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The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers

The Story of George Washington: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers

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The life of George Washington for kids―a story about fighting for independence and building a country

George Washington became the first president of the United States of America and is known as the father of our country. He won the fight for American independence from England, but before that, he was a hardworking kid who enjoyed challenging himself in school and sports. He learned that overcoming challenges in his life would help make him a great leader.

Explore how George went from being an ambitious farm boy in Virginia to the most well-known founding father in American history. How will his revolutionary spirit inspire you?

This book about George Washington for kids includes:

See George’s progress―Unlike other books about George Washington for kids, this one has a visual timeline of his life so you can get a picture of his important milestones.
Helpful definitions―Discover a glossary with easy-to-understand definitions for the more advanced words and ideas in this book about George Washington for kids.
A lasting legacy―This unique book about George Washington for kids explains how he changed the world for future generations and you.

72 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2020

73 people are currently reading
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About the author

Lisa Trusiani

48 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Miranda Reads.
1,753 reviews165k followers
November 14, 2025
description

If George was a good president, the United States could grow strong. If he was weak or a bully, it might fall apart.
George Washington is arguably the most famous president the United States ever had...but he was not always the strong, stern man who helped create a country.

Once, he was a young kid - just like you!
George grew up on his family's farms...George learned to ride horses, hunt and fish.
When George grew older, he became a major in the Virginia militia.

He helped win many battles and eventually, he was asked to do a very, very difficult task.
Could he win a war against England, the post powerful country in the world? George Washington said yes, and agreed to lead the Continental Army. His new country needed him.
But once America was freed, he soon realized that there was a lot more work to do!
George knew the country would fall apart if the states didn't work together.
And so George Washington set to work - building the foundation of the America of today!

Overall, this was an incredibly cute book. I am just LOVING this biography series from Rockridge Press and this one did not disappoint!

George Washington's story was accurately depicted - in particular, I really appreciated how the author acknowledged how George's family owned slaves and how bad it was. So many children's books gloss over the fact because it portrays our first president in a bad light.

The book did a really nice job showing George's path from simple major to President of United States.

I loved the fact or fiction sections - where the author addresses some really common myths (i.e. chopping down the cherry tree, wooden teeth, etc).

The illustrations were so well done and provided a truly enjoyable lift to the book. Plus, young George was such a cute kid!

All in all, this book was an absolutely lovely addition to the Biography Book for New Readers series!

A HUGE thank you to Lisa Trusiani and Rockridge Press for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Profile Image for J.
3,884 reviews33 followers
April 1, 2024
This was a book that I chose since I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the Father of the United States and was curious to see what would be shared. Instead I found the book to be insufferable while not well written.

The book has eight chapters that explores George Washington with the first chapter focusing on meeting the president. It explains him as a person, a few traits and what it was like to be in America during his time as well as what it was like for his family. Unfortunately this also did cover the fact that his family was well-to-do and as a result had slaves, which is where insufferable portion comes into play since I don't know how many times you have to mention slaves and/or slavery in just a few paragraphs.

-The people living in these shacks were men, women and children who were forced to work on the plantation against their will. They were enslaved and called slaves.
-The planters did not pay them for their hard work. None were free because the person who owned the plantation legally owned them. This cruel system was called slavery. (the bold was done by the author of the book)

From there the book explores various other portions of George Washington's life although focusing on the slavery portion and especially how his family continued to make more money as a result of it. Although his early years were explored, how he joined the military and of course his place in American politics, very little otherwise was given to his role in the French and Indian wars.

The rest of the book basically adds more information for the reader such as a section that explores myth versus fact, a timeline of events at the end of each chapter, a strange family tree in his earlier years and questions to make the reader think about what they are reading. This helps to educate along with the glossary in the back for all the words in bold.

Unfortunately for a book that was so focused on being so morally correct there was no inclusion in the illustration of what could only be interpreted as the Boston Tea Party of the Americans dressing up as Mohawks while also last I knew Washington didn't participate in that.

Unfortunately given to the way this book was made I am not sure if I really want to read the other books that I have of the series although it must be done to get these books out and on their way to another home.

