Editor’s Note: The following article is a synopsis written by staff members and volunteers of the Cary Memorial Library in Houlton highlighting one of the suggested reading books, as determined by the staff.
I shall never think of our first president George Washington quite the same again after reading “Dear Mr. Washington” by Lynn Cullen. A funny book with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter, loosely based on the portrait painting by Gilbert Stuart- yes, the same portrait now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
The three Stuart children just cannot believe Mr. Washington will not smile for their Dad’s painting. Believe this book and you’ll realize children of 1796 are much the same as children today. Even Mr. Washington’s rules of conduct which he shared with them were not always successful.
Observe Baby John chewing shoes, Charlotte picking off her fleas, and James letting a spider dangle over his sister’s head…
Finally their antics go overboard and Mr. Washington compares Charlotte to his own horse and smiled! Then Mr. Stuart had a good clue to soften George’s expression. Could you guess what it was? The children, the mess, the noise ?
This is one of the new books offered as part of the Christmas promotion where books can be purchased for $10 and given to the Library in honor of or in memory of loved ones.
The Cary Memorial Library is open Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 532-1302.
