From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4–Adler captures much of the complex nature of the man and his role in America's fight for independence. However, it is never easy to take a complicated person and create a succinct biography for children without oversimplification and choppy transitions. This book reflects these challenges. In particular, the Boston Tea Party is poorly explained. No clear reason is given for the patriots' actions, nor does the text mention that they disguised themselves as American Indians. The illustrations, however, show a number of men in tribal headdress, which could confuse readers unfamiliar with the event. Overall, though, the book presents a good overview of Adams, his personality, and his actions. The illustrations, done in muted tones, have the unfinished feel of sketches. While attractive, their soft focus, particularly of people's facial expressions, keeps the story distant and prevents the history from coming fully alive. Jean Fritz's classic Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? (Putnam, 1974) has a similar scope and audience, but is a livelier read and presents a more nuanced, complete overview of Adams's life.– Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist
Gr. 1-3. David Adler's son, Michael, is coauthor of this short biography, which maintains the high standard of writing and art that has made the A Picture Book of . . . series such a dependable resource. After a few pages on Adams' childhood and youth, the narrative relates the man's later accomplishments, from his early verbal attacks against the British in Boston and his later work fomenting revolution to his signing of the Declaration of Independence and his service as governor of Massachusetts. Weaving biographical information into a succinct explanation of conditions and dramatic events in pre-Revolutionary Boston, the story offers a good introduction to Adams and his times. Himler's pencil drawings with muted watercolor washes provide a series of handsome pictures illustrating moments of reflection as well as scenes of action. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
