Thomas Jefferson: Father of Our Democracy (A First Biography) [Library Binding]

David A. Adler (Author), Jacqueline Garrick (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Series: A First Biography

An account of Jefferson's life highlighting his many accomplishments as governor, architect, gardener, inventor, and President.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A model of clear, coherent writing for children in early grades, this well-proportioned biography amply shows why Jefferson, "one of our greatest leaders," was also "one of America's most talented men." An accomplished writer, scholar, architect, musician and inventor, Jefferson spoke against slavery but never freed his own slaves. Adler refers to Jefferson's family life (most notably his grief when his young wife died) and wide-ranging friendships, including his affection for his colleague, John Adams. The black-and-white drawings in the book, though unremarkable, dovetail nicely with the text. Ages 8-10.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4 Adler has summarized in the simplest of declarative sentences the important events in the life of our third president, filling in the relevant historical background as well. This fresh look for younger readers includes a brief discussion of the institution of slavery and of Jefferson's statements and actions concerning it, which older books might have glossed over or omitted, although the Sally Hemmings controversy is not mentioned. Similarly the deaths of Jefferson's siblings, children, and wife at early ages are factually treated rather than ignored. The colorful, attractive dust jacket shows a young Jefferson in front of stars and stripes. Unfortunately the internal illustrations are dull, uneven pencil and gray wash sketches that detract from the book's appeal. For the same age group as this, Young Thomas Jefferson (Troll, 1985) by Francene Sabin focusses on his early years. Sylvia S. Marantz, Wellington School, Columbus, Ohio
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Library Binding: 48 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (September 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823406679
• ISBN-13: 978-0823406678
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,297,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write both fiction and non-fiction. I begin my fiction with the main character. The story comes later. Of course, since I'll be spending a lot of time with each main character, why not have him or her be someone I like? Andy Russell is based, loosely, on a beloved member of my family. He's fun to write about and the boy who inspired the character is even more fun to know. Cam Jansen is based even more loosely on a classmate of mine in the first grade whom we all envied because we thought he had a photographic memory. Now, especially when my children remind me of some promise they said I made, I really envy Cam's amazing memory. I have really enjoyed writing about Cam Jansen and her many adventures. For my books of non-fiction I write about subjects I find fascinating. My first biography was Our Golda: The Life of Golda Meir. To research that book, I bought a 1905 set of encyclopedia. Those books told me what each of the places Golda Meir lived in were like when she lived there. I've written many other biographies, including books about Martin Luther King, Jr; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Helen Keller; Harriet Tubman; Anne Frank; and many others in my Picture Book Biography series. I've been a Yankee and a Lou Gehrig fan for decades so I wrote Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man. It's more the story of his great courage than his baseball playing. Children face all sorts of challenges and it's my hope that some will be inspired by the courage of Lou Gehrig. I am working now on another book about a courageous man, Janusz Korczak. My book One Yellow Daffodil is fiction, too, but it's based on scores of interviews I did with Holocaust survivors for my books We Remember the Holocaust, Child of the Warsaw Ghetto, The Number on My Grandfather's Arm, and Hiding from the Nazis. The stories I heard were compelling. One Yellow Daffodil is both a look to the past and to the future, and expresses my belief in the great spirit and strength of our children. I love math and was a math teacher for many years, so it was fun for me to write several math books including Fraction Fun, Calculator Riddles, and Shape Up! Fun with Triangles and Other Polygons. In my office I have this sign, "Don't Think. Just Write!" and that's how I work. I try not to worry about each word, even each sentence or paragraph. For me stories evolve. Writing is a process. I rewrite each sentence, each manuscript, many times. And I work with my editors. I look forward to their suggestions, their help in the almost endless rewrite process. Well, it's time to get back to dreaming, and to writing, my dream of a job. David A. Adler is the author of more than 175 children's books, including the Young Cam Jansen series. He lives in Woodmere, New York.