I happen to be a big fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson, so I really enjoyed this picture book partial-biography.  I like the end papers covered with quotes from him, and the way more of his quotes are sprinkled throughout the text, describing his joy in building a home of his own and filling it with friends and building his own life to suit his own interests.  I love the theme of overcoming disaster with the help of friends and community.  I wish I could give it a stronger recommendation, but I don’t think the target audience is likely to familiar enough with who Mr. Emerson is to care.  I wish they’d given even a brief introduction at the beginning to tell students about who he was.