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Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation
Thomas Jefferson was more than a president and patriot. He was also a planter and gardener who loved to watch things grow—everything from plants and crops to even his brand-new nation. As minister to France, Jefferson promoted all things American, sharing corn and pecans with his Parisian neighbors. As secretary of state, he encouraged his fellow farmers to grow olives, rice and maple trees. As president, he doubled the size of the nation with the Louisiana Purchase. Even in his retirement, Jefferson continued to nurture the nation, laying the groundwork for the University of Virginia. In this meticulously researched picture book for older readers, author Peggy Thomas uncovers Jefferson’s passion for agriculture and his country. And Stacy Innerst’s incredibly original illustrations offer the right balance of reverence and whimsy. This is Thomas Jefferson as he’s never been seen before! Back matter includes an author’s note on Jefferson’s legacy today; timeline, bibliography; place to visit (Monticello); and source notes.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 13, 2018
This was a lovely book! I was inspired by all he did to “grow” many things. It’s a nice companion book to studying his many accomplishments. I loved the quotes and other interesting nuggets of information...like his desire to improve Europe’s opinion of this beautiful country and his desire to plant and cultivate America.
August 14, 2015
Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation looks at the accomplishments of TJ through his love of growing things- highlighting the fact that although he was accomplished in a great many things he was, in his heart, a farmer. The majority of the book phrases all of the changes he brought about and challenges he faced in agriculture terms, "growth", "planting", "nurture", "weeds", "uprooted", etc- further highlighting his agricultural focus and background. I enjoyed this way of approaching TJ's life- it is different from many biography books meant for younger kids that focus on his political achievements only and fail to show that he was a farmer.
Peggy Thomas does a wonderful job demonstrating how passionate TJ was about America and showing the potential agricultural worth of the country to other nations. I particularly enjoyed finding out how in his efforts to refute Count Buffon's claims that America was a country of inferior wildlife TJ requested a Moose be hunted and the carcass sent to him- and when it arrived he was so excited he opened the box of smelly moose parts in front of guests. There is also how TJ risked the death penalty in Italy to smuggle grains of rice out to experiment with them in the American climate.
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the artwork in Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation. It is done in a watercolor style with muted colors. I think that the muted colors are trying to invoke the idea of history- since many historical documents are now yellowed with age in a similar color scheme to that used in the book but I feel like that might keep some readers from picking up this book. Since Peggy Thomas was talking about how TJ wanted to show everyone how vibrant and alive the United States was in terms of plant and wild life- brighter colors might have helped to capture that feeling.
The only other fault I found in this book is that TJ's ownership of slaves isn't mentioned until the afterword. Throughout the book the reader is imagining TJ out digging in the soil, planting the seeds, harvesting his hard work but that isn't accurate. There are a few references to overseers and TJ inspecting his fields but it wouldn't be clear to most kids that TJ isn't doing physical work. In the afterword Peggy Thomas does do a good job pointing out that it is hard to reconcile the words of TJ ("All men are created equal") with the fact that over his lifetime he owned around 600 slaves, but it would have been nice to have it be more obvious in the main text- there aren't even any slaves depicted in the illustrations.
Overall I think this is a very interesting book on Thomas Jefferson that approaches he life differently from any other children's book I've read about him. Because of the number of words I would say it is targeted for kids in grades 3 and up though a strong reader would be able to read it earlier than that.
Peggy Thomas does a wonderful job demonstrating how passionate TJ was about America and showing the potential agricultural worth of the country to other nations. I particularly enjoyed finding out how in his efforts to refute Count Buffon's claims that America was a country of inferior wildlife TJ requested a Moose be hunted and the carcass sent to him- and when it arrived he was so excited he opened the box of smelly moose parts in front of guests. There is also how TJ risked the death penalty in Italy to smuggle grains of rice out to experiment with them in the American climate.
