  | George Washington's spectacular spectacles Author: Castrovilla, Selene | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
The Revolutionary War was over, and the officers hadn't received their wages in years. Afraid they would never get their money, the officers planned to storm Congress and demand it right away. Luckily, George Washington found out about the plot. It was only when he struggled to read a letter from Congress and had to put on his glasses, that they realized how much he sacrificed for their country. Officers dropped their plan and pledged their loyalty to America and to Washington.
| Illustrator: | Harney, Jennifer |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (11/15/24)
Booklist (+) (12/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2024 *Starred Review* It was a closely guarded secret that President George Washington wore glasses when reading documents. If people found out, would they consider him weak or odd-looking? In 1783, he learned that his army officers, furious that they had never been paid for their wartime service, had decided to storm Congress, demanding their money. Washington sent a polite note to Congress, which promised to pay when they could. Washington wrote a speech urging patience and tried to read it to the angry officers, who listened but disagreed. Frustrated by his difficulty reading the speech, Washington put on his glasses. Silence fell as the officers realized their beloved former general, who had given up so much for his country, was aging. Tears fell, and the men decided to drop their treasonous plan and follow Washington’s advice. The author of many children’s books based on research into American history, Castrovilla tells her latest story with wit, pathos, and attention to detail. The end matter traces the history of the officer’s little-known treasonous plan and notes that when Washington began using his spectacles in public, others overcame their reluctance as well. Harney’s quirky illustrations suggest the look of the period while capturing the amusing tone of the narrative. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
