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An architect, statesman, farmer, and inventor, Thomas Jefferson had few equals among this nation’s founders. Left fatherless at a young age, he was a hardworking scholar who came into his own as a lawyer, landowner, and county leader. Elected to the Virginia Assembly in 1769, Jefferson became an eloquent critic of the colonial policies of Great Britain and King George III. His talents made him the perfect candidate to write the Declaration of Independence, which set the United States apart in a world ruled by monarchs.
Jefferson, however, was not without his contradictions. His quill penned the immortal phrase “all men are created equal,” but during his lifetime he owned 600 slaves. And though he sought elected office, he was sensitive to criticism and often wished to escape his public role and return to his Monticello estate.
Author Brandon Marie Miller captures the complexity of this talented leader through his original writings and hands-on activities from the colonial era
Thomas Jefferson for Kids is a well-written, comprehensive biography of the third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. Brandon Marie Miller does an excellent job in portraying Thomas Jefferson as a multi-faceted, complex man.
There are plenty of photographs and pictures of Thomas Jefferson, his home, and the people who influenced his life and times. Especially interesting, are photographs of letters that Thomas Jefferson had penned with his own hand.
A nice feature that kids would enjoy, are the 21 activities. These include plotting a map, dancing a reel, building a simple microscope, and my kids' favorite - baking a macaroni and cheese pie.
Thomas Jefferson for Kids is a book that would appeal to anyone wanting to learn more about our country's third president, and is an excellent resource for students having to do research projects and reports. I highly recommend it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON for KIDS His Life and Times with 21 Activities By Brandon Marie Miller This is an in-depth well-written book about America's third President Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson's life is thoroughly covered in this book and portions of Jefferson's books and letters as he wrote them are found throughout. The first part of this book has a timeline of important dates throughout Jefferson's life from his birth on April 13, 1743 to his death on July 4, 1826. The second part is the real meat of the book, where you are introduced to Jefferson in all his complexities. His stand on slavery for one, though he was publically against it he himself kept slaves. He was against those in authority using their authority over others and wielding their power so as to keep others down, but in some instances he seemed to use the very abuses he was against to get what he wanted. He was plagued by the lose of those dear to him, as he lost his wife and most of his recognized children and these loses affected his public life. Jefferson was a man who loved knowledge and collected books throughout his life. Thomas Jefferson for Kids has 21 different activities for children that are similar to activities that Jefferson performed throughout his day-to-day life. Activities like plotting a map, making a simple microscope, observing the weather, or building a model solar system. This book would be an excellent classroom resource or text book for a homeschooler. It is also an excellent refresher on Jefferson for anyone who may not remember all of their American History! Jefferson is portrayed as a real person with faults and not some American deity as some books try to portray America's Founding Fathers. It is a well-balanced work and should be included in any Children's American History collection. Publisher provided review copy in digital format.
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Overview
An architect, statesman, farmer, and inventor, Thomas Jefferson had few equals among this nation’s founders. Left fatherless at a young age, he was a hardworking scholar who came into his own as a lawyer, landowner, and county leader. Elected to the Virginia Assembly in 1769, Jefferson became an eloquent critic of the colonial policies of Great Britain and King George III. His talents made him the perfect candidate to write the Declaration of Independence, which set the United ...