Haym Salomon: American Patriot
Grade 3-5–Salomon was a Jewish-Polish immigrant to America who used his monetary talents to help finance the Revolutionary cause. While his behind-the-scenes efforts were important, they would be of little interest to young readers were it not that Salomon has become a symbol of Jewish-American patriotism. His story is told in oversimplified language that belies the complex events of the time, and the war sounds like much ado about nothing: King George forced Americans to pay extra money, called taxes, for ordinary things like newspapers, playing cards, and tea. So the colonists declared war on England…. At the same time, detail weighs the story down as readers follow every twist and turn of Salomon's career. The picture-book format, playful typeface, and comical illustrations are at odds with the text. Together, these elements form a confusing package that looks and reads like a book for younger children, but will make little sense to them. While the biography is well researched, it is too convoluted and fictionalized for report writing. Purchase only where there is a strong interest in American Revolutionary themes.–Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.