George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor

Famous African Americans

by Patricia C. McKissack

George Washington Carver spent his life asking questions and looking for the answers. He gained a reputation as the farmers' best friend after teaching about crop rotation. He told farmers to grow peanuts and sweet potatoes to "rest" their soil between cotton crops. And what could they do with all those peanuts? Carver developed more than 300 peanut-based products—from milk to printers' ink—and more than 100 ways to use sweet potatoes. Young children love the story of this exceptional inventor.

24 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Patricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Washington Carver, the man who first taught crop rotation, and found hundreds of uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes, is the subjectof this biography for elementary school age children. Beginning with a slave raid that left young George orphaned, this book follows George Washington Carver through to his professorship at the Tuskeegee Institute and emphasizing all of the while, his commitment to getting an education and teaching.
This brief, bright, well written biography is informative and engaging. Illustrations and photographs alternate pages with text, both of which will engage young readers. The information in the book is sufficient for reports written at the elementary level.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful introduction to the life of this brilliant man. Kids will be intrigued. A great follow up activity would be to visit his museum at Tuskegee University. It's quite something. One of my favorite memories was hearing the sound recording of his voice. It was astonishing to hear him speak about matters of importance.