Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards

By Meghan P. Browne; illustrated by Carlynn Whitt

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Meghan P. Browne’s Website:

https://meghanpbrowne.com/

Illustrator Information:

Carlynn Whitt: Award-winning illustrator Carlynn Whitt grew up in East Texas and counts Ann Richards as the first Texas governor she remembers. A graduate of UT Austin, Harvard Divinity School and RISD, Carlynn is the illustrator of several children’s picture books, including There’s a Baby in There! and Ballpark. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/librarydevelopments/2022/08/18/2022-texas-great-read-is-indelible-ann/

Activities & Resources:

Activities:

Resources about Ann Richards:

Facts about Ann Richards:

https://kids.kiddle.co/Ann_Richards

Facts about Ann Richards:

https://library.austintexas.gov/ahc/ann-richards

Ann Richards’ 1988 speech at the Democratic National Convention (33:45):

https://youtu.be/wtIFhiqS_TY

Video about Ann Richards’ run for governor (1:44):

https://youtu.be/n23hpEgmqo4

Video of the inauguration of Governor Ann Richards (6:50-23:20): 

https://youtu.be/y7_KXtgLXFo 

Debate

Learn how to hold a Lincoln Douglas debate.  Decide on a topic. Research the topic and form your opinions.  Have a debate and then vote on the winner of the debate (4:21):

https://youtu.be/yi6Im-Sb6Vw

Positions in government

Investigate what the county commissioner does in your county. What are some things you would work for if you were the county commissioner?

Investigate what the state treasurer of Texas used to do:

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/state-treasurer

Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin:

Video about a school for girls opened to honor Ann Richards and the work she wanted to do to help girls in education: (9:26)

https://www.annrichardsschool.org/about/about-ann/

American Legion Auxiliary programs for girls:

Information about Girls State:

https://www.girls-state.org/

Information about Girls Nation:

https://www.legion-aux.org/ala-girls-nation

MakerSpace Activities:

As county commissioner, Ann Richards oversaw the building of the loop 360 bridge in Austin, Texas.  Build a bridge out of recycled materials: (5:03)

https://youtu.be/kyQ8eR3PZgY

Make a chicken bookmark:

https://www.redtedart.com/easter-chick-bookmark-designs/

Make a bluebonnet:

https://www.thepinjunkie.com/2015/06/how-to-make-paper-bluebonnets.html

Using a United States road map, calculate the distance between San Diego and Waco (3:54):

https:ou-tu.be/KNyb7dha5O0

Discussion Questions:

Based on the title and cover of the book, what are some predictions you can make about the story?

What do you think of the book’s title? What do you think indelible means? Look it up and use the definition to think again about the book’s title.

What does the quote on the front endpaper lead you to predict about the story? “I did not want my tombstone to read, ‘She kept a really clean house.’ I think I’d like them to remember me by saying ‘She opened government to everyone.”

What does the phrase “a humble heroine fit for a tall table” mean to you?

Ann’s dad told her she could do anything she liked in this world and her mama insisted that Ann would just have to work for it. What would you work hard for in your life?

Talk about a place or a reason great enough for you and your family to pack up and move everything like Ann and her mama did.

The move to San Diego introduces Ann to many diverse people and cultures. How did this affect her?

The story of Eleanor Roosavelt’s visit to a naval hospital in San Diego excited Ann.  How did it influence her later decisions?

How would Ann’s speech and debate skills from high school serve her later in life?

The program director for Capital for Girls State saw Ann’s passion and talent and put her on a train to Washington, D.C. How did this belief in her abilities from an adult affect her life?  How would it affect your life if an adult believed in you the same way?

Ann made friends with a Black delegate during her time in Washington, D.C. Why was this all the people back in Waco could talk about?

What is a political activist?  Why does it matter that Ann and David filled their house with political activists?

What does the author mean by the “University of Motherhood” on page 17?

On page 18, the author says that “women hadn’t often been trusted with the kind of responsibility that came with public office” and then after Ann wins the county commissioner seat says that she “built a bridge between the predictable past and the limitless future.” What does the author mean by she “built a bridge between the predictable past and the limitless future”?  

Ann had some troubles in her life and needed help from her family and friends. Talk about a time when you needed your family and friends’ help.

When Ann was elected state treasurer, she hired a hardworking staff that reflected the folks around her. Why is that important?

How did Ann’s speech in Atlanta, Georgia help her win the election to be the Governor of Texas?

During the campaign for Governor of Texas, Ann visited many little towns to listen to the people. How would these visits help her in the quest to become governor?

On page 31 the author tells us that while Ann was Governor of Texas, she made laws to protect the land. Why is that important?

While she was Governor of Texas, Ann made speeches that inspired teamwork. How has teamwork improved your life?

Describe something you learned in this book that can help you in life. How has Ann Richard’s life inspired you? How can you be indelible?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader’s theater for Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards.

Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award YouTube Channel.

