George

November 7, 2011
In the second installment of the Mount Rushmore series (after Theodore) Keating—the former governor of Oklahoma—and Wimmer offer an accessible and graphically stunning picture book biography of the first president of the United States. Wimmer’s remarkably lifelike oil paintings of Washington as a schoolboy, surveyor, soldier, father, and politician are accompanied by a spare, impressionistic first-person narrative, studded with Washington’s actual quotes. Reproduced on simulated parchment pages, the text also includes quotations, printed in a script font to resemble handwriting, from the “Rules of Civility,” which Washington copied as a boy and which became his “primer on life.” The book reads as an aggregation of memories, not always smoothly linked. After a quick description of Washington’s civilian life (“When I left school, I became a surveyor. I was also a blacksmith and a carpenter”) and his devotion to the “Rules,” the narrative leaps to his military career, referenced in vague terms (“In my twenties I was in the midst of the action. I was a major of militia”). For newcomers to American history, it’s an insightful if sometimes choppy portrait of a very human Washington. Ages 6–9.

November 1, 2011
By the age of 15, George Washington had written out a list of precepts taught to him by his teachers, the "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation," by which he lived and was guided throughout his life. Excerpts from this little-known historical document appear throughout this stolid picture-book biography of our first president, in which Washington describes some salient details of his life and career in the first person. The rules are worthy, but readers will note that there is usually no relationship between them and the facts presented on the same page. While the volume is stirring, there is no cohesion to the narrative, and it will not even serve report writers, as most dates and events go unmentioned, as do many highlights of Washington's story. Only the notes to the artwork provide some factual context. Young readers wondering if Washington ever faced any setbacks will find no evidence of them here. What emerges from these pages is a larger-than-life icon with no warts. Wimmer's paintings are masterful and dramatic, though some seem stiffly posed. The cover portrait is certainly rousing. Washington remains an historic hero despite flaws and defeats. These are recounted in far more accomplished biographies, and children will be better served by reading about the real man elsewhere. (author's note, artist's note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 8-11)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012

Gr 2-5-Succinct, powerful text paired with well-researched, painterly oils make this a good read-aloud. Most spreads include one of the "Rules of Civility" that the teenaged Washington copied by hand and then embraced as a way of life. Quotes like "Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience" are both thought-provoking and worthy of class discussion. Beginning with his childhood and the loss of his father at age 11, this account of Washington's life shows how a leader among boys became the leader of our country. "At play I was tall and strong. Frequently, I was asked to be the peacemaker." The young man's lighter side is revealed in a quote he memorized from a tombstone: "John Hizer, /The Mizer, /Is wiser-we hope." Wimmer's handsome, detailed paintings invite readers into Washington's world. Period costume, furnishings, and weaponry, along with lifelike portraits of the subject at every age, enrich and inform the narrative. Each spread includes an illustration on the verso and text on aged parchment opposite. A first purchase.-Barbara Auerbach, PS 217, Brooklyn, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2011
Grades 2-4 This biographical picture book juxtaposes full-page paintings of George Washington with a first-person account of his life, beginning I am remembered as the Father of My Country. With just a paragraph or two on each double-page spread, the clearly written, straightforward text is well suited to reading aloud. Aptly chosen selections from Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, the maxims that he transcribed during his school days and put into practice throughout his life, frequently appear below the text. The illustrations capture the tone as well as the content of the words. Though some of the scenes look as still as tableaux, others recreate motion very effectively. Strong composition and use of light heighten the drama of the scenes. The last page includes an author's note, an artist's note, historical notes on the art, and a bibliography. This handsomely designed book presents a traditional view of Washington, which is precisely what many parents and primary-grade teachers will be looking for come Presidents' Day.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)