positive aspects of her story; the tale ends with a return home with headlines full of praise and a distinguished service medal while the endnotes reveal that women in her position were not recognized as service members and were not seen as veterans eligible for benefits until 1977, after her death. Overall, this overlooked piece of history—the role of women during World War I—is presented in engaging detail, and the result is a captivating depiction of a smart, spirited woman who found a way to use her skills and intelligence to benefit her country in an unexpected way. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11- by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 67.5% of actual size.) An absorbing look at one woman’s achievements during World War I. (timeline, notes, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

Net Galley
Did you know that women were called to serve in the US Army's first telephone operators unit in France during WWI? Before women were even allowed to vote? I didn't either! This nonfiction picture book brings a little known piece of history to children of all ages. The author and illustrator researched archives and artifacts and collaborated with Grace Banker's granddaughter to share the story of the "Hello Girls" in World War 1. The narrative moves along at a good pace, without overwhelming younger readers. Scattered throughout are quotes from Grace's diaries and interviews, which lends a personal touch to the story. The illustrations are detailed and historically accurate, yet subdued, using tones from only a few colors, which fits very well with the time period of the early 1900s. The book includes an afterword, a timeline, further information, a bibliography, and even a short note from the artist. These extra components add additional information in helping the young reader further their understanding of the story, people, and time period involved in this snapshot of WWI. Most intriguing is what happened to Grace and her fellow "Hello Girls" after the war and their return home. Read to the very end to find out! Overall, this is an excellent American history resource for children of all ages - showing that regular people living regular lives (men and women both!) served our country with honor and integrity, helping to defend our country and win the war. The publisher and NetGalley provided me with an advanced reader's copy. This review and opinions are entirely my own. the early 1900s. The book includes an afterword, a timeline, further information, a bibliography, and even a short note from the artist. These extra components add additional information in helping the young reader further their understanding of the story, people, and time period involved in this snapshot of WWI. Most intriguing is what happened to Grace and her fellow "Hello GIrls" after the war and their return home. Read to the very end to find out! Overall, this is an excellent American history resource for children of all ages - showing that regular people living regular lives (men and women both!) served our country with honor and integrity, helping to defend our country and win the war. The publisher and NetGalley provided me with an advanced reader's copy. This review and opinions are entirely my own.

BCCB
America entered World War I and recruitment kicked into high gear not just for soldiers but also for overseas support services, including communication workers. Grace Banker, a twenty-five-year-old switchboard operator and trainer with a college degree and fluency in French, was an easy pick, and soon after her application to the Signal Corps was accepted she was appointed chief operator at General Pershing’s First Army Headquarters in France. As the front moved, so did General Pershing, and as Pershing moved, so did Banker and her operators (nicknamed Hello Girls), connecting hundreds of daily combat commands while dodging shrapnel or glued to their posts in a burning wooden office. After the war Banker was awarded a Distinguished Service medal, and she and her “girls”—recruited, uniformed, and trained by the military—were sent home as civilians, not veterans. Baddeley’s mixed-media scenes are packed with visual references to homefront hype as well as to the perils of life for these women adventurers at the edge of the fighting. End matter is well worth exploring, with a finely tuned timeline, photographs, bibliography, and extra information ranging from the long road toward recognition for the operators’ military service to how a switchboard worked. This picture book should hold strong appeal for both independent readers and middle grade listeners, making it an excellent selection for curricular use. EB

Lisa Simon-Gerin (Educator)
This lovely picture book about a highly unknown group of women in WWI was a delight to read. I had never heard of these women who helped out as phone operators during WWI, unsung heroes. The book is so extensively researched and well written, and is bound to keep young girls or boys interested throughout until the end. It is worth mentioning that EA Baddeley's artwork is appealing in a graphic common book style, with some spreads having three or more panels on a page. Also, the use of direct quotes from Grace throughout the text is interesting. I would recommend for kids, a bit older than the usual pb age, as this historical story might be better suited for upper elementary readers.

Booklist
Recounted with the same plucky spirit as its heroine, this picture-book biography of Grace Banker is a heartening story of grit, charm, and bravery. At the age of 25, Banker replied to a newspaper ad for female telephone operators willing to help the war effort in France during WWI. Banker was promptly hired and put in charge of 33 other young women, collectively referred to as Signal Corp Girls or Hello Girls. Saturated illustrations use action-packed panels and show Banker and her "girls" maintaining upbeat attitudes in the face of inhospitable and often dangerous surroundings. All told, these women played a vital role in keeping army headquarters in communication with the battlefront, and Banker received the Distinguished Service Medal for her work. Back matter expounds upon the general lack of gratitude shown to the Hello Girls, who were denied veterans’ benefits on the technicality that they weren’t soldiers. This section also features a detailed time line and facts about WWI and how switchboards worked, the latter being worth a glance before reading the main text.

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