Don't Know Much about George Washington

Publishers Weekly

The first president is also a subject in one of two new entries in Kenneth C. Davis's Don't Know Much About series. George Washington, illus. by Rob Shepperson, and Sitting Bull, illus. by Sergio Martinez, both follow the author's established q&a format and present an abundance of information, both weighty and frivolous, about these important American figures.

Children's Literature

This book is part of the "Don't Know Much About History" series. The questions are very frank, modeled after the way a child would ask, while the answers tend to be more complex and deal with the subtleties of a situation—a style that seems characteristic of the series. This makes Davis' book more approachable than history books that give uninterrupted explanations of events. While the author does not depict Washington in less than laudatory terms, he tries to be as honest as possible and doesn't hesitate to describe Washington's relationship with his mother as less than amicable. Neither does he hesitate to debunk the popular cherry tree myth or to note that the president was "not a natural public speaker." Davis is good at relating historical events succinctly, drawing out their significance and consequences while skipping extraneous information, and his depiction of Washington's personality is also simple but engaging. Quotes, maps, and trivia galore, as well as a timetable, accompany the text at the end. Shepperson's cartoon-like illustrations add a levity that children will appreciate. 2003, HarperCollins Publisher,
— Rihoko Ueno

KLIATT

History is alive and well in these Q&A books about two important people in our background—George Washington and Sitting Bull. Much biographical material is given as well as important details about events during their eras. Sidebars are included that explain many cultural items, and the b/w illustrations add a lot to each book. Did you know that George Washington didn't have much formal schooling but was forced to learn manners, and that he had survived smallpox? Did you know that Sitting Bull used to draw pictures of all his fights and at one time adopted an enemy boy who had been brave? These and many other little-known facts, along with listings of major life events, make these two small books a joy for students or history buffs. Great for supplemental reading for students. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2003, HarperTrophy, 128p. illus. bibliog. index.,
— Barbara Jo McKee

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Washington's life and accomplishments are communicated in easy-to-digest snippets with a few line drawings, historical reproductions, and maps thrown in along the way. It is easy to pooh-pooh this approach, but Davis is an engaging enough writer to pull it off. Before he launches into the answers to his self-posed questions, he begins by telling readers, "If you have a dollar bill or a quarter, then George Washington is in your pocket." The questions range from the truly kid-focused ("Was George Washington an only child?") to those adults might wish that youngsters would ask ("How did Washington, champion of liberty, feel about slavery?") to those that must be posed in order to provide background and move the narrative along ("What's so good about owning a colony anyway?"). The answers seem factual, debunk a number of myths, and are interspersed with sidebars on everything from colonial clothing to food at Mount Vernon to the Electoral College. Quotes from famous people of the time are interspersed throughout. The chronology, brief suggested-reading lists, and more extensive bibliography, augmented by the now-obligatory Web sites, make this book useful for assignments. It will probably even serve nicely as a sort of George Washington Cliffs Notes for older students.-Sue Sherif, Alaska State Library, Anchorage Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.