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the artwork in Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation. It is done in a watercolor style with muted colors. I think that the muted colors are trying to invoke the idea of history- since many historical documents are now yellowed with age in a similar color scheme to that used in the book but I feel like that might keep some readers from picking up this book. Since Peggy Thomas was talking about how TJ wanted to show everyone how vibrant and alive the United States was in terms of plant and wild life- brighter colors might have helped to capture that feeling.
The only other fault I found in this book is that TJ's ownership of slaves isn't mentioned until the afterword. Throughout the book the reader is imagining TJ out digging in the soil, planting the seeds, harvesting his hard work but that isn't accurate. There are a few references to overseers and TJ inspecting his fields but it wouldn't be clear to most kids that TJ isn't doing physical work. In the afterword Peggy Thomas does do a good job pointing out that it is hard to reconcile the words of TJ ("All men are created equal") with the fact that over his lifetime he owned around 600 slaves, but it would have been nice to have it be more obvious in the main text- there aren't even any slaves depicted in the illustrations.
Overall I think this is a very interesting book on Thomas Jefferson that approaches he life differently from any other children's book I've read about him. Because of the number of words I would say it is targeted for kids in grades 3 and up though a strong reader would be able to read it earlier than that.
June 3, 2017
The approach of this informational book for young readers is definitely different because it references primary sources and focuses on less known facts about Jefferson the farmer and peace commissioner. What I don't appreciate is how the text glosses over the land grab that left native Americans without their ancestral territories. An uncomfortable topic, to be sure, but it's our history.
March 16, 2022
I liked it well enough, but honestly the slavery issue needed to be addressed in the text, not in the author's note in the back. It's all well and good that Jefferson liked to work on his farm, but it should be made very explicit that he was NOT the one doing the actual work.
March 19, 2016
I find this picture book a bit of a puzzle in the current market. While nonfiction picture books are allowed to be longer than fiction picture books, this book defies the odds with one of the highest word counts I've seen in a picture book published in the last year. I was boggled at the amount of text in this book but determined to wade my way through the morass and read it.
And given that it is a nonfiction picture book, it also manages to somehow pull off a unique perspective on Thomas Jefferson (the farmer who loved plants and all growing things) while white-washing his history (no mention of the slaves he used at Monticello to help with that same farming). Given the flack "A Fine Dessert" received for including a slave in the storyline
(http://sophieblackall.blogspot.com/20...) and the pull from publication of "A Birthday Cake for George Washington" (http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-wa...), I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this last fact. Especially as I know it wasn't the focus of this particular book (and Lord knows it was long enough already).
Instead, this book focused only on Thomas Jefferson growing things. What I find additionally intriguing is that the author didn't leave the growing just to plants. Ms. Thomas includes sly references to Thomas Jefferson "planting the seed of freedom writing the Declaration of Independence" and watching "a nation sprout and grow." This is a fascinating book indeed.
And given that it is a nonfiction picture book, it also manages to somehow pull off a unique perspective on Thomas Jefferson (the farmer who loved plants and all growing things) while white-washing his history (no mention of the slaves he used at Monticello to help with that same farming). Given the flack "A Fine Dessert" received for including a slave in the storyline
(http://sophieblackall.blogspot.com/20...) and the pull from publication of "A Birthday Cake for George Washington" (http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-wa...), I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this last fact. Especially as I know it wasn't the focus of this particular book (and Lord knows it was long enough already).
Instead, this book focused only on Thomas Jefferson growing things. What I find additionally intriguing is that the author didn't leave the growing just to plants. Ms. Thomas includes sly references to Thomas Jefferson "planting the seed of freedom writing the Declaration of Independence" and watching "a nation sprout and grow." This is a fascinating book indeed.
October 25, 2015
This book contains all kinds of interesting information about Jefferson, but does not mention the slaves he owned or fathered. The back matter does talk about his slave owning in two paragraphs, six hundred people over his lifetime. The omission of this part of Jefferson's life in the main body of the book, is large in my opinion for a text that was published this year (2015).
