Take the Lead, George Washington (Turning Point Books) - Hardcover

Judith St. George has published dozens of successful nonfiction books for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning So You Want to Be President? and the historical Turning Point series, including You’re On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt; Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln; and Take the Lead, George Washington. You can visit her online at www.judithstgeorge.com.

Grade 1-5 - Part of a series that highlights pivotal events in the lives of young men who went on to become President of the United States, this picture book focuses on the impact a surveying trip had on Washington in his 16th year. The lively, engaging text presents an eerily contemporary childhood (lots of moving) and family life (siblings, half-siblings, dad as head of household, older brother as head of household, a strict and opinionated mother). St. George does a wonderful job of presenting Washington's can-do attitude and incipient charisma. He comes across as thoroughly likable, intelligent, and curious - the kind of person almost anyone would want to know. Large, kinetic, and humorous, Powers's watercolor cartoons extend the narrative well. The only quibble is that the picture-book format may well put off older students who would most benefit from the fairly high-level text. A final page gives a brief snapshot of Washington's life. This is both a sound companion to Roslyn Schanzer's George vs. George (National Geographic, 2004), which looks at the whole life through the lens of the American Revolution, and a solid replacement for the D'Aulaires' venerable George Washington (Doubleday, 1936). - Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA
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