George Washington’s Breakfast, George Washington’s Mother, Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln, And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?, Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?, Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution, What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?, Where Do You Think You’re Going, Christopher Columbus?, Who’s That Stepping on Plymouth Rock?, Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?, You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?, The Double Life of Pocahontas, Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt, The Great Little Madison, Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Beecher Preachers, Make Way for Sam Houston, Stonewall, Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold, Why Not, Lafayette?.
The titles of Jean Fritz’s historical non-fiction books are self-explanatory. Fritz is an invaluable treasure for students and teachers of U.S. history. In fact, I have some of Fritz’s books on the reading list for my AP US history students, even though the books were written for elementary age students. Jean Fritz makes history so interesting; she writes about people and finds the most intriguing episodes in their lives.
Did you know?
Lincoln didn’t scribble the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope.
Samuel Adams didn’t ride horseback.
Stonewall Jackson liked to suck lemons.
James Madison was really short.
George III collected clocks.
Benedict Arnold loved shoes.

Jean Fritz was born on November 16, 1915 in Hankow, China. She was the only child of missionary parents.

Born November 10, 1728. You can read She Stoops to Conquer online. The Vicar of Wakefield, Goldsmith’s novel, is also available here. Said novel starts with this line:

I was ever of opinion that the honest man who married and brought up a large family did more service than he who continued single and only talked of population.

This was written back when populating the world was still considered a service. The book goes on to tell the story of Dr. Primrose, the vicar of Wakefield, and his family and his many troubles. Samuel Johnson said of Goldsmith: “Goldsmith, however, was a man, who, whatever he wrote did it better than any other man could do.” High praise, indeed.
Goldsmith, however, said of Samuel Johnson: “There is no arguing with Johnson; for when his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it. “