**I received a free copy of this book through the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Panda Incognito.
4,670 reviews95 followers
July 3, 2023
This biography for young readers shares key details about George Washington's life and accomplishments, but the author spends an undue amount of time writing about Washington as a slave-owner, going into detail about what the people he enslaved did on his plantations. Any book about George Washington must address the fact that he owned slaves and only freed them upon his death, but that doesn't mean that the book needs to go into detail about what they farmed and what buildings they constructed over the years.

Because this book focuses so heavily on Washington's slave-owning, there isn't as much space left to write about what he made history for. Some of the remaining parts feel rushed, and this book doesn't feel nearly as well-paced as many of the others in this series. There is much more the author could have done to represent what Washington was like, what he accomplished, and what he experienced throughout his life, and I kept thinking of more biographical details that never came up, such as how he survived smallpox when he was young.

Like the others in the series, this book includes additional features such as discussion questions, a timeline, a glossary, a quiz, and "myth vs. fact" sidebars, but the book as a whole feels much less engaging than others in the series. Again, it is essential for books about the Founding Fathers to acknowledge their flaws and hypocrisies, but this book ends up focusing so much on George Washington's slave-owning that it neglects other areas of interest and feels very preachy. Kids don't need to be lectured to understand that slavery is wrong.

I would recommend the Founding Fathers boxed set that this book is part of. Most of the books are great, and they mostly complement each other well through their different areas of focus and contextual explanations for things. However, I wouldn't recommend this as a stand-alone book.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Virginia Campbell.
1,282 reviews352 followers
March 29, 2020
"The Story of George Washington: A Biography Book for New Readers", written by Lisa Trusiani and illustrated by John John Bajet, is an entertaining and educational view of the life of a remarkable American. Suitable for readers of all ages, this slim volume, with its straightforward text and colorful imagery, depicts the story of a well-to-do Virginia farm boy who became the first president of the United States and who would be forever known as "the father of our country". Like many wealthy colonists of the era, the Washington family were slave owners. Later on in his life, after surviving many battles of war and politics, and observing people of numerous different life circumstances, George Washington realized that slavery was not humane. A war hero and strong leader, he served two terms as president, refused a third term and closely followed the principles of the U.S. Constitution. He helped to pick the location for our nation's capital, and even though he never lived there, he helped with the design of the White House. During his lifetime, he was a farmer. surveyor, inventor, soldier, politician and president, but he enjoyed nothing as much as did being at home at his beloved plantation, Mount Vernon. George Washington lived during revolutionary and turbulent times in the history of our country and he left a lasting and unequaled legacy.

Book Copy Gratis Callisto Publishers
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,571 reviews19 followers
March 31, 2020
I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Everyone knows who George Washington was, of course. This biography is for young readers though, and I was surprised how much I didn’t know about our first president. For example, his family grew tobacco but he changed the crop to wheat and also made whiskey and his family and slaves caught a lot of fish to eat and sell.

This is the second Biography Book for New Readers by Rockridge Press that I’ve read. They include extras that will encourage children to learn. Some of the words are bold which means they are in the glossary in the back. There are also maps, time lines, and graphics called “Myths vs. Facts.” Occasionally, there’s an arrow with “Jump in the Think Tank” suggestions, which encourage children to express how they might feel in the same situation. There’s a quiz at the end as well as additional Think Tank questions.

A good example of a myth is that George Washington cut down a cherry tree when he was young and confessed to it when he was asked. That was just a story made up after he died to show how honest he was.