August 19, 2024
While the perspective on the meaningful agricultural innovations Jefferson was responsible for was interesting, I couldn’t get past the way the book framed him as a simple farmer trying to change the world, going so far as to say he was trying to create an America that was focused on “small family farms”. Plantations like he owned and operated were the height of industrial farming for their time, otherwise Monticello would have been run by his family and not the 600 enslaved people the afterword so briefly references. And the illustrations and the text really present the idea of him planting and growing things himself, directly contradicting the afterword that admits it’s unlikely he ever really dug in the dirt himself.
November 14, 2017
This was not a typical biographical read about our third president and writer of the worlds most famous breakup letter Thomas Jefferson. Instead author Peggy Thomas focused on how Jefferson worked at growing the nations reputation with its diverse plant and animal life. The illustrations are adorable and complement the information well. Readers should not overlook the informative afterward.
May 11, 2019
It’s well-researched and interesting with classy drawings. I’m not sure that there is a wide audience for this, but having been to Monticello myself, I learned new things about Jefferson through this text and it reminded me of the gardens I saw there.
March 4, 2016
A picture book biography of Jefferson, focusing on his skills as a farmer, cultivator of seeds and of democracy. It starts after the American Revolution, when he writes a book on Virginia natural resources to refute the French naturalist Count Buffon's claims that all plants and animals in the United States are inferior to American ones. Jefferson becomes minister to France and talks to Buffon in person, but can't convince him otherwise. He even has a dead American moose shipped to France!! It takes nearly a year for the hunt and then the moose to arrive, having severe shipping difficulties. This eventually changed Buffon's mind, though he never rewrote his books. Jefferson continues to promote American plants in France, gets trade deals for American farmers, brings back European seeds to experiment with back at home. The story goes on as Jefferson becomes Vice President and then President, always eager to find new species of food crops and plants. I enjoyed this unique look at this founding father and how he worked to "prepare soil for the future" with all of that as well as his founding of the University of Virginia. Author's note does bring up the contradiction of a slaveholder writing the Declaration of Independence. "We must decide for ourselves how slavery taints the legacy of Thomas Jefferson. Fortunately, his words spoke louder than his actions," says the author. Includes bibliography; all quotes are sourced, and handwritten in quill by the illustrator. I wasn't a big fan of the illustrations but I did appreciate the efforts like that, and using scans of textiles to add texture.
December 14, 2015
I love to learn about people through picture book biographies like this. They don't have enough scope to give you the full story, but they always have enough to teach you something new and maybe spark an interest in reading something else about that person.
This picture book biography focuses on Thomas Jefferson as a farmer, which to him means a person who is sensible, honest and plainspoken. It looks at many of Thomas Jefferson's accomplishments through the lens of being someone who likes to cultivate things that will bring about a good future.
I had never heard the story of the moose that he had sent to France to convince French naturalist Count Buffon that American was just as great and strong as Europe. I also didn't know that Thomas Jefferson invented a new type of plow that more easily cut into the earth and lifted clods of dirt away.
The author's note at the end discusses a bit of the issue with Jefferson and slavery. It also has a nice bibliography, a brief timeline of Jefferson's life, and a listing of all the quotes used throughout the book.
Although this is a picture book, it isn't really for beginning readers. There is quite a lot of text on each page. The illustrations seem like they would appeal more to older students than younger as well.
This picture book biography focuses on Thomas Jefferson as a farmer, which to him means a person who is sensible, honest and plainspoken. It looks at many of Thomas Jefferson's accomplishments through the lens of being someone who likes to cultivate things that will bring about a good future.
I had never heard the story of the moose that he had sent to France to convince French naturalist Count Buffon that American was just as great and strong as Europe. I also didn't know that Thomas Jefferson invented a new type of plow that more easily cut into the earth and lifted clods of dirt away.
The author's note at the end discusses a bit of the issue with Jefferson and slavery. It also has a nice bibliography, a brief timeline of Jefferson's life, and a listing of all the quotes used throughout the book.
Although this is a picture book, it isn't really for beginning readers. There is quite a lot of text on each page. The illustrations seem like they would appeal more to older students than younger as well.
