School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-5-Part of a series that highlights pivotal events in the lives of young men who went on to become President of the United States, this picture book focuses on the impact a surveying trip had on Washington in his 16th year. The lively, engaging text presents an eerily contemporary childhood (lots of moving) and family life (siblings, half-siblings, dad as head of household, older brother as head of household, a strict and opinionated mother). St. George does a wonderful job of presenting Washington's can-do attitude and incipient charisma. He comes across as thoroughly likable, intelligent, and curious-the kind of person almost anyone would want to know. Large, kinetic, and humorous, Powers's watercolor cartoons extend the narrative well. The only quibble is that the picture-book format may well put off older students who would most benefit from the fairly high-level text. A final page gives a brief snapshot of Washington's life. This is both a sound companion to Roslyn Schanzer's George vs. George (National Geographic, 2004), which looks at the whole life through the lens of the American Revolution, and a solid replacement for the D'Aulaires' venerable George Washington (Doubleday, 1936).-Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The second Turning Point Book, a series focusing on pivotal moments in the young lives of American presidents, spotlights the inaugural chief in Take the Lead, George Washington by Judith St. George, illus. by George Powers. A folksy narrative smoothly weaves together anecdotes illuminating his early experiences, including his "turning point": the 16-year-old's participation in a month-long survey trip, slogging through cold rain and muddy marshes, and encountering an Indian war party (good training for crossing the Delaware). Powers's watercolors capture the hero's energy and optimism. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
This picture book biography of a young George Washington traces some of the events that shaped the future president, especially his surveying experience in the wilderness at the age of sixteen, which readied him for new challenges. St. George sometimes fictionalizes Washington's thoughts for dramatic effect, but the text is lively and engaging; Powers's stylized illustrations are somewhat stiff. Bib. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
St. George follows You're on Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt (p. 813) with another perceptive look at the formative years of another president-to-be. Here, she focuses on three major influences in young George's life: his admiration for his father Augustus; then after Gus's death, for older half-brother Lawrence; and finally, the character-building survey expedition that he joined into the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley at age 16. Though she mentions the Washington family's slaves, a domineering stepmother, and the early deaths of several siblings, in general St. George presents a rosy picture of the young squire's early life. Powers catches that tone, depicting Washington as a tall, smiling lad in fine but often rumpled colonial garb, with an oversize head, leonine mane of golden brown hair and piercing blue eyes. The author closes with a capsule history of Washington's later achievements, plus a bibliography aimed, inexplicably, at adults--but younger readers looking for insight into the Great Man's character, temperament, attitudes, and upbringing will find plenty to ponder in this engaging, focused study. (Picture book/biography. 7-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4. From the Turning Points series comes the story of George Washington, who learned the depths of his determination after weathering harsh conditions during his first job as a surveyor. The first half of the book covers Washington's early life. Visually, this section is confusing; the illustrations make it difficult to tell George's age (he also looks a bit like Ichabod Crane). There's also some poor wording, leaving the impression that the comment What a good life refers not only to George chasing chickens and playing with kittens but also to watching the family slaves milk the cows. A page or two later, an odd picture shows George and a young slave boy laughing together while other slaves pick tobacco. Better is the book's second half, during which George, as a young man, surveys land in the Shenandoah Valley. Here, both words and art dramatically capture the hardship and chart Washington's personal evolution. A short biography and a bibliography are appended. Notes on the quotations would have been helpful. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2004 Booklist
