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Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation

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Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation

Hardcover

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Hardcover
$16.95

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Overview

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Education Recommended Book

Thomas Jefferson was more than a president and patriot. He was also a planter and gardener who loved to watch things grow—everything from plants and crops to even his brand-new nation.

As minister to France, Jefferson promoted all things American, sharing corn and pecans with his Parisian neighbors. As secretary of state, he encouraged his fellow farmers to grow olives, rice and maple trees. As president, he doubled the size of the nation with the Louisiana Purchase. Even in his retirement, Jefferson continued to nurture the nation, laying the groundwork for the University of Virginia. In this meticulously researched picture book for older readers, author Peggy Thomas uncovers Jefferson's passion for agriculture and his country. And Stacy Innerst's incredibly original illustrations offer the right balance of reverence and whimsy. This is Thomas Jefferson as he's never been seen before! Back matter includes an author's note on Jefferson's legacy today; timeline, bibliography; place to visit (Monticello); and source notes.

Product Details
About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620916285
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	09/08/2015
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	331,660
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	1120L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Peggy Thomas has been researching and writing award-winning children's nonfiction for more than 20 years. She lives in Middleport, New York. peggythomaswrites.com.

Stacy Innerst is an artist and illustrator of seven books for children. His picture books have been awarded a BCCB Blue Ribbon Picture Book Award as well as a Parents' Choice Gold Medal and have been selected for recognition by the NY Society of Illustrators, Publishers Weekly Best Books, SLJ Best Books, and the Smithsonian, among others. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. stacyinnerst.com.

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Editorial Reviews

07/20/2015
Thomas follows Farmer George Plants a Nation with an adeptly distilled examination of Thomas Jefferson’s achievements, seen through the lens of his agricultural passions. His failures appear alongside his successes—at one point, Jefferson has a moose killed and shipped to France in a (fruitless) attempt to persuade a French naturalist of America’s majesty; later, he smuggles rice out of Italy, but the crop fails in America. As she did in Farmer George, Thomas uses an afterword to acknowledge that “today it is difficult to understand how the writer of the Declaration of Independence could own slaves.” Innerst’s muted gouache paintings contribute playful touches (she gives the ill-fated moose red and blue antlers dotted with white stars) that are in step with Thomas’s informal narration and Jefferson’s curiosity and optimism. Ages 9–12. Illustrator’s agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Using Thomas Jefferson's own admissions of passion for both his new country and agriculture, details are given about a few of his activities, inventions, and accomplishments, beginning after the Revolutionary War.... (t)he text... contains sophisticated ideas and vocabulary, and numerous quotations appear in the entertaining artwork and the text itself.... it is no small feat to choose but a few facts about such a well-documented life; the choices made and the method of telling are both exemplary." — Kirkus Reviews

"Innerst's muted gouache paintings contribute playful touches... that are in step with Thomas's informal narration and Jefferson's curiosity and optimism." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2015
Gr 3–6—In this illustrated biography, Thomas continues her portraits of Americans who contributed to the development of the United States. As the author establishes, Thomas Jefferson had many interests, including his passion for plants and animals, which was evident in his roles as farmer, diplomat, and president. In his work Notes on the State of Virginia, he refuted the false information in Count Buffon's book, which stated that North American wildlife couldn't compare with the creatures of the Old World. While in Paris securing trade agreements, Jefferson promoted the rich plant life of the Americas by growing corn, cantaloupe, and watermelon in his garden. In return, he shipped olive trees and dry rice back to the farmers in the United States. As president, he sent Lewis and Clark on an expedition to explore the Northwest region of the country; they sent box after box of seeds, sketches, and animal specimens to our curious president. When his presidency was over, Jefferson returned to Monticello to resurrect his neglected fields and lay the foundation for the University of Virginia, which included a botanical garden. Thomas's engaging text is thoroughly researched, with solid source notes for each quotation. Historical details and illustrations are blended perfectly. Rendered in gouache on paper, the art has a slyly humorous quality, with Innerst adding a hint of Jefferson's distinctive red hair color in the tones and shades on most pages. (The artist also used a quill to hand letter all the quotes.) VERDICT A first purchase.—Sharon M. Lawler, formerly of Randolph Elementary, Randolph AFB, TX

School Library Journal

2015-05-12
Using Thomas Jefferson's own admissions of passion for both his new country and agriculture, details are given about a few of his activities, inventions, and accomplishments, beginning after the Revolutionary War. A muted, gouache image of a large-headed Jefferson plowing with the help of a large brown mule spans two early pages, under which is this text: "After planting the seed of freedom writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas had something new to nurture. And like any farmer imagining the harvest of a newly tilled field, Thomas envisioned a nation of farmers. But one weed threatened Thomas's vision." Said weed is Count Buffon, a Frenchman whose disparaging lies about the New World eventually resulted in Jefferson's arranging for the man to receive a moose via cargo ship. This unusual and amusing tale begins a series of revelations that continue to show Jefferson's intense desire to boost his nation's status and to improve its agriculture. The text is dense and contains sophisticated ideas and vocabulary, and numerous quotations appear in the entertaining artwork and the text itself. The seed metaphor is not extended to Jefferson's known progeny, but the final section, "Thomas Today," wisely invites readers to ponder Jefferson's slave ownership. It is no small feat to choose but a few facts about such a well-documented life; the choices made and the method of telling are both exemplary. (timeline, further information, notes) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

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