George Washington's Breakfast

by Jean Fritz, Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

"George W. Allen is a boy who never gives up until he finds out what he wants to know--in this case, what his namesake ate for breakfast . . . The sprightly, humorous story and likable colored illustrations bring history alive and make research meaningful."--Booklist.

Genres: History, Picture Books, American History, Biography, Childrens, Nonfiction, American Revolution

43 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 1969

About the author

Jean Guttery Fritz was an American children's writer best known for American biography and history. She won the Children's Legacy Literature Award for her career contribution to American children's literature in 1986. She turned 100 in November 2015 and died in May 2017 at the age of 101.

Reviews

[Karen Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! When I taught 3and 4 grade (Special Ed) I would use this book with my students. WE would write letters to find out what people ate for breakfast. One year we wrote grandparents, another year they wrote to teachers at our school. One time students wrote to our Mayor, School Supertiendent, Govenor, State Assembly people, and US Senators, Congress person. It was a great activity because we learned how to write a letter and we practiced handwriting. For the most people wrote back and the students loved getting answers. Imagine getting a letter from the governor!

[Cheryl A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel about a strong-willed child and a stubborn grandmother (or vice-versa, depending on the spin you want to put on it) first; an inspiration for budding historians second, a how-to do old-school research third, and a biography of our first president fourth. The first two are not only the most interesting aspects, but the most relevant now. Fritz does have a knack for bringing history to life; I'll keep reading her short books as I find them to enrich my understandings.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is true that kids usually ask the odd questions that adults wouldn't typically think of.

In this story, George is a boy that was named after George Washington. He loves everything about him and knows a lot about him too. One morning while eating his own breakfast though, he wonders what the President ate. And that starts him on a quest for the answer.

You and your children will pick up some fun facts before finding out what our first President ate in the morning.

Ages: 6 - 11

Cleanliness: a boy gets upset and stomps upstairs.

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[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for humanizing George Washington. You learn obscure details about George Washington including his shoe size, the names of his 10 hunting dogs, and that his famously ruined teeth got that way by using them to crack walnuts when he was young.

The ending makes for an easy mini-lesson on inferences.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outdated, but I love it anyway. A boy wants to find out what George Washington ate for breakfast, so that he can have the same thing. It's a wonderful story for introducing the research process to children. I wish it could be updated to include researching online. Still, a nice place to start.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. Many little facts about Washington, but a fun story about a boy who doesn't give up on finding out the information he wanted. He uses his library and goes on a trip with his parents.

[Samantha Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary
George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz is about a young boy named George W. Allen who is "...proud of two things. His name and his birthday." George feels connected to George Washington because he shares the same name and they share the same birthday. Ever since he realized that, he wanted to find out everything he could about George Washington. He begins to find out obscure facts like the names of President Washington's dogs and horses. He found out that they both like to count things. George W. even counted the buttons on George Washington's army uniform. The book focuses primarily on George W.'s quest to find out what George Washington ate for breakfast. After reading tons of books and even visiting George Washington's home; Mount Vernon, George W. can't find out. He gets frustrated and hides in his attic where he comes across an old book that belonged to his grandfather. As luck would have it, the book contains the answer he is looking for. He has his grandmother make George Washington's breakfast and feels more connected to him than ever. At the end of the book he is wondering what George Washington ate for lunch...
Critique
I enjoyed this book from a narrative perspective but not necessarily from a biographical perspective. The story is interesting and the writing style is easy to understand but the story doesn't focus on much about George Washington's life. In some ways this is frustrating but it is interesting to find out some things that very few people would know about George Washington. That being said, however, there are no references or indication that the information is accurate. It is a good story but not factually based.
Response
I would not use this book in my classroom because there is not necessarily any truth to the "facts" presented in it. If I were to use it, I would emphasize that there was more to historical figures than what is recorded in history books. They had lives outside battle or the white house. I would encourage children to come up with things they would like to learn about various historical figures and make up answers to creatively write about.

[Autumn Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about a boy named George Washington Allen who thinks he's practically related to George Washington because they have to same name and birthday. The boy knows everything about George Washington but the main thing he wanted to know is what George Washington ate for breakfast. So his grandmother promises him that if he finds out that she'll make it for the boy. So the boy searches everywhere for George Washingtons breakfast. From the library to all the way to Washington, D.C. He gets to frustrated that he runs up to the attic and slams the door. He starts looking around and ends up finding a book all about George Washington. In the book is the key to what he has been looking for. So he runs to his grandmother and tells her that George Washington three small Indian hoecakes and as many dishes of tea and she makes it for him. In end the boy wanted to find out what George Washington ate for lunch!
The quality of plot was very well written and put together. Very simple and easy to read. There was a good flow to the book and also gave you some insight on George Washington.
Age range would have to be advanced. I feel as if someone at a higher age range would be better off reading something like this. I wouldnt think anyone younger would even enjoy the book. The text is small but easy to read.
Artistic elements would have to be hand drawn pictures and they also used watercolors. I really didn't enjoy the pictures too much. They really weren't pleasing to look at. I thought they were very boring and blah. They should have definitly used more color to brighten it up.
I could recommend this book to someone who loves history. For me i really don't enjoy reading or learning about history. Someone who likes the past would like this book a lot.

