Annotated Bibliography

Adler, D.  (1990). A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin

A picture book on the life of Benjamin Franklin that takes the reader through his life in Boston as a candle maker, printer and inventor.  He later moved to Philadelphia, traveled to England and France in support of American Independence, and helped to write the Constitution.

Adler, D.  (1989). A Picture Book of George Washington

A picture book on the life of George Washington that takes the reader through his life in Virginia, General of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States.

Adler, D.  (1990). A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson

A picture book on the life of Thomas Jefferson that takes the reader through his life in Virginia, a lawyer, an elected official, writer of the Declaration of Independence, and President of the United States.

Benchley, N. (1969). Sam the Minuteman

This is a story of the first battle of the American Revolution.  It captures the meaning of being a minuteman through the eyes of a young boy named Sam.

Bragdon, L. (1967). Meet the Remarkable Adams Family

Introduced the Adams family and talked about how the various roles that the family members played in the American Revolution.   The book focused mainly on Samuel Adams, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams.

Catrow, D. (2002). We the Kids

In this picture book, children express their independence from their parents by camping out in the backyard.  Difficult words and phrases are explained in the foreword.

Caudill, R. (1975). Tree of Freedom

Thirteen-year-old Stephanie Venable and her family moved from Kentucky to Carolina in a world full of promise and adventure.  They began a farm and had to face the coming Revolution.

Collier J. (1974). My Brother Sam is Dead

Recounts tragedy that strikes the Meeker family during the American Revolution when one son joins the rebel forces while the rest of the family tries to stay neutral in a Tory town.

Collins, A.  (1978). The Story of America in Pictures

This book covered a wide range of years starting at the discovery of U.S. and lasted all the way to the period after WWII.  Every page of the book consists of pictures and usually a small caption that described about the photo on that page.

Davidson, M. (1965). The Adventures of General Washington

Christmas, 1776: Washington and his men creep out of camp down to the river where the boats are waiting in a river of ice.  The enemy army is across the river in Trenton.  This is the beginning of Washington’s biggest adventure.

English J. (2003). Encyclopedia of the United States at War

Discusses all of the major wars in which the United Stats has participated beginning with the American Revolution and concluding with the War in Iraq in 2003.

Forbes, E. (1943). Johnny Tremain

In the days before the Revolutionary War, Boston was a tumultuous place.  In this fictional novel, Johnny, a young blacksmith, is caught up with Revolutionary figures that leading up to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington.

Foster, G. (1949). George Washington

This book is a children’s biography on America’s first President, George Washington.  In it, his childhood, life as a land surveyor, life in the army, his marriage and his presidency are covered.

Friedman, E. (1961). Ben Franklin

This is a biography of Ben Franklin that covers Franklin’s life as a printer’s devil in Boston, an inventor and a public leader in Philadelphia and a diplomat in France.

Fritz, J. (1987). Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?

This book describes the Revolutionary War from the point of view of King George of England as told in story form.

Fritz, J. (1976). What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?

Ben Franklin was full of ideas and when he couldn’t get the British government to see his side, he came home and joined the revolution, helping to write the Declaration of Independence.  He then traveled to France along with his coonskin cap to enlist their help in the war effort.

Fritz, J. (1975). Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29^th of May?

This book depicts the life of Patrick Henry, the man who coined the term “Give me liberty or give me death.”  Many things happened to Henry, and a lot of them happened on the 29th of May on different years.

Fritz, J. (1974). Why Don’t You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?

This is the tale of “The Father of Independence” and the cousin of John Adams, Samuel Adams.  This book depicts the events that Adams had a part in leading up to the American Revolution, and how he did all of them on foot.

Giblin, J. (1992). George Washington, A Picture Book Biography

This book tells through painted portraits of Washington’s life.  From growing up, to fighting in the French and Indian War to becoming General in the Revolutionary War to his Presidency, it’s all in there.

Giblin, J. (1994). Thomas Jefferson, A Picture Book Biography

This book tells, through hand painted portraits, the story of Thomas Jefferson.  It tells the tale of him growing up, as a lawyer, elected official, creator of the Declaration of Independence, governor, a traveler in Paris, Secretary of State, Vice President and President.

Graves, C. (1960). Ben Franklin: Man of Ideas

This is the story of Ben Franklin and his many ideas.  This man tried everything from trying to invent a swimming machine to discovering electricity.  He would then travel to England before the war and to France after it, as a diplomat.

Griffin, J. (1977). Phoebe the Spy

In this true story, thirteen year old Phoebe disguises herself as a housekeeper to General Washington to thwart and murder plot to be carried out by one of his own men closest to him.

Kent, D. (1993). Benjamin Franklin

A biography on Franklin, it covers his contributions to the nation’s founding, the Declaration of Independence and negotiating peace with Britain.  It also covers Franklin as a writer, experimenter and scientist.

