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If You Lived in Williamsburg in Colonial Days
Through a question-and-answer format and illustrations, readers go back to the early 1770s and learn what life in the busy colonial outpost was like.
80 pages, Turtleback
First published May 1, 1992
12 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Brenner
108 books12 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Barbara Brenner is a respected, award-winning author, specializing in works of both juvenile fiction and nonfiction educational material that deals with animals, nature, and ecology. Her interests range from the natural world (i.e. Thinking about Ants) to American history (e.g. Wagon Wheels), all of which are reflected in the wide scope of her work. Brenner discussed with Contemporary Authors Online her influences and how they have affected her literary career, concluding that “all the circumstances of my life conspired to make me a writer--just lucky, I guess.”
Brenner was born Barbara Lawrence on June 26, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to Robert Lawrence (a real estate broker) and Marguerite (Furboter) Johnes. Tragically, her mother died when Brenner was just a year old, and, according to Brenner, this has been a large influence on her career, with Contemporary Authors Online showing how this has added a certain level of “sensitivity” to her work. She also defines Brooklyn as a place which gave much “color” to her work, and where her father’s ambitions for her helped to develop Brenner’s intellectual curiosity.
Brenner attended Seton Hall College (now University) and Rutgers University from 1942-46, whilst also working as a copy editor at Prudential Insurance Co. from 1942 – 46. Her freelance work as an artist’s agent prepared her for a literary life, as after the birth of her two children she began work on her first book Somebody’s Slippers, Somebody’s Shoes, published in 1957. She followed this book with an educational picture book entitled Barto Takes the Subway, designed to improve reading comprehension and sight vocabulary.
Her artistic development continued when she began to collaborate with her husband, illustrator Fred Brenner, on The Flying Patchwork Quilt. Her next book, On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, was selected by School Library Journal as “The Best of the Best” among children’s books published over 26 seasons. In a review of On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, Paul Showers wrote in the New York Times Book Review that “Brenner again demonstrates her gift for invention and respect for facts . . . [it is] written in the polite but colloquial language of the frontier sketching in Audubon’s biographical background and recording events of the journey as they might have been observed by a serious, very perceptive 13- year-old.” One of her best-selling titles was Wagon Wheels (published in 1978), which deals with the trials and tribulations of a close-knit African American family. This true to life story is “exciting and realistic” according to Gisela Jernigan (writing in the children literature journal Booklist), and was named a 1978 American Library Association Notable Book.
Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s Brenner continued to publish, many of her works being influenced by the careers and interests of her sons. Speaking to Contemporary Authors Online Brenner explains that as their sons are both grown, and their respective careers as a “biologist . . . and musician” have both had an influence on her writing (i.e. Dinosaurium 1993). In 1986, Brenner was honored with the Pennsylvania School Librarians’ Association’s Outstanding Pennsylvania Author Award. Brenner’s most celebrated book is a collection entitled Voices: Poetry and Art from around the World, for which she was chief editor. This book received an ALA Notable Book for Children mention and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. According to the Horn Book Guide from Spring 2001, “more than three hundred and fifty poems from six continents evoke the specific and the universal” with contributions from both “celebrated and unknown poets, Nobel prize winners, and children” allowing the book to demonstrate Brenner’s skill in celebrating “place” and the “shared feelings” of the people about whom the book is written.
Barbara Brenner is a respected, award-winning author, specializing in works of both juvenile fiction and nonfiction educational material that deals with animals, nature, and ecology. Her interests range from the natural world (i.e. Thinking about Ants) to American history (e.g. Wagon Wheels), all of which are reflected in the wide scope of her work. Brenner discussed with Contemporary Authors Online her influences and how they have affected her literary career, concluding that “all the circumstances of my life conspired to make me a writer--just lucky, I guess.”
Brenner was born Barbara Lawrence on June 26, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to Robert Lawrence (a real estate broker) and Marguerite (Furboter) Johnes. Tragically, her mother died when Brenner was just a year old, and, according to Brenner, this has been a large influence on her career, with Contemporary Authors Online showing how this has added a certain level of “sensitivity” to her work. She also defines Brooklyn as a place which gave much “color” to her work, and where her father’s ambitions for her helped to develop Brenner’s intellectual curiosity.
Brenner attended Seton Hall College (now University) and Rutgers University from 1942-46, whilst also working as a copy editor at Prudential Insurance Co. from 1942 – 46. Her freelance work as an artist’s agent prepared her for a literary life, as after the birth of her two children she began work on her first book Somebody’s Slippers, Somebody’s Shoes, published in 1957. She followed this book with an educational picture book entitled Barto Takes the Subway, designed to improve reading comprehension and sight vocabulary.
Her artistic development continued when she began to collaborate with her husband, illustrator Fred Brenner, on The Flying Patchwork Quilt. Her next book, On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, was selected by School Library Journal as “The Best of the Best” among children’s books published over 26 seasons. In a review of On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon, Paul Showers wrote in the New York Times Book Review that “Brenner again demonstrates her gift for invention and respect for facts . . . [it is] written in the polite but colloquial language of the frontier sketching in Audubon’s biographical background and recording events of the journey as they might have been observed by a serious, very perceptive 13- year-old.” One of her best-selling titles was Wagon Wheels (published in 1978), which deals with the trials and tribulations of a close-knit African American family. This true to life story is “exciting and realistic” according to Gisela Jernigan (writing in the children literature journal Booklist), and was named a 1978 American Library Association Notable Book.
Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s Brenner continued to publish, many of her works being influenced by the careers and interests of her sons. Speaking to Contemporary Authors Online Brenner explains that as their sons are both grown, and their respective careers as a “biologist . . . and musician” have both had an influence on her writing (i.e. Dinosaurium 1993). In 1986, Brenner was honored with the Pennsylvania School Librarians’ Association’s Outstanding Pennsylvania Author Award. Brenner’s most celebrated book is a collection entitled Voices: Poetry and Art from around the World, for which she was chief editor. This book received an ALA Notable Book for Children mention and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. According to the Horn Book Guide from Spring 2001, “more than three hundred and fifty poems from six continents evoke the specific and the universal” with contributions from both “celebrated and unknown poets, Nobel prize winners, and children” allowing the book to demonstrate Brenner’s skill in celebrating “place” and the “shared feelings” of the people about whom the book is written.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 27, 2024
Tremendous book! These illustrated collections really help bring life as it was back then, in such a relatable and imaginable way..not only for kids! ;) ha...
November 25, 2025
A great little resource for the young, inquisitive readers! It will answer many questions about the times and customs. A fanatic read to go through, particularly before a visit!
Ages: 4 - 8
Get more book recs and see our visit to Colonial Williamsburg: Watch the reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
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Ages: 4 - 8
Get more book recs and see our visit to Colonial Williamsburg: Watch the reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
May 16, 2013
This book explains about life in Colonial Williamsburg using a question and answer format. The sections are short, so several topics can be covered at any time, but the book doesn't have to be read all at once.
We took our time, reading just a couple of pages each night and our girls enjoyed learning more and reinforcing what they've already learned at school. We all discovered new information and I appreciated the opportunity to read about the history of our state, especially since I'm a newcomer.
I like that the narrative helps children understand how children would live and learn in those days and the colorful illustrations complement the narrative nicely. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
We took our time, reading just a couple of pages each night and our girls enjoyed learning more and reinforcing what they've already learned at school. We all discovered new information and I appreciated the opportunity to read about the history of our state, especially since I'm a newcomer.
I like that the narrative helps children understand how children would live and learn in those days and the colorful illustrations complement the narrative nicely. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
August 7, 2018
While this was a good primer for a child who has not been to Williamsburg two cautions:
1. It is really for the 8-11 age group - even really smart children younger would not be interested in it.
2. The e-book version of this stinks. It is a horizontal book which does not translate well to a vertical e-reader application. The book becomes too small for use. The text cannot be sized nor does the book switch to a horizontal view. Scholastic needs to get better on structure books like this for e-readers.
1. It is really for the 8-11 age group - even really smart children younger would not be interested in it.
2. The e-book version of this stinks. It is a horizontal book which does not translate well to a vertical e-reader application. The book becomes too small for use. The text cannot be sized nor does the book switch to a horizontal view. Scholastic needs to get better on structure books like this for e-readers.
October 28, 2008
Every book we've read in this "If you lived..." series has been great.
November 9, 2010
A kid freindly text that tells what it would be like to live in Williamsburg, your house, the games and sports to play, life in school and gives details about what would happen if you would get sick.
January 2, 2019
This is a superb history book about one of the primary cities in the original thirteen American colonies. Due to the rich soil, cheap slave labor and the strong cash crop of tobacco, Virginia was the dominant colony in terms of wealth and political power. It was possible to develop large farms, creating a landed gentry that filled the void of an aristocracy. The wealth from agriculture spilled over into the professional classes that practiced trades and led to the development of universities, performance houses and other public works.
The year selected for this presentation is 1770, when there was the growing movement of opposition against the British Crown but before there was an actual rebellion. Half of the population of approximately two thousand in Williamsburg were black and most of them were slaves. It was a thriving town with churches and William and Mary University.
The explanations of how the people lived are accurate and presented at the level of the last years of elementary school. It is a snapshot in history, where the big change was percolating, but not yet boiling. Life was hard for most, yet it was possible for people to have fun. While a few women were educated, their schooling ended when they had learned the basics of keeping house and reading, writing and arithmetic. Higher education such as Greek and Latin were considered frivolous for women.
A worthy addition to any library of history books for grades 4 – 7, this is a book that presents the lives of some of the people of Williamsburg. The flaw is that while it is stated that almost half of the population were slaves, there is very little ink spent in describing what their lives were like.
The year selected for this presentation is 1770, when there was the growing movement of opposition against the British Crown but before there was an actual rebellion. Half of the population of approximately two thousand in Williamsburg were black and most of them were slaves. It was a thriving town with churches and William and Mary University.
The explanations of how the people lived are accurate and presented at the level of the last years of elementary school. It is a snapshot in history, where the big change was percolating, but not yet boiling. Life was hard for most, yet it was possible for people to have fun. While a few women were educated, their schooling ended when they had learned the basics of keeping house and reading, writing and arithmetic. Higher education such as Greek and Latin were considered frivolous for women.
A worthy addition to any library of history books for grades 4 – 7, this is a book that presents the lives of some of the people of Williamsburg. The flaw is that while it is stated that almost half of the population were slaves, there is very little ink spent in describing what their lives were like.
April 10, 2023
The text if fairly simple, but it covers a lot of varied info about daily life in colonial Williamsburg around 1770. Good for the younger grades through about 6th grade information-wise - the reading level is pretty easy.
December 9, 2019
My kids love all the books in the "If You Lived..."
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews