Customer Reviews

Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
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Jean Fritz has created many fabulous books for children. "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of my favorites. It shows the beginning of the American Revolution from the eyes of King George. The book is humerous and historically correct. Kids and adults will enjoy reading it together!

King George is considered to be one of the greatest opponents of the American Revolution. But does anyone ever really hear of his good traits until now. And in a childrens book! Well I know I didn't. And after reading this short story I found that ole George wasn't such a bad guy after all. All he wanted was for Brittain to become, well...richer. Couldn't those colonists help pay for some of his debts. Well maybe, if those colonists actually had any SAY in British matters then they should have to pay taxes. Well I still think he wasn't a BAD guy, he just tried to take the easiest way out.

Tomie DePaola and Jean Fritz-I think-make the perfect team. His comical illustrations with her undefinable text make this book a classic.

Fritz or Freedman '04. You decide.

I learned all kinds of things about King George, Queen Charlotte and others. It really helped me with my research on the Revolutionary war. In this book you get to learn the funny things about King George and things that happened during his time.

A charming little book, but nonetheless markedly biased. George III is treated gently, politely and even kindly in Jean Fritz's illustrated fable; the King's sense of honor and duty is palpable, and his character is given a review which is unusual but refreshing. Additionally, the illustrations are superb (they are what drew me in to begin with). The biggest problem I found was that the fact that George's motivations for entering into the war with America were misrepresented. Of course, this is not the place to enter into such a narrative, but any serious biography of him will lay out a set of ideas very different from those found in Fritz's prose. It is slightly worrying that a young child might be fed an incomplete truth; had the author given some of the King's stronger reasons, this would be an excellent gift for any young Historian. I recommend that it be enjoyed with a pinch of salt.

We are studying American history in our homeschool and just finished this book today. My son loved it and I think he's bummed that it's over! I had planned to read a little each day, but after the first few days he begged me to read through to the end. He couldn't get enough. Some of the print is so funny, then combined with the illustrations, it's hilarious. It's not all fun and games though, it's also educational and historically accurate. It shows the "human" side of King George III...he wasn't just some tyrannical monster trying to ruin America. He was a devoted husband and father who was determined to be a strong leader, and earnestly did what he felt was best for his country and its colonies. I can't recommend this book enough. If you don't hit it while you're in the elementary grades, you will certainly regret it.

Blushing and turning in my toes (just like George, Himself), I, like millions of others stand corrected about that arch-villain of our history, George III! As it turns out, he's a real person, just like the rest of us.

Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? brings his story to life for young readers. There's a lot for parents and teachers to enjoy here, too. Huzzah for Jean Fritz, who knows how to tell "his-story" with a great sense of humor making it as enjoyable as it should be.

This book is a pleasure to read.

I bought this book to read with my children (ages 8 and 10). I found the book interesting, and learned a bit about King George's youth. My children thought it wasokay, even though their father was forcing it on them. I even caught my wife sneaking a read.

The writing style is nice and folksy, and the illustrations are charmingly naive. The personal spin it places on the American Revolution, coupled with the emphasis on the British perspective, is a refreshing contrast to some of the more serious books I've read on revolutionary history.

All in all, a nice read.

My 4yo and I loved reading this book together. She is at an age where she wants to know if people were good or bad. This book presented both sides and showed how someone can want to be good, try to be good, and not everybody will agree with him, and he may still make mistakes. She also asked about whether taxes were bad, since that is part of the reason given for the Revolution. The book gave me a chance to talk to her about all of the things that taxes pay for, such as roads, firefighters, police officers, etc.

Great little book. Both the writing and illustrations work really well. Humerous and informative. My kids(10 and 8) really enjoyed this book. As did I. An intelligent way to make history fun for younger readers.