Watch the illustrator's interview on the Texas Bluebonnet Award YouTube Channel.

2022 Texas Great Read: Indelible Ann discussion with Meghan P. Browne and Carlynn Whitt (31:12):

https://you-tu.be/BE-b5jLpp_I

Read Alikes: 

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Appelt, Kathi. Miss Lady Bird's wildflowers: how a first lady changed America. Lady Bird Johnson brought her own mission to the White House: flung into service for a grieving nation after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Ms. Johnson turned to how she had coped with grief in her own youth upon the death of her mother. The wildflowers of East Texas gave her solace, and her goal was to share their beauty with all Americans with the launch of the Highway Beautification Act, which was informally known as Lady Bird's Bill. This gorgeous book celebrates the unexpected way this First Lady served her country. An endnote describes the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and provides a guide to wildflowers that kids can use to name the flower in the book — or in their own backyards. (NoveList)

Chen, Eva. A is for awesome: 25 iconic women who changed the world. Why stick with plain old A, B, C when you can have Amelia (Earhart), Malala, Tina (Turner), Ruth (Bader Ginsburg), all the way to eXtraordinary You—and the Zillion of adventures you will go on? (NoveList)

Lindbergh, Reeve. Nobody owns the sky: the story of 'Brave Bessie' Coleman. A rhymed telling of the life of the first African American aviator, who dreamed of flying as a child in the cotton fields of Texas, and persevered until she made that dream come true. (NoveList)

McDonnell, Patrick. Me-- Jane. Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals. Includes biographical information on the prominent zoologist. (NoveList)

Rockliff, Mara. Around America to win the vote: two suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles. Follows suffragettes Nell Richardson and Alice Burke's cross-country journey to campaign for women's right to vote. (NoveList)

Winter, Jonah. Sonia Sotomayor: a judge grows in the Bronx / La juez que creció en el Bronx. From a young age, Sonia Sotomayor wanted to be a lawyer... but that was a big dream for a young Latinx girl in the Bronx. In this bilingual picture book, kids follow her as her mother's love, a desire to learn, and the willpower and bravery to defy all the naysayers, led Sotomayor to overcome obstacles like poverty, juvenile diabetes, and the death of her father in order to achieve a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States. Vibrant artwork makes Sotomayor's childhood come alive, while a detailed author's note provides plenty of additional information about her life and career. (NoveList)

Reviews:

Browne, Meghan P. Indelible Ann : The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards. Penguin Random House/Random House Studios, 2021.

Booklist

Indelible Ann : The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards. 

By Meghan P. Brown (author) Carlynn Whitt (illustrator)

June 2021. 44p. Random House Studios, $17.99 (9780593173275) Grades 1-4.

REVIEW: First Published June 1,  2021 (Vol. 117, No. 19) (Booklist)

Both the author and the illustrator’s love of Texas shine through in this biography of the state’s influential forty-fifth governor. Though framed as a Texan tall tale, Indelible Ann soon becomes more inspirational true story than incredible legend. As it moves through Richards’ childhood, family life, and political rise, the story is punctuated by the refrain “. . . Just wait, you’ll see.” The phrase seems intended to add suspense as it uses Richards’ racial inclusiveness (unusual at the time) and extraordinary abilities in debate and other areas to foreshadow her impact and progressive policies. However, the text really depicts her rise as a process more than a sudden ascent. Her substantial achievements, such as digitizing the treasury, likewise lack high drama. What does add drama to the story are Whitt’s compelling ink-and-gouache illustrations. They manage to evoke strength, tall tales, Texas, and—thanks to vivid depictions of changing clothing and hairstyles—the passage of time. A solid addition to a collection on girl power or on important political leaders. — Miriam Aronin 

Used with the permission of Booklist  https://www.booklistonline.com/

School Library Journal starred (August 1, 2021) 

Gr 4-6-This biography of Ann Richards uses the tone and structure of a tall-tale to pack a lifetime of the legendary Texas activist and politician's accomplishments and exploits into a picture book length text. Whitt's beautifully rendered drawings convey an energy and sense of motion that echoes Richards's dynamic, no-nonsense personality. Browne's narrative, while struggling to balance the complexity of language needed to convey the ups and downs of a historic political life, does tend to gloss over specific dates and details. Also, as somewhat expected in the telling of a folk heroine's daring deeds, there's quite a bit of hyperbolic praise and very little discussion of the low points or missteps of this larger-than-life lady. An afterword offers a more traditional brief biography and an explication of Richards's impact as a woman of amazing achievements who did a great deal of good for a great many people over the course of her extraordinary life and inspired others to do the same. VERDICT This exciting, sunny biography is as real and rollicking as the late governor herself, and is highly recommended for elementary and junior high nonfiction collections.-Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior Coll., Brenham, TX © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Reprinted with permission from School Library Journal ©2020

Additional Reviews Available

• Kirkus Reviews starred, 04/01/21

• Publishers Weekly, 05/24/21

• School Library Journal, 08/01/21