It’s important to teach youngsters about historical figures like George Washington. This is definitely a book that should be in every child’s library.
22 reviews
Read
April 20, 2020
Target Audience: 8-13

This story of our nation’s first president, George Washington, is beautifully detailed in this children’s biography. The reader is first told about his childhood--the strong influences he surrounded himself as well as the hardships he had to endure. Meanwhile, the author includes pertinent details about what was going on in the rest of “America” during his upbringing. When the time comes for the revolutionary war, Washington’s bravery is clearly illustrated. This biography does an excellent job of describing George Washington without excluding any unseemly details. For example, he is described clearly as a slave owner and the biography details exactly what that means. This is an important detail for children to understand that these people were stolen and forced to work against their will. The idea of freedom is examined through a different perspective by describing how slaves came to be. On top of this book providing accurate details, the illustrations are highly engaging. Bajet does an excellent job of providing illustrations of the people in Washington’s life, maps, myth v. fact charts, and more. The color and simplicity of the drawings in conjunction with the information ensures understanding and engagement from the reader. A great beginning history book for kids.
Profile Image for Jennifer Lynn.
102 reviews
May 9, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I am very much a fan of the Biography for New Readers series from Rockridge Press. Like other books in the series, this installment, featuring the life and accomplishments of George Washington, includes bright and colorful illustrations, a glossary for explaining unfamiliar terms, timelines, reading comprehension checks, and, my personal favorite, Jump Into the Think tank questions, which encourage children to think critically and to connect their personal lives and experiences with the life of the subject of each biography.

George Washington is a solid installment in this series. I would recommend for teachers and parents of early elementary school students. In fact, I have been donating these review copies to a friend who teaches in an elementary school for use in her classroom. I'm so glad this series exists.
341 reviews2 followers
May 20, 2020
I loved reading more about George Washington in The Story of George Washington: A Biography Book for New Readers by Lisa Trusiani. The children’s book is a good way for kids to be introduced to George Washington, or for adults to enjoy reading about Washington in a bite-sized fashion. The book talks about Washington’s early days, service in the Revolutionary War, Presidency, and life at Mount Vernon.

One of the most interesting parts of the book was the section that discussed the Boston Tea Party. The book is 5.8 x 0.2 x 8.2 inches in size and 72 pages long with a soft matte cover. The occasional illustrations really liven up the book, and one of my favorite parts of the book is a ten question quiz about Washington’s life. The Story of George Washington is an exciting book for kids and a fun way to learn more about American history.

I received this book for review.
Profile Image for Sage Nestler.
Author 8 books117 followers
April 15, 2020
All I can say is that I am IN LOVE with this biography! The biography is written for children, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. The illustrations are so lovely, and the author doesn't talk down to their audience. George Washington is such an important American figure, and I am overjoyed to find a children's biography that does her justice. This book makes an excellent gift for any child or young adult who loves to read and learn. But what I loved most about this book was that it made learning fun and unique, and I think that it is a must-have for any classroom or setting where children are present. Thank you so much to the author for your beautiful work!

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for SOMDReigel.
1,123 reviews
April 1, 2020
Very well written biography of George Washington. An account of his life as well as how he helped create the United States into the country it is today. I really liked that it included his entire (his childhood, wars, presidency, Mt. Vernon, the constitution and more). A lot of information but easy to understand. Nicely illustrated. This beginner reader offers a Glossary, timelines throughout the book,
Think About prompts, Myth vs Facts boxes, and an end of book quiz. I learned quite a lot from it.
Received from publisher
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,538 reviews5 followers
July 12, 2020
In preparation for our upcoming trip to Mount Rushmore, we are learning about the Presidents whose faces grace the monument. George was our first President and the first that we set off to read about. This book was too advanced for my 3 year old so she was in and out during the book but I do think she knows who he is. My 5 year old did attentively listen throughout the book and did decently well on the quiz in the back of the book as well. We bought this book so it will be a good reference on George as American History continues.
Profile Image for Amy Bell.
456 reviews13 followers
April 4, 2020
Thank you Callisto Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. I was able to read this with my 7 year old daughter. It's a good intro biography for George Washington and the beginning of our country. I liked the timelines at the end of each chapter. The illustrations and story were age appropriate for ages 7-10.
1,694 reviews54 followers
May 1, 2020
Painted a not nice guy in a good light - 3*

Was going to do this for guided reading as he's the 1st president but I just don't like him so couldn't bare him for a week's teaching. The series is good though and that's why I rated it 3*.
Profile Image for Laura.
742 reviews4 followers
August 18, 2025
Love reading this series with my kids.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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