Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs

“An excellent purchase for all libraries.” (The Traveling Camera)

"A cleverly told, engaging portrayal of an indomitable woman.” (The Lobster Lady)

“An enticing look at our national parks—rhapsodic but with attention to their checkered history.” (I Am Made of Mountains)

“A young person’s voluminous denim coat pocket contains myriad memorable treasures in Hinrichs’s categorizing picture book. Through symbolic descriptions, a tan-skinned, gap-toothed child tells a simple and abstract story that encourages readerly interpretation. […] Breckenreid’s mixed-media artwork emphasizes the found quality of the objects featured via collages that work smoothly with text to create a poignant portrait of the way even small or mundane items can hold meaning.” (The Pocket Book)

“Written in short, free-verse stanzas, the book’s first-person text includes phrases and sentences from Hines’ writing, indicated with italics and used effectively to bring his poetic voice, his gentle humor, and his constant empathy for working children into the narrative. […] An appealing introduction to a notable American photographer/reformer.” (The Traveling Camera)

“A compelling primer on art as activism.” (The Traveling Camera)

“Put a basket next to the washing machine for pocket treasures after reading this.” (The Pocket Book)

“…a lyrical visit to 16 of the country’s very interesting National Parks. [...] In the back materials there is an unusual inclusion of what kids love about the national parks they have visited. It is delightful.” (I Am Made of Mountains)

“Incorporating Hine’s voice and some of his actual words (signaled with italics) into her free-verse monologue, Hinrichs highlights both his purposes—“I want to show their hard work / their hard lives” and also “their spirit. Because / the human spirit / is the big thing / after all”—and his methods of getting past suspicious factory overseers and of connecting with child workers in settings from cranberry bogs and canneries to coal mines. […] A searching picture of a pioneering social crusader.” (The Traveling Camera)

“This picture book seamlessly blends factual and fictional information into an engaging narrative. Thérèse’s story is inspired by real tapestries, real people and a real place, and Hinrichs has done her homework, researching the workings of the Gobelins Manufactory and the lives of the people whose work we still marvel at today.” (Thérèse Makes a Tapestry)

"A beautiful and heartwarming book—I give it my highest recommendation." (The Traveling Camera)

"This book is stunning, both in words and pictures, truly a snapshot of history." (The Traveling Camera)

"Lyrical writing combines with charming illustrations to deepen the reader’s engagement with Hine and the children he cared about. The Traveling Camera offers a way of looking at history as a confluence of art, activism, and social change."

“This sweet, beautifully illustrated tale of one exceptional seafaring grandmother and her life in the Pine Tree State follows ‘the Lobster Lady,’ Virginia Oliver, the oldest person lobstering in Maine. […] For fans of picture-book biographies that are quiet, gentle reflections on a life lived boldly.” (The Lobster Lady)

“This charming narrative of a determined girl’s artistic talent and will to succeed in the family business makes a compelling story on an unusual topic.” (Thérèse Makes a Tapestry)

"In turning the pages of Therese Makes a Tapestry readers can experience an authentic visual tour of a world long gone."