The Story of Levi Strauss
Posted on: February 2, 2012
Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea by Tony Johnston. Illustrated by Stacy Innerst. (2011) Pages not numbered. Harcourt. Ages 6-12. Picture book.
The subtitle for this rollicking story is “A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants.” That is exactly what Johnston achieves. She has created a tall tale of how Levi Strauss made blue jeans famous. She writes in her author’s note, “The story of Levi Strauss and the invention of blue jeans is mostly legend with threads of truth, which my version stretches to near popping.” Johnson uses colorful language that adds flavor to her tale– “Levi Strauss rushed away. The miners barreled right behind, rattling and racketing and rolling.” Innerst painted his animated illustrations on old Levi’s. which gives texture to each picture. Read this one aloud and then lead your listeners to divine the true facts about Levi Strauss as you read the author’s note.
Marilyn Carpenter, PhD.
The Children's Book Compass 
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