Customer Reviews

George Washington

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the Amazon page doesn't show the wonderful cover, it shows the young George on a white horse--Washington's white charger became his trademark. Beautifully illustrated, and a direct, unfanciful text. A perfect introduction to the growing up and future of our first President, with no nonsense. The d'Aulaires were stylists and were accurate, visiting the sites. They won many prizes. They deserved every one. A perfect introduction to the life of George Washington.

Put this in your home library! My kids want more and more of this. They love history but get bored without pictures. This author makes the past people and places come alive for them. They remember and understand the detailed and engaging historical tales.

This D'Aulaire book is both beautiful and engaging. The illustrations are Grandma Moses"ish" and the text is captivating enough to hold the attention of young, squirmy boys. All of the D'Aulaire titles that we have seen are great and can all be found new at The Book Peddler online if not here on Amazon. Highly recommended!

This biography of Washington is more detailed -- 3rd through 5th graders will gain a lot of information in a still-fun book. The illustrations and format make this an approachable book for kids who are just getting started with non-fiction reading.

Plenty of personal details, like the rules for gentlemen Washington wrote down in his lesson book, and his surverying years, his service in the wars, and his presidency.

This is a likable and enjoyable Washington that kids can relate to and respect.

Good illustrations.

This book came highly recommended by a homeschooling website, so I was looking forward to reading it with my children. The text gave an interesting and unique narrative of George Washington's life, but the illustrations were quite offensive. In the depiction of Washington's wedding, the reader looks through the window of the estate to see the newlyweds dancing, while outside the black children gaze longingly at the scene. Martha's son winks at them from inside. On the next page the text states, "George Washington was everywhere, and his hundreds of slaves and servants kept everything spick and span and in beautiful order." The accompanying illustration shows the wealthy Washington and his family dressed in their finery and ambling happily along in front of a golden field of wheat. The field is peppered with the ambiguous forms of slaves, shirtless and without faces.

I realize that this book was written in the 1930's and that Washington had slaves. I am not trying to argue that this fact should not be acknowledged, but the matter is presented in a very insensitive and Anglo-centric fashion. This may have been accepted in the 30's, but I think modern parents and teachers can do better.