If you know me or read here at My New Kentucky Home very often, you’ll find out I am a lover of history, and of American history in particular. Last month’s Children’s Book Share was Lewis and Clark on the Trail of Discovery, an amazing book that is as visually stunning as it is interesting and informative.
This month I turn to a very different, but just as fun book called King George: What Was His Problem? The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution.
(Sorry… This copy has a different cover from my own! Different face, same book.)
I first discovered Steve Sheinkin as an author when I read another of his books. (I’m likely to share about it in the future because it is definitely a favorite of mine, so I’ll keep that one under wraps for now!) But, rest assured, I found Sheinkin’s research fascinating and his writing style very engaging. It made me anxious to read another of his books, which led me to King George.
King George: What Was His Problem? is a chapter book aimed at “middle-graders”, most suitable for kids of middle school age, but certainly not beneath the level of your average high schooler. In fact, I think most adults would thoroughly enjoy it!
**I actually read this book aloud to my kids several years ago, and so I did do some slight editing in the reading to omit a few inappropriate words, (most from actual quotes, if I remember correctly.) It is nothing shocking, but I like to make parents aware!
I love books about the American Revolution, and I doubly love them if they can make the conflict interesting and understandable for kids! This book does that, breaking the whys, whos, and wheres behind all of it into small, easily digestible chunks perfect for kids. Sheinkin adds in lots of funny, little-known anecdotes to add interest, and some of it was fascinating to me and hilarious to my kids.
Sheinkin is an apologetic former textbook writer who explains he would often store away interesting tidbits of information he came across during his research. Though these stories were rejected from the textbooks, he held on to them, knowing one day he would write a book of his own. And King George: What Was His Problem? was eventually born!
The author’s sense of humor, the simple, easy-to-read breakdown of all the events and the amazing people involved, and the interesting aspects of the story kids are never taught in school make this a great book for deeper understanding of the American Revolution.
And actually, for the adult who knows they are lacking in their knowledge of the fight that gave birth to our nation, this book could be a great place to start learning!
The tone of this book sounds like Jean Fritz, a really great children’s non-fiction author whom my kids read and enjoyed.
Hmm… I’ll look up Jean Fritz’s books! We love history around here, so I’m always excited to find new books. Thanks for sharing!
As a former child minder, I am passionate about children’s literature, but am not familiar with this book #inspirememonday@_karendennis
It’s a good one! I highly recommend it.