[Jared Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, though actually a story about a young boy whose name is George Washington, reads like a biography of the man himself. George Washington Allen is a boy who obviously shares a namesake with the famous first president. He seeks to find out everything there is to know about his hero. The book chronicles the life of the famous soldier and politician from Virginia and tells it through the eyes of our protagonist. The book gives examples of how students can do research to find answers to questions that they have.

I love this book because it is not a dry social studies read, rather, it is a fun way to study a famous historical figure. I would love to pair it with a social studies assignment that focuses on Washington and the revolutionary war. It would work well for a 3rd-5th grade level, and could be read to the students, or the students reading it themselves.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious in parts, and a nice departure for a way to learn about George Washington. The cover on the copy I read is very cute, with both Georges in bathrobes. Yes, it's dated; you'd have to explain what a card catalog is to students. I enjoyed reading about a student with the desire to learn. Today George Allen would have a much easier time finding out what the other George had for breakfast; just googling it yielded several hoecake pages. I am sure that Jean Fritz did extensive research herself, in keeping with the many books she wrote on historical figures. One question I still have: why was the librarian hanging out at George's house? Was she that anxious to find out, too?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not think much of this short, somewhat dated book by children's history writer Jean Fritz. But then the third grade teacher with whom I was student teaching "enriched" my appreciation for the novel by preparing breakfast for our students and having them dress in "colonial" attire. The kids had a blast and many of them began to look into other Jean Fritz works thus expanding their knowledge of American history. Just goes to show what a little nudge can do for a book. (Granted, our hoecakes were actually made from Marie Callender's Cornbread Mix but heck, the kids enjoyed themselves.)

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite of the books we've read about Washington. We didm however, learn a few things we hadn't known before.

I thought the Grandma exceptionally cranky and I sure wouldn't want her for my grandma. I also didn't appreciate how the son yelled at his parents when he was angry.

One of my sons really enjoyed it and is telling everyone what a great book it is. I'm not sure if we'll read it again. It's a quick read though....

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did you know George Washington ate breakfast "about seven o'clock on three small Indian hoe cakes and as many dishes of tea?" That's what George W. Allen, learned about the man whom he was named for because the two were born on the same day. Not only that, the curious young lad also learned other incidentals about our first president, such as, he had 10 hunting dogs, all named, and he liked to count things. A delightful book, and nicely illustrated, too.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to children about discovering their own answers to their questions about famous people by using the library system and reference librarians, visiting historical sites, and engaging the whole family in research. Not to mention is does tell you what George Washington ate for breakfast!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt this was a really creative take on the subject. As a homeschooler that tends to follow the interest of my child, I could really relate to this story as the family tries many tacts to answer the son's question. Would love to have followed up the read with a visit to Mt. Vernon too!. Someday.

We did make hoecakes though (sans hoe.)

[Amy Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great story about how a child relates to history. He was very interested in finding out something personal about a towering historical icon that he happened to share a name and a birthday with. This story follows the boy until he finds out and how he does is a surprise. Very nice book.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short picture book is about a young boy who searches high and low to find out what George Washington ate for breakfast. He models how to research a question and he doesn't give up till he finds the answer.

It's a great little book to discuss asking questions and how to research. Plus, you get to know some fun facts about George Washington along the way.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read along with our study of the Revolutionary War. Fritz does a great job of weaving Washington's life story in with the story of a modern-day little boy. My kids enjoyed it and remember much more about Washington than they might have otherwise.

[Am.Aversa]

This book tells the life of George Washington through the eyes of a young boy. The young boy was named George, after Washington and shared the same birthday as the former president.
Genre: Historical Fiction

[Delona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. Didn't learn much important but I did learn that George Washington ate Indian hoecakes for breakfast.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

With original cover art by Paul Galdone, mine was paperback

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Jean Fritz. Darling story. I was itching to know with George the main character!

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple read aloud choice for younger grades that would open up discussions on reaching and Washington.
Could serve hoecakes.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Notes:
kid named GW has things in common with the first pres
a bunch of random fun-facts
didn't like it

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and fun to read. Very informative. enjoyable.

[Rebecca Snodgrass · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book, and I don't think my kids will either. The pictures are a bit boring, but you get to see into Washington's life.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great work of historical fiction set as an adventure by a young boy wanting to find the answer to a simple question.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a child. I've read it over and over to my students.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacob read for his 15min Read-Aloud challenge...May 2016

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in a library sale and thought it might be an interesting addition to American history this year. It did a nice job at giving some facts about our first President within the framing of a boy who is obsessively determined to find out everything there is to know about his favorite subject. That part of it felt very true to life, knowing kids that are just that inquisitive, and we had some good conversations about persevering to the end of a project. They also enjoyed the “grumpy granny”.