He never went to college. He accidentally started a world war. He survived four bullet holes through his coat.
And when his soldiers begged him to become king - he said no.
George Washington: The Guy Who Refused to Be King follows America's most surprising Founding Father from his muddy Virginia childhood all the way to the moment he shocked the entire world by giving up power.
Along the way: a teenage wilderness surveyor who falls into an icy river, a brutal winter with no food and no shoes, a midnight river crossing in a snowstorm, and a floating golden crown that nobody could get Washington to wear.
True stories that sound made up:
- He taught himself math, surveying, and military strategy - entirely on his own
- His hunting dogs were named Sweetlips, Drunkard, and Tipsy
- His own soldiers asked him to be king - and he was furious
- Even King George III said Washington was "the greatest man in the world"
Eight action-packed chapters for ages 6-12, with a timeline, myths-busted section (wooden teeth? Not true - and weirder), and glossary included.
Perfect for:
- America's 250th anniversary reading and gift lists
- Presidents' Day and American history classroom units
- Independent chapter book readers ready to step up
- Read-aloud families who love real history
Amazing Americans, Book 1 - the nonfiction chapter book series that makes history impossible to put down.
