Jean Fritz writes historical fiction books for children ages 9-12. The stories help children understand history in a way social studies textbooks cannot. She found interesting facts and used helpful realistic illustrations. She was born in 1915 in China and felt misplaced there as an American. She developed a keen interest in the culture and history of America.

In the book Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? there is a child in many of the illustrations that children will notice. Students would have some fun finding which pictures include a child and which do not. It is as if the child in the drawings is looking at what the child reading the book would be looking at. The illustrator, Trina Schart Hyman, drew detailed and clever pictures to help children relate to history.

The story is about John Adams (who became a President of the United States) arguing and trying to convince his cousin, Sam Adams, into learning to ride a horse. He finally wins the argument and Sam Adams becomes convinced he needs to ride a horse, not for dozens of common-sense reasons, but because he wants to have a statue of himself one day. Of course, a statue of a statesman would include a horse! ( )

Another good, funny, biographical tale about a Boston "incendiary". The illustrations are well-researched and clever. ( )

Warm, enchanting, funny. Who'd've thunk?

And though Hyman's my favorite illustrator, I'm used to her doing fantasy - I didn't realize she could do such a great job of helping to make history so engaging. Granted, it's just an introduction, for the youngest readers, but I still highly recommend it to everyone who doesn't know much about Sam Adams the man, or who feels they didn't get a conscientious education about the events and attitudes that led to the War. ( )

Fritz researched facts about Sam Adams and discovered that he refused to ride a horse. John Adams’ personal papers contained Sam Adam’s reason for not riding a horse. Sam Adams felt that it was impersonal and that he could not talk to people around the city of Boston if he were on a horse so he chose to walk. He soon changed his mind. By taking this small, unknown fact about one of America's founding fathers, Fritz creates an engaging tale.

Summary:
This is a book about John Adams who becomes a president but tries to teach his cousin Sam Adams to ride a horse. He shows him many reasons why back then a horse was important to ride.

Personal Reaction: I liked this book because it can get kids interested in learning about history in a fun way.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Have this book read aloud then continue with a History lesson.
2. Have a lesson over John Adams life. ( )