The Revolutionary John Adams

The Revolutionary John Adams 

written and illustrated by Cheryl Harness, Washington, D.C: National Geographic, 2003. (0-7922-6970-5).

Awards: Beacon of Freedom Award, Nominee, 2006.

Author Website: None

Media: Rich watercolors on paper.

Annotation:  Harness traces the life of President John Adams from his humble beginnings on a farm to the White House. This biography offers details of Adams’ work as a revolutionary, politician, lawyer, statesman and leader.

Personal Reaction:  This biography is steeped in facts, but it is also a very personal story of a man’s life.  The author traces John Adams’ life from his birth on a farm in New England to his death on a farm not far away.  In between, the reader learns about the role of Adams in revolting against England, building the government of new nation, working side by side with Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, serving as Vice-President and President, as well as working as a statesman abroad.  The numerous quotes from Adams, familial details and excerpts from personal letters to his beloved wife Abigail allow for an insight into Adams life that makes this biography more memorable than others.   Harness uses sweeping watercolor paintings of people and maps to bring Adams’ time to life.  In just 40 pages, Harness not only tells Adams’ story, but the history of our emerging and young nation.  The personal perspective and illustrations provide an accessible history lesson for students in grades five to seven.

Use of  Simile: (p.31) “news that plunked like a round black stone into the world of John and Abigail Adams.”

Use of Metaphor: (p.5) “stomach full of butterflies.” (p.26) “dug deep into his bag of political skills.”  (p.29) “Two old lions, France and England.”

Use of Alliteration:  (p.16) “soldiers froze and failed.” (p.24) “diamond-decked Marie Antoinette.”  (p.32) “stump-stubbled Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Use of Onomatopoeia:  (p.6) “John Adams fizzed with total and complete happiness.” (p.8) “People began to grumble.”  (p.11) “plunk . . .plunk . . .plunked boxes of tea into Boston Harbor.”

Use of Sophisticated Language:  (p. 26) “coaxed out of Holland official recognition and loans, lifeblood for his nation.”

Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 5, California Standards: 5.6:   Students understand the course and consequences of the American Revolution.  5.7: Students describe the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution’s significance as the foundation of the American republic.

George vs. George: the American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides

George vs. George: the American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides

written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer, 2004, Washington, DC: National Geographic. (0-7922-7349-4).

Author/ Illustrator Website:   http://www.rosalynschanzer.com/

Media:  Watercolor on paper

Awards and Honors: ALA Notable Book for Children, 2005. NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book, 2005.

Annotation: George vs. George provides detailed coverage of the American Revolution from the perspectives of George Washington and George III, King of England.  Details about the underlying causes of the war and the lives of both Georges contribute to a fascinating book.

Personal Reaction:  Watercolor illustrations of George Washington and George III on the introductory page of this book set the tone for this rare, balanced presentation of the facts surrounding the American Revolution.  Author Schanzer presents each George in an oval portrait glaring at each other.  Washington is frowning and giving King George the evil eye and King George simply looks repulsed by Washington.  From page one, I knew this book was going to give me both George’s stories and the chance to decide for myself what I thought of this period of history.    Providing students with the opportunity to decide what they think about history is like giving the gift of higher order thinking.  Schanzer doesn’t just offer a simplified version of these two men’s perspectives, either.  George vs. George is packed with information about George Washington, his family, various other key figures of the time, details about King George, his family, England’s recent history and quotations from both men and their contemporaries that give readers a comprehensive sense of this period in history.  The book offers a wealth of background material on the circumstances and environment in both the colonies and England before, during and after the war.   Schanzer’s cheerful voice kept me interested as I read through this dense 60-page dual perspective story.  I truly gained a sense of both sides of this historic story and appreciated that this author did not favor the U.S. perspective by glossing over details such as the fact that most Native Americans fought on the British side in hopes of protecting their land from colonists. Also, this book is definitely a picture book for older readers as indicated by the complex information about the structure of government, battle logistics, political posturing and mature verbiage.  For example, on page 30, Schanzer writes, “Rebel newspapers reported that bloodthirsty redcoats burned houses, drove naked women into the streets and butchered old men and infants.  The King was told that rebel savages broke the rules of war by ambushing his army.  Then they scalped fallen British infantry and cut off their ears.”  

Use of Alliteration:  (p. 13) “gentlemen in fancy white wigs wearing all the latest fashions.”  (p. 13) “from Borneo to the Bay of Botega.” (p. 14) “wealthy widow.” (p. 18) “drowning in debt.”

Use of Sophisticated Language: (p. 34) “Washington despaired over the inexperience of his volunteers, the constant desertions, and a paralyzing lack of food and military supplies.”

Use of Metaphor: (p. 11) “fabric binding America to Great Britain was about to unravel”

Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 5, California Standard: 5.6:   Students understand the course and consequences of the American Revolution.

Constitution Construction

Constitution Construction

written and illustrated by Boyd Bentley, 2003, Williamsburg, VA: Chester Comix. (0972961623).

Author/ Illustrator Website: http://www.chestercomix.com/comics/

Awards and Honors: Virginia Council for the Social Studies Friend of Education Award, 2003

Media: Black ink and colored markers on paper.

Graphic Novel: Comic book style book with multiple chapters.

Annotation: Chester the Crab has a dream about the United States Constitution.  The dream is in the form of a comic book and explains the plan for the government of the United States.

Personal Reaction:  So many kids, particularly reluctant readers,  love reading comics.  Chester Comix is a great way to engage students in grades 5, 8 and 10 in the content of the California subject standards for American history.   In just 24 pages, Bentley Boyd, under the guise of Chester the Crab, covers a lot of material related to the construction of the United States Constitution.  John Locke shares his ideas about life, liberty and property from a perch in a jungle wearing a loincloth.  Newspaperman John Peter Zenger fights for freedom of speech and freedom of press after transforming into Superman. An especially funny comic featuring Thomas Jefferson proves that comics can make complex and contentious subjects such as religious freedom easy to digest for students. Chester’s last dream turns the creation of the Articles of Confederation into a comic spin on Star Trek. Chester Comix are colorful, action-packed and fact-filled and the result is a fresh approach to teaching history to students ages 9 to 15 years. Boyd succeeds in succinctly presenting an important period of American history in an easy to understand format that will entertain and educate.  The book includes a comic-free index that will allow students to review key points of information with ease.  A website for Chester Comix features teaching guides and information about state education standards covered in Boyd’s creative work.

Use of Metaphor:  (p.22) The ship from Star Trek is a metaphor for  the United States government.

Use of Onomatopoeia:  (p.3) “Wam” enliven the action as Locke fights for his rights against the gorilla and a tiger.

Use of Personification:   (p. 5) A gorilla personifies the concept of a monarchy government.

Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 5, California Standards: 5.7: Students describe the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution’s significance as the foundation of the American republic.