Farmer George Plants a Nation & Washington at Valley Forge

George Washington was the first leader of our nation- hence, the reason why he appears in many books, especially for children. Authors continue to dig deep for specialized information on our first president and here's two that I think focus on interesting aspects of his life.

Farmer George Plants a Nation

Author: Peggy Thomas
Illustrator: Larry Johnson
Publisher: Calkins Creek
Reading Level: Ages 8 and up

When we think of George Washington, we think of him as a general and as the first American President, but Washington was also a farmer. Did you know that Washington's frustration as a farmer was one of the reasons why Washington joined the revolution? Washington worked on forming a new nation, but he also worked on creating a self-sufficient farm at Mount Vernon, Virginia. Thomas's research through primary sources shines through and she includes several excerpts from Washington's diaries and letters. This wonderful non-fiction read focuses on a side of Washington that many Americans might not be aware of.
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Washington at Valley Forge

Author: Russell Freedman
Publisher: Holiday House
Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman give us a gritty account of Washington's days at Valley Forge. The American soldiers endured severe hardship- difficult winter weather, and the lack of food, supplies and clothing. They almost perished during the winter of 1777-78. Freedman digs deep, using first-person accounts from a variety of sources. We see Washington as a man who helped transform the militia into a unified, trained military force and when the winter was over, the soldiers had survived. The British were defeated in 1783, and Washington, for the rest of his life, said that the credit for the American victory belonged to the soldiers who had braved the horrific conditions at Valley Forge.