John Deere, that's who!

Who would want to change the functional, long-standing plow of the 1830s? John Deere, that's who. Adding to a growing field of picture-book biographies about STEM innovators, this narrative follows Deere, a young, penniless blacksmith from Vermont, who followed the stream of pioneers west and resettled in Illinois, hoping to earn enough money to send for his family. The soil in the Midwest was different and difficult for pioneer farmers, who had to constantly scrape gumbo, the sticky dirt clumps, off their iron plow blades. After studying plow angles, Deere designed a lighter, more effective plow that used a steel blade, forever changing America's prairies. Acrylic paintings, reminiscent of Thomas Hart Benton, fittingly set the tone of this story, which highlights both engineering and Deere's place in history. It also briefly describes the early development of Deere's famous company. So who invented the tractor? Not John Deere, that's who. Children can read this and other related facts in the back matter. Dig in for more insight on this household name.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2017 Booklist

Gr 1-4-Who was John Deere, and how did he start the business that bears his name? In this picture book biography, Deere is introduced as a blacksmith living in Vermont in the 1830s. After his forge burned down twice, Deere decided to move west. Trying to use traditional plows in the tough, sticky Illinois prairie ground was a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. Through trial and testing, Deere came up with a plow that made the work quicker and easier. (A note at the end provides further information about Deere and the development of the company.) Told in a conversational manner, the factual narrative is well matched to the folk art-style illustrations. Rendered in acrylic paint on plywood, along with stains and glazes, the pictures effectively reflect the subject and the time period. Although Deere was not widely known or documented in his own time, historians have worked with "recollections of family and friends, notes in diaries, newspaper articles, letters, and business materials." The author includes a lengthy source list and suggests visiting the John Deere company website. VERDICT An effective resource for economics lessons, as it examines product development, testing, and distribution. Also a solid selection to demonstrate the creative thinking and problem-solving skills needed for design or maker learning.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.