About this item
Thomas Jefferson was wild about numbers. He was constantly counting, measuring, and observing things that caught his interest. He loved sharing his discoveries and reading the discoveries of others. But when a famous Frenchman published a book about America, Jefferson was appalled: all the information in the book was wrong. The author insisted that America was a wretched, dismal place, where birds could not sing, dogs could not bark, and everything and everyone was puny and weak. Thomas Jefferson resolved to set the record straight - with numbers - and prove to the world that the new nation was worthy of investment. But how do you show that a country is plentiful in an age when photography hasn't been invented yet? Mara Rockliff, master of children's nonfiction, details another little-known moment in math and natural history, illustrated with humor by prolific artist S.
About the Author
Mara Rockliff is the author of many lively historical books for children, including MESMERIZED: HOW BEN FRANKLIN SOLVED A MYSTERY THAT BAFFLED ALL OF FRANCE, winner of the Cook Prize and an Orbis Pictus Honor book. Other well-known titles include GINGERBREAD FOR LIBERTY, AROUND AMERICA TO WIN THE VOTE, and TRY IT! HOW FRIEDA CAPLAN CHANGED THE WAY WE EAT. Under the pen name Lewis B. Montgomery, she wrote all twelve books in the popular Milo & Jazz Mysteries chapter book series, which has been translated into Spanish, French, and Chinese. She lives in western Massachusetts with her family. Visit her online at mararockliff.com.
