Nonfiction Book Blog #1

Book Title: "Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud"
Author: Suzanne Tripp Jurmain
Illustrator: Larry Day
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers, Copyright 2011
Number of pages: 32
Genre: Nonfiction

Two very important figures in American History, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, just cannot seem to get along when it comes to running the newly created United States. They disagree so much so that they wind up running two opposing political parties, and those disagreements followed them all the way into the White House. Its readers will get to see how these two great presidents chose to put their differences aside and bring back their friendship once again.

The illustrations seem like they could have been done in watercolor. They do a great job at showing the readers different aspects of life in the era of Adams and Jefferson. These aspects include the way that they dress, the way they wore their hair, and even how print used to look compared to what it is today.

Grade level: 4th grade
Subject Area: Social Studies
Standard: 8) Identify major events of the American Revolution, including the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown. 

• Explaining contributions of Thomas Jefferson,...

I would love to read this book aloud with my students. From there, I would have them pick a side: Team Jefferson or Team Adams. I would give them time to do their research, choose, a side, and determine why they chose that side. I would allow each of them to present their argument. This would be a great opportunity to teach the social studies content, but also to teach them how to debate respectfully.