Farmer George Plants a Nation

See George Washington as he's rarely seen—as a farmer, inventor, and scientist. All his life, Washington sought to improve farming methods and share his knowledge with other farmers. His goal to make Mount Vernon self-sufficient carried over to his goal to make the new country independent.

« “Should be included in library collections because of its unusual treatment of George's lifetime achievements.” —Library Media Connection, starred review

« “Students will find this title useful for reports, but will also find it a great nonfiction read.” —School Library Journal, starred review

This picture book for older readers focuses on George Washington as farmer, inventor, and scientist. Infused with excerpts from George’s letters and diaries, the narrative makes a convincing case for Washington’s place as the nation’s First Farmer. He invented a combination plow-tiller-harrow, tested different fertilizers, and bred donkeys and horses to create strong mules. His goal to make Mount Vernon self-sufficient carried over to his goal to make the new country independent. Layne Johnson’s richly colored oil paintings portray the Colonial era with fine details. The book includes a timeline of Washington’s life; shares his views on slavery, and includes a bibliography of additional reading materials and websites.