February 3, 2016
This book felt like an overgrown footnote. Honestly, I don't think children need to have a book about this aspect of Jefferson's life when they likely don't know his greater historical accomplishments. I shudder to think that we might have a sequel all about his violin playing. I guess the author, editor, and publisher felt that this was a way to connect with kids - but to me it feels dishonest.
The book's continual referring to Jefferson as "Thomas" was grating. I can understand this kind of thing in children's biographies about the young whomever, but this is the grown-up we are talking about. Neither Thomas (the author, ironically) nor you or I is on a first-name basis with Thomas Jefferson. It's especially jarring in the pages referring to Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, who is called "Buffon" (not Georges-Louis or anything else), where we see "Over dinner, Thomas and Buffon spoke of..." Was this another attempt to make the historical figure more appealing to young readers?
I found the illustrations often ugly and grotesque. Some of them reminded me of Terry Gilliam's Monty Python work.
The book's continual referring to Jefferson as "Thomas" was grating. I can understand this kind of thing in children's biographies about the young whomever, but this is the grown-up we are talking about. Neither Thomas (the author, ironically) nor you or I is on a first-name basis with Thomas Jefferson. It's especially jarring in the pages referring to Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, who is called "Buffon" (not Georges-Louis or anything else), where we see "Over dinner, Thomas and Buffon spoke of..." Was this another attempt to make the historical figure more appealing to young readers?
I found the illustrations often ugly and grotesque. Some of them reminded me of Terry Gilliam's Monty Python work.
August 7, 2016
Thomas Jefferson's vision for the United States, of agricultural towns and small businesses, is explored. Jefferson's important contributions and service to this nation are named, and his reverence for nature and the farmer's life are explored. Stacy Innerst's art uniquely highlights this biography. For example, he uses quill pen and ink to handwrite authentically quotes from Jefferson, and Innerst's pictures mirror what the author states on each page. Peggy Thomas, the author, certainly had a tough task in writing Jefferson's biography. What readers know of Jefferson now, makes us look at him and his role in the early development of this country critically. Peggy Thomas does not mention Jefferson's slaves until the "Learn More" section at the end of the book. Personally, I think it is more central to his biography and deserves more attention than an afterword. Having said that, though, the Source Notes and Bibliography are impressive. The lack of a Table of Contents and Index makes this a reading, rather than a research, book.
November 17, 2015
I've read quite a lot about Thomas Jefferson, whose purchase of the Louisiana Territory, doubled the nation in size. But I had never read much about his affinity for gardening, which this picture book covers thoroughly. Young readers will learn about Jefferson's fondness for Americana and his readiness to defend the flora and fauna of the New World, particularly against French snobbery. The text is lively, and particularly appealing because it connects the idea of sowing garden seeds of knowledge with the idea of cultivating a thirst for liberty and education at the same time. I appreciated the author's use of the former President's writings as well as her acknowledgement that he owned slaves, a fact that may ultimately taint how he is regarded. To add to the book's verisimilitude, the illustrator even used a quill for Jefferson's words and gouache illustrations with scanned papers and textiles to create a definite historical ambiance on the book's pages.
November 19, 2015
This book includes bobblehead like illustrations, descriptions of plant life in the United States, and an accurate history of the United States and Thomas Jefferson's involvement during the setting. This book focuses on the time from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the time that Thomas Jefferson passed away. With most of the book focusing on the uniqueness of the new found land and its inhabitants, this story is chock-full of history and horticulture that would be a wonderful learning tool for higher elementary school students.
This would be a good book to read when learning about planting a garden by focusing on the more plant-specific pages. Since this is such a long picture book, it might not be appropriate to younger audiences. It is also a non- fiction book which may be more appealing to an older audience.
Thomas, P., & Innerst, S. (2015). Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation.
This would be a good book to read when learning about planting a garden by focusing on the more plant-specific pages. Since this is such a long picture book, it might not be appropriate to younger audiences. It is also a non- fiction book which may be more appealing to an older audience.
Thomas, P., & Innerst, S. (2015). Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation.
