DK Biography: George Washington: A Photographic Story of a Life

My nine-year-old actually decided upon this book. She was given the choice of any book in the store and picked this one because of the photographic layout. This particular book provides a fun method to learn about a historic figure without becoming bored with the material. My daughter is a visual learning. So this particular style of writing, encouraged her to keep turning the page. Overall, a very informative story that entertains even young readers. Very appropriate also for completing homework assignments. What I also enjoyed about the book was the "bubbles" of information that defined terms for younger readers. For example, page 10 uses the word plantation in the text and the page provides a description of the meaning of the word plantation. These type of additions truly help the young reader learn something new.

I needed several more copies of the book about George Washington for our study in Adult Education class. The books came in a timely fashion and were in perfect shape. The delivery was fine and the cost for the books was reasonable , but I thought that the shipping cost was high. I would use your service again - but would try to combine it with another order to make use of a lower shipping cost.

This is one in a series of DK Biographies that will probably be of greatest interest and value to younger readers (ages 7-12). I also highly recommend them for use in ESL and literacy programs whatever the ages of the participants may be. Each volume provides solid historical information in combination with more than 100 archival photos and attractive illustrations. All volumes in the series should be available in public and school libraries and, fortunately, are sturdy and thus will hold up well despite frequent use. With a retail price of only $4.99, they also offer great value. Lenny Hort is the author of this biography of George Washington who led the colonial army to military victory in the war for independence and then served two terms as the first president of the United States of America. Hort carefully organizes his material within 13 chapters and wisely begins the narrative at an especially significant moment: Christmas Eve in 1776 as Washington and his depleted troops crossed the icy Delaware River to initiate a sneak attack on the Hessian troops stationed in Trenton after marching nine miles. "If Washington's plan works, his army will live to fight again. If not, the new nation and its commander in chief are as good as dead." Once having captured his younger readers' attention, Hort briefly reviews Washington's childhood, the French and Indian War in which he served, his residence and eminence in Virginia, events leading up to the revolution, the war, the creation of "a more perfect union," Washington's years as president, his retirement, and his "last battle." Hort concludes with his thoughts about "the man and the monument." He and the DK editors also provide several reader-friendly devices such as a map, timeline, bibliography, and "For Further Study" suggestions. As a grandfather of ten with several of them in 7-12 age range, I highly recommend DK Biographies as birthday and holiday gifts and also plan to "read along" with my grandchildren and share my own thoughts about some of the material. Other volumes in the series include those that focus on Madame Curie, Princess Diana, Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Benjamin Franklin, Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Helen Keller, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Annie Oakley, Pele, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mother Teresa. Additional biographies of Abigail Adams, Thomas Edison, Thomas Jefferson, and Laura Ingalls Wilder are now in preparation.

George Washington was a well-written, comprehensive biography of our first president. Rather than sticking to platitudes, we learn about the real man behind the myth. I'd recommend it for any middle-schooler...