A Picture Book of Robert E. Lee

Picture Book Biography

by David A. Adler

A graduate of West Point becomes head of the Confederate army.

Genres: Biography, History, Picture Books, American History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Civil War

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Picture Book of Robert E. Lee (Picture Book Biography) by David A. Adler – Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- Lee was born at Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Henry Lee III and Anne Hill Carter Lee on January 19, 1807. Lee's father suffered severe financial reverses from failed investments and was put in debtors' prison. Soon after his release the following year, the family moved to the city of Alexandria, District of Columbia. In 1812, Lee's father moved permanently to the West Indies. Lee attended Eastern View, a school and then at the Alexandria Academy. Anne Lee's family was supported by William Henry Fitzhugh, Fitzhugh wrote to United States Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, urging that Robert be given an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Fitzhugh had young Robert deliver the letter. Lee entered West Point in the summer of 1825. At the time, the focus of the curriculum was engineering; the head of the United States Army Corps of Engineers supervised the school and the superintendent was an engineering officer. Cadets were not permitted leave until they finished two years of study and were rarely allowed off the academy grounds. Lee graduated second in his class behind Charles Mason. Lee did not incur any demerits during his four-year course of study, a distinction shared by only five of his 45 classmates. In June 1829, Lee was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. After graduation, while awaiting assignment, he returned to Virginia to find his mother on her deathbed; she died at Ravensworth on July 26, 1829.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t be deceived by the cover. This book from the cover made me think it was a book of few words meant for the youngest of children. But this picture book does a nice job of covering Lee’s life and a of the Civil War without going into too many details yet enough to see a vivid picture of history. A well done book to read to your elementary aged children. I read this to my 3rd grade and 6th grade boys as we are studying this time period.

[Anna Wooliver Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some rosey sunshine bs in the illustration here. Confederate navy jack everywhere. There are better history books about Lee. He is a complex figure to be sure.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to introduce kids to Robert E. Lee.

[Caroline Downer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This informational book focuses on the individual Robert E. Lee. I really liked this book because it gave information on the main character, but also the time period. The books is a lengthy picture book, but full of interesting facts about the history of the United States. The book does not depict war in a way that is too gruesome for children at all. In fact, it gives a very good description of war but in an entertaining and factual way. The illustrations in this book are great! I think too much information from words can potentially bore children, but the pictures add to the text and cover the entire page with color! This book is a great one to use for a social studies lesson on American history, and I would definitely recommend it for the upper elementary levels!

[Amy Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book to my children reminds me that the contemporary trend to evaluate historical figures in a binary way (e.g. Lee was leader of CSA's army, therefore he was racist, therefore he was wicked, therefore we should dishonor him, not honor him) does all of us, and especially children, a huge disservice. Thankfully, this book was unafraid to show us Lee's admirable qualities, his loyalties to his home state, his complicated attitude toward slavery (he cared about his family's slaves, freed his own, and believed slavery was wrong), and leave it to us to process the complexities of human beings, and circumstances.

Some of the books in Adler's "Picture Book of..." series are disappointing, but this one was pretty good.

[Johncady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This children's picture book concisely summarizes the life and actions of Robert E Lee, one of the most important historical figures in American history. The pictures manage to depict battlefields while still keeping it age appropriate. The colorful pictures and story based narrative makes the life of Lee very accessible for young children. This book will help young children to understand not just Lee, but the Civil War itself.

[RachelvlehcaR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's a great book for the topic of civil war and the life of Robert E. Lee. It's about his life and done in a way that isn't too heavy. It talks about his family life as a child, his schooling, his character in the wars in Mexico and United States, and his life as a teacher. Done very well and great as a curriculum accent to civil war topics for upper elementary schoolers.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Picture Book of Robert E. Lee by David A. Adler - I am quite partial to David A. Adler's book, a huge fan to be honest... Very straight forward biography about a key person's life during the American Civil War. My son was enthralled, he's quite interested in reading about war and history presently.

[Sarah Truluck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. The story was not hard to follow and it told the story of Robert E. Lee's life well. I chose this book, because I am from the a south and learned about him a lot when we would discuss the Civil war so the title stood out.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

a picture book about Robert E. Lee and his life. Robert is a very wise man. He disliked slavery honestly.

[Heather Ledet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for concise information of Robert E. Lee.