John Deere, That's Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer - ADVISABLe

Maurer, Tracy Nelson  John Deere, That’s Who!  Illustrated by Tim Zeltner  PICTURE BOOK  Henry Holt and Company, 2017.  $17.99  Content: G.  

John Deere was a blacksmith who lost his forge to a fire.  Down on his luck, he headed west in the 1830's and set up a blacksmith shop in Illinois.  He helped fix broken plows and household items.  He repaired so many plows that he came up with an idea to better the plow and soon his plows were in high demand.  He sold ready made plows and had a successful business.  

The story of John Deere is simplified and surprising because you would think that it had more to do with tractors and less to do with plows.  There are more facts about his life and business at the end of the story.  The illustrations are fantastic and make the story even more interesting.  I think this book would be a big hit in farming communities but it’s a good story of overcoming setbacks and perseverance.  

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.