readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
Spotlights 14 Americans who are considered the "Founding Fathers". Quick information, but gives good background information and some quick reference info on each person. Would be great for students who are studying these Americans who need some fast information.
5elementknitr's review
3.0
I ran out of time and had to return to/get back from the library. Several times.
This was a lot wordier than I was expecting.
I enjoyed the formatting, and I especially loved the quotes from each. They were quotes one doesn't normally see from these men.
This was a lot wordier than I was expecting.
I enjoyed the formatting, and I especially loved the quotes from each. They were quotes one doesn't normally see from these men.
nerfherder86's review
4.0
Short biographical sketches of 14 Founding Fathers, from Washington to Benjamin Rush (doctor) and John Marshall (Supreme Court chief justice), written in a breezy "just folks" style, slangy, "well pardner" kind of vocabulary. Each sketch has a list of attributes: height, weight, political leaning, religion, schooling, military experience, "in favor of the Tea Party?" etc. to compare each man. These lists include the number of slaves owned, and their position on slavery, as well as how wealthy they were. I liked the introductory "Preamble" that explains what a Founding Father is--"Americans always talk about (them) as if they were a group of dads who, after a brief huddle, just hauled off and founded America." Winter says that modern citizens always argue about them, were they religious or not? Good guys or not? In truth, they were all different, had ailments and "problematic personalities," but were very smart. Often arrogant and stubborn, they argued among themselves, and they actually founded a work in progress, the foundation on which to build America. The book is illustrated with cartoony pen and ink drawings with watercolor washes; they looked to me like old-fashioned editorial cartoons, and since the illustrator also draws for The New Yorker magazine, that totally makes sense. Very nice, unique book with a fresh take on historical figures for kids.
estellabelle92's review
4.0
As I near the end of Chernow's Hamilton, I picked up this fun little, but extremely informative picture book. The author doesn't mince words about how very human the founding fathers were.
Lots of fun & educational too!
Lots of fun & educational too!
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