Eleanor Roosevelt is a very good beginner biography published by ABDO Publishing Company, written by Sarah Tieck and copyrighted in 2010. What I enjoyed about this book is the multiple photos and the information that covered so many different areas of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. I loved the way the book described the social changes that Eleanor was instrumental in bringing about in our country; as well as abroad, through her work in the United Nations.
For an interested reader in history this book was very informative. It talks about Eleanor’s family, her education, her life in the White House and her political and humanitarian works. Eleanor lived a very full life. She and FDR made a huge impact on the United States and we still are affected today by many of the changes that they were instrumental in setting into motion during their lives.
If you are interested in learning more about this book continue reading here: http://www.abdopublishing.com .
While most people learn about Clara Barton and her nursing work on the battlefield during the civil war; we don’t really learn about the extent of Clara’s influence on America. I found the book to be very interesting as it discussed Clara’s early childhood and the foundation she gained through her family and their work ethic.
Ms. Barton was a highly effective individual when it came to influencing people in positions of power…the very rich as well as those higher up in the government. Equally influential with the poor and those who were injured or displaced because of war or natural disasters, Ms. Barton knew how to prepare and dispense supplies that helped people to survive and overcome whatever hardships that they were facing. It was the very establishment of America’s first endeavor of organized humanitarian aid.
In a time when women were regulated to very defined roles in society either in the home or in very limited careers such as teachers; Clara Barton opened doors to women fulfilling their purpose in societies in ways that were previously closed to them.
Clara was either revered and respected or resented and resisted by most everyone she came into contact with. Those who supported her efforts stood by her side and tried to aid the areas of impact that she felt called to contribute to. Those who resented or resisted her goals often times were successful temporarily at standing in her way. Clara suffered physically because of her dedication to her calling. She had to restore her health for lengthy periods of time so that she could again, gain the strength to put her heart and soul into establishing guidelines for providing ethical and medical standards regarding those who fought in wars.
Compassion combined with a diligent effort to organizing and streamlining aid to those in need was what was needed. She also helped to find and organize information regarding the loss of lives due to war; which was a great comfort to those family members who lost loved ones in war and had no idea of their burial places.
Clara Barton is a woman who has earned her place in history and is one whom both men and women can admire and pattern their own behavior after. She was called the “Angel of the Battlefied” because of those who had gratitude in their hearts for her nursing skills.
This book was written by Susan E. Hamen and was published by ABDO Publishing Company in 2010. It was printed on recycled paper and was nicely put together with wonderful pictures that go a long way towards keeping the interest of the reader. If you are interested in the book or in more information about Clara Barton you can visit their website here: http://www.abdopublishing.com
This is a book, A Man for All Seasons, was written for people who love to learn…it is about the life of George Washington Carver and his love of the earth and his love of learning. George was born African American in a time when it was not easy being black; and, having a desire to go to college and learn. Many colleges wouldn’t even talk to him when they discovered he was black.
He was not an angry young man…he just studied nature and plants; learning how they grew best and sharing that knowledge with others. He went on to study at college and to teach others…even when he was discriminated against. Sometimes, even at places where he was giving speaches…he was not allowed to come in the front door like the white people who came to hear him speak. This was not right…but he did not let it hold him back.
Being poor did not stop him from learning. Loosing both of his parents at a young age did not stop him from what he wanted to do in life. Being black did not stop him…even when others did not want to give him a chance. He learned to read and write; in a time of our country’s history, when it was not acceptable to learn to do so, if you were black.
The thing about George is that he loved to show others how they could improve their lives by rotating their crops and get more cops from the land by fertilizing and watering as well. He wanted to help others have a better way of life. George received a letter one day from a very famous black man in the country. His name was Booker T. Washington, president of the Tuskegee Institute. He wanted George to come to the Institute to teach because George was the only black man to receive a stellar degree from a white man’s college. Booker thought that George could be a wonderful role model for the poor black students who wanted to attend the Institute to go on and excel in their education.
George went on to teach at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in the agricultural department. He deeply respected nature and chose to share that respect with everyone who would listen. He taught others to perservere in their growth and in their desire to learn. George even spoke before Congress. He set an inspirational example for others…black, white and of every nationality.
This book on the life of George Washington Carver was written by Stephen Krensky and was illustrated by Wil Clay. It was published by Amistad and Collins an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers and was copyrighted in 2008. It was written as juvenile literature. You can view the writer’s website at: www.stephenkrensky.com and the illustrator’s website at: www.wilclay.com .
Thomas Jefferson-A Picture book biography was written by James Cross Giblin and was illustrated by Michael Dooling. Both the texts and the images help to get a vision of what life was like when Thomas Jefferson lived. It is hard to get to know someone when you can’t picture what they looked like or where they lived. This book opens that doorway to children instead of just presenting dry facts…it makes the life of Thomas Jefferson come alive.
Young Thomas Jefferson studied law and designed his own home from studying books of architecture. He was shy in school. But he loved to learn. He married and had children and grew up in a time when slavery was common in the south. He became a writer who went on to write some of the greatest writings that this country has come to treasure; such as the American Declaration of Independence. He became an important part of our country’s history.
He was a very interesting man. Some of the things he did seemed to conflict with the very things he wrote about. He didn’t believe in slavery…but he owned slaves. That is still hard to understand. Read the rest of this entry…
Many times biographies written for children are boring. The children struggle to find something to relate to in the book. This book, Thomas Edison…The Man Who Lit Up The World, is not like that at all. It is definately filled with information; but, it is information that teaches about the world around us. The compact size of the book, 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches is just right for smaller hands. It is written for approximately ages 10+.
The book covers young Thomas’ life as a young business person…selling newspapers, candy and food on the train The Grand Trunk to customers that road the train daily from Port Huron to Detroit. It details his marriages and his children. But where it really shines is detailing his never ending quest to invent and improve the things people use everyday. This go- getter attitude was a very important trait. He was a doer; someone who was driven to accomplish great things.
All through his life he looked for ways to improve or invent products that would make things better or easier. He filed over 1,000 patents as a inventor.
This book is fun because it has lots of pictures and drawings through out it’s pages. The reader gets to see Thomas as he lived.
Most children know that Thomas Edison was the successful inventor of the lightbulb. But, they may not know all about his other contributions to our society. Some of those inventions set the foundation to today’s electronic gadgets that children enjoy, today, such as; their ipods, movies, rechargeable batteries and even improving the technology for phones.
Thomas Edison’s “can do” and “I never give up” attitude is very inspiring. In reading, The Man Who Lit Up The World , the underlying theme is that things get accomplished when you stay focused and you are persistent in pursuing your dreams. I think that children reading this book will find it interesting to see how different their life is because of some of Thomas Edison’s inventions. His curiosity is contagious.
The author of this book is Martin Woodside. The book was published by Sterling Publishing. Their website is : www.sterlingpublishing.com. It was copywrited in 2007.