Ann Donegan Johnson uses her children's book series to meet two goals to use the biography of a famous person as a device to demonstrate the results of applying / adhering to a positive human value.
As an adult attempting to view this work from the perspective of the target audience, I found that "The Value of Foresight The Story of Thomas Jefferson" was effective. Most of the book deals with a young Jefferson, showing how he learned the importance of foresight leading eventually to telling how it influenced his professional career as drafter of the Declaration of Independence and to the presidency with the Lousiana Purchase.
As a device, I do not believe that Chimes the Talking Pocketwatch was needed to personify the foresight trait that the book aimed to demonstrate. True, the book states that the watch didn't really talk; rather it personified the positive trait inside of the future statesman. Still, I think that children would get the message and be entertained without the introduction of the anthropomorphic timepiece.
I think the book was very good, but just missed the goal of "excellent".
RATING: 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
As an adult attempting to view this work from the perspective of the target audience, I found that "The Value of Foresight The Story of Thomas Jefferson" was effective. Most of the book deals with a young Jefferson, showing how he learned the importance of foresight leading eventually to telling how it influenced his professional career as drafter of the Declaration of Independence and to the presidency with the Lousiana Purchase.
As a device, I do not believe that Chimes the Talking Pocketwatch was needed to personify the foresight trait that the book aimed to demonstrate. True, the book states that the watch didn't really talk; rather it personified the positive trait inside of the future statesman. Still, I think that children would get the message and be entertained without the introduction of the anthropomorphic timepiece.
I think the book was very good, but just missed the goal of "excellent".
RATING: 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
