Product Description

"George Washington's cows were kept upstairs,
And given their own special room.
They never were seen by light of day.
No matter for what or by whom."

These cows are just the beginning of George's problems. To be sure, his hogs are helpful around the house, but it irks Martha when their parties are better than hers. And then there are the sheep--all of them smarter than Tom Jefferson, with degrees (no to say "sheepskins") to prove it. What's a Father of his country to do?

David Smalll puts a hilariously sticky fingerprint on the well-polished veneer of American history, showing readers what really went on in the home of our first President.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #907948 in Books
• Published on: 1997-03-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 40 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Witty and silly in equal measure, Small's (Ruby Mae Has Something to Say) cheeky expose about the real reason the father of our country went into politics works on a number of conceptual levels. George Washington's farm is home to a host of precocious animals, including some secretive, moody cows ("They had to be dressed in lavendar gowns/ and bedded on cushions of silk/ .../ Begged every hour in obsequious tones,/ Or they just wouldn't give any milk"); house-servant hogs ("Always polite and impeccably dressed,/ They were certainly well-bred swine"); and a crew of scholarly sheep bent on mastering the mysteries of the universe. Illustrations are opulent and expansive, with both the overall conceits and the characters' costumes wonderfully imaginative and inventive. Buoyant rhymed couples have an across-the-board appeal, while the sly political joke that closes the tale will satisfy adults primarily: George, stymied by the animals ("My cows wear dresses, my pigs wear wigs/ And my sheep are more learned than me"), is last seen in a famous pose, being ferried across the Delaware, and saying, "Sell the Farm... I'll try Politics!" Smart entertainment. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?You may very well wonder how a man who could not tell a lie ever found his way into the political arena. Well, according to this outlandish historical tall tale, it all began at Mount Vernon. In description befitting the larger-than-life legend, Small relates the trials and tribulations that face gentleman farmer George Washington. As he is forced to cope with extraordinarily fussy cows, dandified pigs, and intellectually superior sheep, it soon becomes apparent that the man is simply not cut out for country living and he jumps at the chance to make a career change. The only thing funnier than this book's lighthearted, irreverent rhyme is its marvelous watercolor artwork. In accurately rendered detail, the artist's engaging double-spread cartoons depict the interiors and grounds of the historical site, and deftly incorporate the engaging, decidedly eccentric cast of characters, all in period costume. The future father of our country laments, "My cows wear dresses, my pigs wear wigs,/And my sheep are more learned than me./ In all my days on the farm I've seen/nothing to equal such tricks." Washington takes a backseat here, but, as is often the case, the forces that motivate greatness are many, varied, and wide open for speculation.?Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4, younger for reading aloud. With his usual flair and sense of humor, Small spoofs daily life at Mount Vernon. A rhyming text introduces the ridiculously pampered life of Washington's cows: "They had to be dressed in lavender gowns / and bedded on cushions of silk, / Fed on a diet of jam and cream scones, / Frequently sprayed with expensive colognes, / Begged every hour in obsequious tones, / Or they just wouldn't give any milk." Small's watercolors immeasurably extend his zany poem and make maximum use of the double-page spreads. Cleverly designed and well-executed scenes are filled with silly details that children will love (like the anthropomorphised farm animals dressed in historical garb and the facial expressions that reveal just what the various human characters are thinking). Small continues his tale with visions of gracious, helpful pigs and serious, scholarly sheep. All of this is very trying for G. W., so he takes off across the Delaware. And who could blame him? Kathy Broderick

Customer Reviews

A good book for imaginative children.
This is a children's story of the baffling livestock George Washington has at Mount Vernon--erudite sheep, mannered pigs, difficult to please cows. It is the kind of story bright children like--creatures of the run-of-the-mill books about farm life here doing outrageous things.

It is a book which one of our grandchildren must have taken to pre-school to show off. We can no longer find it; I have to buy it again; I decided to write this review because the book is good enough to motivate children to share their books, and grandfathers to buy them again.

A laugh riot with incredible illustrations
David Small is a wonderfully imaginative author. *Fenwick's Suit*, *Imogene's Antlers*, and *Paper John* by Small are also terrific children's books, but this one is just hilarious. My four-year-old daughter nearly fell off my lap laughing at the pictures of the pigs in their powdered wigs, and my eight-year-old son appreciated the wry humor. Few children's books are illustrated as beautifully as this one, and the rhyme and rhythm are delightful. A picture book not to be missed.

Poor George.....
Have you ever wondered why George Washington left Mount Vernon and became the father of our country? Award winning author and illustrator, David Small, let's you in on that little well-kept secret. It all started with his cows. They wouldn't give milk unless they could live upstairs in their own room with silk bedding, dress in lavender gowns, eat scones and jam and wear perfume. Then there were the hogs. They thought they were maids and butlers, doing chores, filling in for sick servants and serving meals. And, when it came to genius, Washington's flock of sheep were unrivaled. It all became to much for him, so he gave up the farm, crossed the Delaware and went into politics. Told with creativity and great humor, Mr Small's wonderful rhyming text is complimented by his detailed, expressive watercolor artwork and youngsters will laugh out loud as they see cows, lazing about in bed, pigs in wigs serving dinner and sheep in caps and gowns teaching lessons to Washington's guests. This is a delightful, silly, witty picture book that can be enjoyed by children of all ages and makes a wonderful addition to all home libraries.