Tag: Nonfiction Monday Review

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The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon

The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon by Carla Killough McClafferty is much more than a biography of George Washington, it is about literally rebuilding a person from historical information. It has been nominated for a 2011 Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category. 

Sometimes it pays to reread a book. The first time I “read” this one I admit I was distracted. I skimmed some pages. I set it aside. Hey, who doesn’t know about George Washington? Then my son picked it up an read it cover to cover. From then on, all I heard about was George Washington this, and George Washington that, and George Washington’s teeth… So, I picked it up again. This time I really appreciated what The Many Faces of George Washington is about.

First, once you realize that by training Carla Killough McClafferty is a radiologic technologist who is interested in history, you know this isn’t going to be the standard biography. At the heart of this book is the story of making three life-sized figures of George Washington at ages nineteen, forty-five and fifty-seven for the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center.

How do you make realistic life-sized models without access to the person’s skull or photographs? You assemble a team of forensic anthropologists, textile artists, taxidermists, dentists and historians, and let the experts piece together the most complete portrait of the man possible, right down to the age spots on his hands.

The experts went after every detail they could. Washington’s horse was recreated using taxidermy techniques. They used Washington’s surviving dentures to recreate his jaw shape. Someone who was near Washington’s size wore the new breeches while horseback riding to give them an authentic look. Amazing!

The backmatter of the book includes plenty of ways to delve into Washington’s life further, such as a timeline, source notes, a bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and an index.

The Many Faces of George Washington is an unusual combination, sure to enthuse budding historians and forensic anthropologists alike.

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
School & Library Binding: 120 pages
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (April 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0761356088
ISBN-13: 978-0761356080

Provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by Booktalking to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at Practically Paradise.

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Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air

Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross and illustrated by Stephen Biesty is an ode to adventure and discovery that is full of unfolding cutaways and cross-section illustrations, sure to thrill visual and kinesthetic learners. It was a 2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor winner and has been nominated for a Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category. 

Stewart Ross say he loves history, and his passion shows. From the first Greek to sail to the Arctic circle, to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s trip to the moon, Ross follows fourteen great explorers in chronological order as they course into the unknown.

What really makes the book, however, are the absolutely fabulously detailed cutaway illustrations by Stephen Biesty. For a child or young adult interested in transportation, particularly ship building, the illustrations are gold mines of technical information. Also included are maps, including the dust jacket which unfolds into a world map showing where each of the explorers traveled. Very cool!

Students of history, science and engineering will find Into the Unknown a book to come back to again and again. Be sure to pair  it with a hands-on challenge to see how long a paper boat can float, or other related activities for kinesthetic learners.

Other reviews may be found at:

NC Teacher Stuff

The Book Chook

Great Kid Books

Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Rei/Map edition (April 12, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0763649481
ISBN-13: 978-0763649487

Provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by Booktalking to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at Geo Librarian.

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Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World

Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes takes a peek into unusual classrooms in this testament to the amazing resiliency of both education and children around the globe. This book has been nominated for a Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category.

“When you think about going to school, what do you imagine?” A traditional brick schoolhouse? The schools in this book are far from traditional, including floating schools on boats, schools in caves, and even schools on platforms of train stations. Susan Hughes did a fabulous job finding a good sampling of truly unique and diverse schools, and explaining the circumstances that led to their unusual conditions. She even mentions the “unschooling” form of homeschooling in the United States.

Laid out as a series of two-page spreads, each turn of the page reveals another school. Often you wish the author had included more information, because each story is so fascinating. Fortunately, there are links in the back to many of the organizations that run the schools if you want to find out more. The book is loaded with color photographs and plenty of maps to help with orientation, as well.

This is definitely a kid-friendly and inspiring book, and it stands on its own.  However, although I don’t usually do this, today I’m going to suggest pairing this book with the visually dazzling Children of the World: How We Live, Learn, and Play in Poems, Drawings, and Photographs by Anthony Asael and Stephanie Rabemiafara, with a forward by Ann M. Veneman, and with The Mysteries of Angkor Wat by Richard Sobol. What an opportunity to learn about culture and geography through the lives of children from around the globe!

See a recent review of Off to Class at Jean Little Library

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Owlkids Books (August 30, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1926818857
ISBN-13: 978-1926818856

The book was provided electronically by the publisher for review purposes.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by Booktalking to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at Gathering Books.

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Dan Eldon: Safari as a Way of Life

Dan Eldon: Safari as a Way of Life by Jennifer New is a biography of a fascinating young man that reads like an autobiography because it includes so many of his photographs, pieces of art and and excerpts of his journals. 

Dan Eldon was an artist/photojournalist who grew up in Kenya and was killed in Somalia at the age of 22. Although he did not live long, he did manage to fill his life with many interesting experiences and wild adventures that have inspired others who learn of his story.

Overall, the book has the feel of a journal, with pop-ups, fold-outs and consumables such as an iron-on transfer, a poster, a sticker and fold-out postcards. (The consumable items are not included in the Library Edition.) It is an unusual book, which is suited for an unusual young man.

Dan Eldon: Safari as a Way of Life is sure to be popular with teens/young adults, for even though he had an unusual life, he had many of the same problems as other young people. Readers will relate to the fact his parents divorced, he had troubles with his girlfriends, and he wasn’t always sure what to do with his life. On the other hand, his art, photographs and words are eerily mature. This is a book you will want to come back to again and again, and you will discover something new each time.

This book has been nominated for a Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category.


Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 081187091X
ISBN-13: 978-0811870917


The book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by the new Nonfiction Monday blog to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at A Curious Thing.