When Mr. Jefferson Came to Philadelphia

When Mr. Jefferson Came to Philadelphia: What I Learned of Freedom, 1776 by Ann Turner (Author), Mark Hess (Illustrator); HarperCollins 2003

Ages 4-8

"What did I know of freedom, of all the wild talk of independence that summer of 1776?"

Everyone knows about the Declaration of Independence, but how many people know that Thomas Jefferson wrote it by himself in only a few days? (There were four other men on the committee and, although they made suggestions and some revisions, Jefferson wrote it himself) Why would such a man, wealthy and born to an aristocratic family, risk all to fight for freedom for Britain? Turner tells a story, set in Philadelphia in 1776, of a boy named Ned who meets Thomas Jefferson who is staying in his mother's inn while debating the topic of freedom in Congress and writing the Declaration of Independence. Ned watches Jefferson as he gives speeches and writes the Declaration of Independence. In the meantime, Ned worries about his fears on war and the safety of his family. In the end, Ned, along with many others, takes Jefferson's words to heart.

The lifelike oil paintings by Hess transport you to 1776 and make you value what everyone is starting to talk about at that time- freedom.

Hop on over to Anastasia Suen's picture book of the day blog for the nonfiction Monday roundup!