Koral, B. (1954). George Washington

This book begins with Washington’s father waiting for his second son, George, to be born.  It follows the younger Washington through his youth, adolescence, life as a land surveyor, friend of the Native Americans, fighter in the French and Indian War, General in the Revolutionary War and first President of the United States.

Lamonte, E. (1955). Silver for General Washington

This book gave an insight of the story of Valley Forge and how soldiers came to respect General Washington.

Latham, J. (1955). Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

At age twelve, Nathaniel Bowditch abandoned a formal education to become the bookkeeper for the Ship Chandlery of Ropes and Hodges.  The next nine years took him to foreign lands, through the Revolutionary War, and to find great discoveries.

Lawson, R. (1939). Ben and Me

The story and adventures of Ben Franklin as told through his mouse, Amos.  Amos, who takes credit for all of Franklin’s inventions and his writings, was also present during the lightning storm with the kite and Franklin’s famous trip to France.

Lawson, R. (1940). Mr. Revere and I

This book is about the life of a horse named Scheherazade and the person that rode her Paul Revere.  The story, told in the voice of the horse, is about different events in American life and the famous midnight ride of Paul Revere.

Longfellow, H. (1999). Paul Revere’s Ride 

This is a poetic rendition of Paul Revere’s famous ride.  On April 18, 1775, he galloped through the night to warn the people of Massachusetts that the British were coming.

Marble, H. (1970). James Monroe: Patriot President

Another biography that gave historical information about the life of James Monroe.  It gave information from when he was a young student till he was a strong political leader of the United States.

Miller, N. (1965). The Story of Mount Vernon

This book tells of the early years of George Washington and his time spent on Mount Vernon.  After his family farm had burnt down when he was a boy.  Washington later surveyed the land and built a mansion on the grounds, which took years to do.  Mount Vernon eventually served as a fort for passing travelers during the Revolution.

Murphy, F. (2003). Thomas Jefferson’s Feast

Thomas Jefferson was once just a young boy.  This story tells of his life as he becomes a great man and one feast that greatly influenced his life.

Osborne, M. (2000).  Magic Tree House 22: Revolutionary War on Wednesday

The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie back to colonial times when General Washington is about to lead his army in a sneak attack against their enemy.  But the bad weather is making the general question his plans.  Jack and Annie must keep history on track and convince Washington to go forward.

Parin, I. (1950). Ben Franklin

This book covers the life of Benjamin Franklin, focusing primarily on his earlier years in Boston.  He then moved to Philadelphia and invented many things, wrote a newspaper and became a diplomat for the American Revolution.  Every page in this book has one of Franklin’s famous sayings from “Poor Richard’s Almanac.”

Parin, I. (1936). George Washington

This book depicts the life of George Washington.  A good portion of it refers to his childhood and adolescence.  The remainder of the book covers the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and his Presidency.

Parlin, J. (1962). Andrew Jackson: Pioneer President

This is the story of Andrew Jackson and how the war affected him.  From the war nearing, to becoming a prisoner of war, to him earning his nickname “Old Hickory.”  Jackson would then later go to war with the Native Americans, fighting in New Orleans and Florida to become a strong President.

Paulsen, G. (1995). The Rifle

In 1768, a gunsmith built a rifle of such accuracy that there would never be another like it.  The rifle found it’s way to an American Revolutionary sharpshooter and to scores other through the years, never going unloaded.

Penner, L. (1998). Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began

This is an informational book describing the events that lead to the Revolutionary War.  The text includes many acts that were the cause of the war, and full color illustrations.

Reit, S. (1990). Guns for General Washington

In the winter of 1775, the British laid siege to Boston Harbor.  General Washington’s troops were trapped without the ammunition or the cannons they needed.  300 miles north, Henry Knox conceived a plan to deliver cannons and ammunition to Washington.  But he had to pass through 300 miles of rough mountains to get there.

Robertshaw, A. (2001). A Soldier’s Life

This book looks in detail at the lives of more than thirty-five individual soldiers through the ages such as soldiers of World War II, Viking soldiers and those in the Revolutionary War.

Roop, P.  (2003). Go Fly A Kite, Ben Franklin!

A historical fiction account of Ben Franklin’s life as a young boy.  It also takes shim through his life as an apprentice, writer, runaway, traveler, inventor and revolutionary.

St. George J. (2000). So You Want to be President?

This book covers all different aspects of the presidency from the most commonly named President, their duties, pets, impeachment and the average height of a President.  Every President is included in this book from George Washington to Bill Clinton.

Stein, C. (1972). Ben Franklin

This book tells the story of Benjamin Franklin as an inventor, scientist, soldier, statesman, writer and a philosopher.  This book delves into the personal life of the man who could joke around before he signed the Declaration of Independence.

Wright, F. (1958). Andrew Jackson: Fighting Frontiersman

Is a typical biography about Andrew Jackson from when he was a small child till he became the President of the United States.   Has good information about the role he played in the Revolution and in the different battles that he fought in.

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