From School Library Journal
Gr 3-4--The strength of this biography is in the authors' ability to reveal Carver's greatness through telling examples of his inventiveness, his deep faith in God, and his generous offering of his prodigious talents to help others. The most disappointing aspect is the cartoon-style artwork. The colors are bold, but the pictures are flat and unimaginative, making this look like a comic-book biography. Also, while the authors provide explanatory notes on the final page, they do not cite the sources used in researching and writing the book, nor do they provide suggested further readings.Jerry D. Flack, University of Colorado, Colorado SpringsCopyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
John Hornback, Purchasing Manager for Eastern National Park & Monument Association
"Park Rangers...approved [this] biography...for its accuracy and its appropriateness to the subject theme of that national park."
Dr. D. James Kennedy, President, Coral Ridge Ministries; Chancellor, Knox Theological Seminary
"Favorites of mine are the `junior biographies,' which provide young readers with genuine American heroes to admire."
Lydia Doctorian, Fourth Grade Teacher, Macon, MO
"Each of the books in this series is a goldmine of intriguing detail placed in the easily-read chronology..."
Book Description
George Washington Carver-a unique and gifted scientist who made some of the most unusual discoveries. He saw things others overlooked, and now you'll discover how Doctor Carver, born as a slave and rejected as a student, triumphed over incredible obstacles in his quest to become educated. He has rightfully earned a place among America's great achievers. This book is sold at Tuskegee Institute Book Store.
Card catalog description
A brief biography of the African American scientist who overcame tremendous hardship to make unusual and important discoveries in the field of agriculture.
About the Author
Carl Sommer is a successful businessman and a devoted educator who has a passion for communicating values and practical learning skills to students. He is dedicated to teaching children, young people, and adults by imparting principles necessary for success in an increasingly complex world. Following his passion, Sommer has authored books in many categories: the award-winning Another Sommer-Time Story series18 childrens books which impart values and principles of success to younger children; Reading Successan adult literature-based phonics reading program; and Number Successa complete practical mathematics series from addition to trigonometry. The Ugly Caterpillar received the Benjamin Franklin Award for being the best children's picture book, and Mayor For A Day received Today's Librarian award for best children's picture book. Sommer served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. At age 40, Sommer became a New York City public high school teacher. To become a certified teacher, he attended Oswego State University, City College of New York, and New York University. Sommer then became an assistant dean of boys in a high school with 3,600 pupils where he counseled students and parents. As Sommer taught, he saw the many deficiencies of the educational system and began to investigate the system. His research led him to work as a substitute teacher at every grade level in twenty-seven different schools in all of the boroughs of New York City. Identifying the problems and needs of Americas students, he proceeded to craft solutions. His exhaustive ten-year study led to his first book--Schools in Crisis: Training for Success or Failure?, credited with influencing school reform in many states. Dr. Robert Simonds, president of Citizens for Excellence, states, Carl Sommers book, School in Crisis: Training for Success or Failure? has been highly endorsed by teachers, university professors, legislatures and other prominent educators around the country. His book has had a major impact on school reform in New York, as well as many other states. Across the nation, Sommer has appeared on radio and television shows, including the nationally syndicated Oprah Winfrey Show. He also served on the Texas State Board of Education Review Committee and taught a Junior Achievement economics course at Prague University, Czech Republic. Sommer is the founder and president of Advance Publishing, Inc., MediaONE Productions, (recording and video studio), and Reliable EDM, Inc. Reliable EDM, where precision machining is done by means of electrical discharge machining, is the largest company of its kind west of the Mississippi. He also co-authored Wire EDM Handbook with his son, and authored the 432-page Non-Traditional Machining Handbook, a technical book describing all the non-traditional machining methods currently available. Happily married since 1955, Sommer has five children and eleven grandchildren
George Washington Carver: What Do You See? ANNOTATION
A brief biography of the African American scientist who overcame tremendous hardship to make unusual and important discoveries in the field of agriculture.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
Gr 3-4The strength of this biography is in the authors' ability to reveal Carver's greatness through telling examples of his inventiveness, his deep faith in God, and his generous offering of his prodigious talents to help others. The most disappointing aspect is the cartoon-style artwork. The colors are bold, but the pictures are flat and unimaginative, making this look like a comic-book biography. Also, while the authors provide explanatory notes on the final page, they do not cite the sources used in researching and writing the book, nor do they provide suggested further readings.Jerry D. Flack, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs