Valley Forge [Library Binding]

Richard Ammon (Author), Bill Farnsworth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The odds were against George Washington as he marched his army toward an old ironwork known as "Valley Forge." The Continental army had just been defeated in two important battles in the Revolutionary War. Now the poorly trained and equipped soldiers faced winter. At Valley Forge the men would have to build their own quarters, to feed and clothe them. Yet over the freezing winter of 1777-78, the Continental army transformed itself from a ragtag outfit into a professional army. Under such harsh conditions, how was this possible? "Valley Forge" tells how inspiration, determination, and a genius for organization enabled Washington, his talented staff, and his courageous soldiers to overcome extreme hardships and remake the army. Richard Ammon's informative text and Bill Farnsworth's remarkable oil paintings offer a fascinating account of this turning point in the Revolutionary War.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. From the writer and illustrator of Conestoga Wagons (2000), this large-format book presents a pivotal time in the Revolutionary War: the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. The stage is set with an introduction to George Washington and the war as well as a time line. In the two-page sections that follow, the text appears on the left, illustrated by facing full-page artwork. These solid oil paintings effectively portray the soldiers in action and in reflection. Many books have noted the hardships endured by the army at Valley Forge, but Ammon does a good job of giving readers the historical background and context as well as the sort of vivid, concrete details that make the facts memorable. He doesn't just list the sicknesses that plagued the army; he notes that with no showers and little soap, the soldiers groomed their hair by sprinkling it with flour, which attracted disease-carrying lice. Pair this with David Adler's book George Washington, reviewed above. Carolyn Phelan
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About the Author

Richard Ammon has written a number of books for children, including "An Amish Christmas," "An Amish Wedding," and "An Amish Year." He taught children's literature at Penn State University and lives with his family in Middletown, Pennsylvania.

Bill Farnsworth has illustrated numerous books for children, including "A Hero" and the "Holocaust: The Story of Janusz Korczak" and "His Children" by David A. Adler. He lives in Venice, Florida, with his family.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823417468
• ISBN-13: 978-0823417469
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,256,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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