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A review by misspentdays
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock
Award winning author, Barb Rosenstock specializes in biographies for children. She uses her considerable skill to create an entertaining look at the way Thomas Jefferson' love of reading and book collecting benefitted the nation.
Thomas Jefferson loved to read from the moment he learned how to do it. Once he started reading, he didn't stop. Because of his fortunate socio-economic status, Jefferson was able to build a library at his childhood home, his adult home, and again in retirement. This book adds historical tidbits to the basic story of Thomas Jefferson's book collecting, which keeps it interesting. From attending college to his professional life as author of Declaration of Independence, diplomat, and President to his family life as a husband, widower, and father. Rosenstock includes quotes from Jefferson and his contemporaries. This book provides a different angle on this much discussed American and interesting look at life at the time.
While Rosenstock includes a fair amount of text with a rich vocabulary, a good deal of the information is in break outs that can be read (or not!) depending on the audience level, while maintaining the flow of the narrative. The illustrations are colorful pen and ink with great detail thanks to the texture O'Brien layers in with color. This book is a fun one for book lovers and those who enjoy biographies or history. What starts as the seemingly simple story of book collecting includes the building of the Library of Congress.
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library has an extensive bibliography for further research, as well as a note on Jefferson's status as a slaveholder, which allowed him time and resources to build his collection and spend hours upon hours reading. This book would be useful in social studies classes and library classes for elementary school students in third grade and up.
Thomas Jefferson loved to read from the moment he learned how to do it. Once he started reading, he didn't stop. Because of his fortunate socio-economic status, Jefferson was able to build a library at his childhood home, his adult home, and again in retirement. This book adds historical tidbits to the basic story of Thomas Jefferson's book collecting, which keeps it interesting. From attending college to his professional life as author of Declaration of Independence, diplomat, and President to his family life as a husband, widower, and father. Rosenstock includes quotes from Jefferson and his contemporaries. This book provides a different angle on this much discussed American and interesting look at life at the time.
While Rosenstock includes a fair amount of text with a rich vocabulary, a good deal of the information is in break outs that can be read (or not!) depending on the audience level, while maintaining the flow of the narrative. The illustrations are colorful pen and ink with great detail thanks to the texture O'Brien layers in with color. This book is a fun one for book lovers and those who enjoy biographies or history. What starts as the seemingly simple story of book collecting includes the building of the Library of Congress.
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library has an extensive bibliography for further research, as well as a note on Jefferson's status as a slaveholder, which allowed him time and resources to build his collection and spend hours upon hours reading. This book would be useful in social studies classes and library classes for elementary school students in third grade and up.