Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

My good friend Jera brought this book over--somehow she ended up with two copies.  I can't think of the last time (if ever) I have read a whole book about our Founding Fathers, although I always have the best of intentions--I have a few of them on my "to-read" list on Goodreads . . . Since this one wasn't too thick (which is what usually scares me away from historical books or biographies), I decided to give it a try.  So glad I did--this one really got me thinking about our founding fathers and their contributions to the life we live today, as well as how far we have strayed as a nation from some of their original ideals.

Taking sort of a back-door approach, Ellis looks at some less-written-about episodes or aspects in the lives of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, and Burr (i.e. unlikely friendships, Washington's farewell address, the duel between Hamilton & Burr) and uses them to paint a picture of what things must have really been like for these amazing men.  He does make a lot of assumptions, which troubled me at times, but he is a beautiful narrator; never once did I feel bored with it.  There were several moments during my reading when I was disenchanted with these great men, but just as I thought Ellis was going to knock them off my personal pedestal, he came full circle and restored my faith in their inspiration.  Well, maybe not Aaron Burr so much . . .

So yes, I would highly recommend it as a springboard to heftier historical or political reading. It has inspired me to attack John Adams by David McCullough.  Do you think I can handle it?

Poetry by Douglas Florian

My kids and I stumbled upon a treasure--the poetry of Douglas Florian.  I confess I am not much of a poet enthusiast, and usually I don't understand much of it.  But children's poetry is another story--I remember spending hours devouring Shel Silverstein.  So I was delighted to discover Douglas Florian and his whimsical, playful style.  My kids memorized this one, they got such a kick out of it!  It's from Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs:

It's wise to stay clear

Of the dangerous cobra

All months of the year,

Including Octobra.

My personal favorite is "The Praying Mantis" from Insectlopedia:

Upon a twig

I sit and pray

For something big

To wend my way:

A caterpillar,

Moth,

Or bee--

I swallow them

Religiously.

His humorous artwork adds to each poem, and my kids like the fact that he paints with watercolor on paper bags.  Florian says this of his own work: "My drawings are abstract regressionist. They are old but behave like little children."  Apparently he has published several children's poetry books--can't wait to get my hands on them!