A PICTURE BOOK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
David A. Adler, author
Dan Brown, illustrator
$15.95

REDCOATS AND PETTICOATS
Katherine Kirkpatrick, author
Ronald Himler, illustrator
$15.95

ROBERT FULTON –FROM SUBMARINE TO STEAMBOAT
Steven Kroll, author
Bill Farnsworth, illustrator
$16.95

Poll many youngsters on their favorite subject at school and you’ll get an answer like "lunch!" But if more history books, like these from Holiday House with captivating artwork and straightforward text, were made available to students, we might find a reading revolution underway.

As we appreciate the enticing changes these authors are making to the way history is presented, young readers can enjoy reading about the changes inventors like George Washington Carver helped to make for our country. Though the book about Carver isn’t meant to be all-encompassing, it does provide an overview of Carver’s life that should whet the reader’s appetite for more. Reading about Carver’s diligence, dedication and generosity in helping others, especially others of his race, should be an excellent source of encouragement and "bibliotherapy" as well. The book points out that Carver’s response to bigotry was to work harder to improve the status of other African-Americans through his research in agriculture, and that though Carver came from a background of slavery and poverty, he chose to forfeit monetary gains for the benefit of others.

Another role model for young people is found in the based-on-real-life-events story "Redcoats and Petticoats." The author of this story, Katherine Kirkpatrick, was only a fourth-grader when she interviewed a woman who was a great-great-granddaughter of the family this story is written about.

The story chronicles the bravery of a woman and her son as they live among the Redcoats who have taken over Long Island during the American Revolution. When the father of the family is imprisoned by the British for being a traitor, the mother becomes a spy who helps relay signals to patriot forces by hanging out different colors and numbers of petticoats on the clothesline each day. The story is narrated by the son, which adds to the book’s appeal and believability. The vibrant watercolors by Ronald Himler are superb.

Also displaying excellence in illustration is the biography on Robert Fulton. The richness of color and detail tie in well with the story of a man who, like many other inventor-heroes, came from humble beginnings to add immeasurably to our country’s heritage. Fulton’s life is inspirational in terms of what personal determination and talent can do to overcome hardships and others’ negativity.

The authors and illustrators of these three books are heroes in their own right. With these picture books they may not only help to keep appreciation for our history alive, but they may also help to inspire a young person to follow the examples of greatness that are profiled in the stories. At the very least, maybe some children will be able to admit that, after lunch, history is their next favorite subject!

Charlene Vermeulen is a freelance writer from Southern Pines.