Book picks similar to
Don't Know Much About the Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis
history
children
cl-biography
level-middle-grade
Meet George Washington
Joan Heilbroner - 1964
He was tall and strong, fair in judgment, and respected by his friends as agood leader. As he grew older, George saw how England took advantage of the American colonies—and he didn't like it. When the colonies declared their independence, George was chosen to lead their army as its general. And when the colonies won their freedom, George was elected to lead the new nation as its first president.
Bravest Dog Ever: Story of Balto
Natalie Standiford - 1989
Dozens of children in Nome become sick with diphtheria. Without antitoxin serum, they will perish - and the closest supply is 650 miles away! The only way to get the serum to Nome is by sled, but can the dogs deliver it in time? Heading bravely into a brutal blizzard, Balto leads the race for life.Illus. in full color.
Meet Thomas Jefferson
Marvin Barrett - 1967
Jefferson thought that many English laws and taxes were unfair, so he studied hard to become a lawyer and help make better laws. Soon he and others came to believe that the colonies should become a new country, and Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. As the third president of the United States, he focused on exploring the country and making it grow. His fairness and love of learning made him one of the most beloved presidents of all time.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Jean Lee Latham - 1955
Nathaniel Bowditch grew up in a sailor’s world—Salem in the early days, when tall-masted ships from foreign ports crowded the wharves. But Nat didn’t promise to have the makings of a sailor; he was too physically small. Nat may have been slight of build, but no one guessed that he had the persistence and determination to master sea navigation in the days when men sailed only by “log, lead, and lookout.” Nat’s long hours of study and observation, collected in his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also known as the “Sailors’ Bible”), stunned the sailing community and made him a New England hero.
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Elizabeth Yates - 1950
Although his freedom had been taken, Amos never lost his dignity and courage. For 45 years, Amos worked as a slave and dreamed of freedom. And, at age 60, he finally began to see those dreams come true.
Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy
Kate Waters - 1993
But as his hands become blistered and the sun beats down, he wonders if he's up to the task. An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists with more than 23,000 hardcover copies sold. Full color.
If You Were There When They Signed The Constitution
Elizabeth Levy - 1987
You will meet the key delegates and find out what is going on.
President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath
Mac Barnett - 2014
Abraham Lincoln saved the Union. William Howard Taft got stuck in a bathtub and then got unstuck. This is his story.
Calico Bush
Rachel Field - 1931
She promises her services to the Sargent family for six long years in return for food and shelter. But life as a "bound-out girl" is full of more hardship than Maggie ever could have imagined. Living with the family in an isolated part of northern Maine, Maggie struggles through the harsh, hungry winter of 1743, the constant threat of Indian attacks, and worst of all, the loneliness she suffers knowing that her own family is lost forever. Will the Sargent's house ever feel like home?
The First Woman Doctor: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D.
Rachel Baker - 1944
A biography of a strong and dedicated woman who successfully worked for the recognition of women in the field of medicine in both the United States and Great Britain.
The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War
Jim Murphy - 1990
Winner of the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction “Making extensive use of the actual words—culled from diaries, journals, memoirs, and letters—of boys who served in the Union and Confederate armies as fighting soldiers as well as drummers, buglers, and telegraphers, Murphy describes the beginnings of the Civil War and goes on to delineate the military role of the underage soldiers and their life in the camps and field bivouacs. Also included is a description of the boys' return home and the effects upon them of their wartime experiences…An excellent selection of more than 45 sepia-toned contemporary photographs augment the text of this informative, moving work.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “This wrenching look at our nation’s bloodiest conflict through the eyes of its youthful participants serves up history both heartbreaking and enlightening.” —Publishers Weekly “This well-researched and readable account provides fresh insight into the human cost of a pivotal event in United States history.” —The Horn Book (starred review)
In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World
Virginia Hamilton - 1988
With commentary by the author. “A must for mythology shelves.”--Booklist
The Woeful Second World War
Terry Deary - 1999
Find out who made a meal of maggots, or which soldiers were so smelly their enemies could sniff them out.
Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt
Doreen Rappaport - 2009
Alone and lonely for much of her childhood, Eleanor found solace in books and in the life of her lively and independent mind. Her intellectual gifts and compassionate heart won her the admiration of many friends—and the love of her future husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. While other young women of her class were spending time at dances and parties, Eleanor devoted her energies to teaching children in New York City's poorest neighborhoods. Later, she became the most socially and politically active—and controversial—First Lady America had ever seen. Ambassador, activist, and champion of civil rights, Eleanor Roosevelt changed the soul of America forever.In her eloquent prose, Doreen Rappaport captures the essence of Eleanor's character and the deep significance of her legacy. With beautiful paintings by Gary Kelley and selections from Eleanor's own writings, Eleanor's Big Words is an extraordinary tribute to an extraordinary American.
How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark
Rosalyn Schanzer - 1997
Carefully chosen text from Lewis and Cark's actual journals opens a fascinating window into this country's exciting history.