Nonfiction - Those Rebels, John & Tom

Those Rebels, John & Tom

Those Rebels, John & Tom

Written by Barbara Kerley

Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Published by Scholastic Press

Copyright 2012

46 pages

A/R Grade Level: 6.3

This book presents a quick introduction to two of America's founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.  It contrasts how very different they were but brings their story together by explaining how they worked together for America's good.  It outlines their relationship and work together in a story-like, light-hearted way that easily will engage children.  The book is a quick summary of their early lives up to the birth of the Declaration of Independence.  

Using this book to introduce a study of that time period in history could help "hook" students because it casts these men as real people with different personalities and different talents but with very similar beliefs and convictions.  Although the A/R reading level is 6.3, I feel that the use of this book could be used even in the third grade to help introduce any unit about American history during that time period due to the way it personifies these two particular men.  It makes them come alive as real people and could spark interest in students to research other important historical figures from that time period.  

The illustrations are very cartoonish but interesting.  This adds to the entertainment factor of the book and keeps it from being boring.  There are many facts and ideas woven into the book through the illustrations which adds to the ways that this book could be utilized to increase students' interest in further study of the topic.