October 11, 2016
I liked reading about Mr. Jefferson's love of growing things. I disagree with this from the afterword: "we must decide for ourselves how slavery taints the legacy of Thomas Jefferson. Fortunately, his words spoke louder than his actions." This politically correct comment is in direct contrast to Mr. Jefferson's well-lived life. The author's pandering to the current vogue of political correctness misses the point of freedom, independence, and learning that this Founding Father hoped for his new nation.
Despite that last portion of an otherwise wonderful book, i am glad i read it. The warm illustrations are evocative of memory and history and nature.
Despite that last portion of an otherwise wonderful book, i am glad i read it. The warm illustrations are evocative of memory and history and nature.
December 5, 2015
I never cease to be impressed with Thomas Jefferson, a true Renaissance man in thought, words, and deeds. This picture book biography focuses on Jefferson's impact on the agriculture of our nation. Rich in documentation, this is a sophisticated biography made accessible. I am especially impressed how the author was able to organize the many facts about Jefferson's life to make a cohesive thesis connecting his passion for plants to his public policy.
July 17, 2015
bookaday #87. Very interesting account of Jefferson's efforts to promote and grow the young United States as an agricultural country, planting not just the seed of liberty but the seeds of all sorts of new plant products. Extensive back matter including source notes for all Jefferson quotes used in the text. Golden farm style colors dominate the illustrations.
September 29, 2015
A fascinating account of our third President. While I knew he was a avid gardener, I didn't realize the full extent of his interest in agriculture. Not only did he pursue gardening at his home, Monticello, but while in France as minister plenipotentiary he actively searched for new plants to bring back to the States and worked to interest the French in US agricultural products.
January 3, 2016
Before reading this book, I had no idea how integral Thomas Jefferson's ideas were to the development of agricultural in the US. I appreciated that the author's note at the end, which adds: "We must decide for ourselves how slavery taints the legacy of Thomas Jefferson." Addressing the shortcomings of Jefferson provided a better rounded illustration of this founding father.
October 4, 2015
The main narrative glorifies Thomas Jefferson a bit, but the idea of "growing" is carried throughout the book and is a nice way to envision all of Jefferson's accomplishments. There is an afterword that goes into a more balanced description of Jefferson.
October 13, 2015
This entertaining and informative picture book biography depicts the many ways in which Jefferson was a cultivator. The author does a nice job of incorporating quotes from Jefferson into the narrative.
October 4, 2015
It's a great book for students in lower grade levels. It emphasizes Thomas Jefferson's love for agriculture and the expansion of the U.S.
October 7, 2015
Great Picture book biography, but left out how Jefferson planted the "seed" for the library of congress by donating his personal library after the original was lost in a fire!
October 22, 2015
A lot I either didn't know, or didn't remember! Very educational on the life and accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson!
October 14, 2015
I enjoyed this interesting side of Jefferson very much. I'm a bit unsure about who the audience is however.
December 31, 2015
That Jefferson was able to pull off the Louisiana Purchase amazes me to this day. He seems like he was a fascinating individual, interested in everything. I would have loved to meet him.
February 3, 2016
Growing fruits and vegetables, this farmer also grew a mighty nation!
April 29, 2016
Tons of information. I was overloaded as an adult, not sure how children would respond to this book?
April 24, 2017
This book gives insight to Peggy Thomas’ story of Thomas Jefferson from a different viewpoint. Most people hear the name Thomas Jefferson and think father of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the U.S. However, Thomas explores his life and passion for agriculture, a side that most people aren’t introduced to. As president, he significantly increased the size of the nation with the Louisiana Purchase. Even in his retirement, Jefferson continued to nurture the nation, laying the groundwork for the University of Virginia. He continually nurtured the nation along with his personal gardens. He loved to watch things grow and his passion for agriculture was shown through his encouragement of corn and pecans to his partisan neighbors. I love the fact that this book humanizes Thomas Jefferson in a factual way. This biographical children’s book is a great depiction of Thomas Jefferson’s passions aside from his political influence. The illustrations in this book are accompanied with quotes that help to develop the story and create images in the reader’s mind about the other side of Thomas Jefferson.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews