BOOKS
illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004
978–0689841750
ages 6 to 10
Find this book at your favorite public library or used bookseller
After you’ve read A Big Cheese for the White House, try this book:
A Big Cheese for the White House
The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar
“What good shall I do today?”
How Ben Franklin answered that question — through his work as a writer, printer, statesman, and inventor — forever established him as one of America’s greatest figures. On one day in 1729 he published the first edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette; on another day he changed the Declaration of Independence by adding the famous words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident”; and it was all in a day’s work when he planted the first willow trees in America.
Modeled on his own Poor Richard’s Almanack, this unique scrapbook captures Franklin’s countless accomplishments. Biography and anecdote, cartoon and etching mesh to create a fascinating portrait of this most fascinating man. Anyone interested in the birth of American democracy … or curious about the rise of the U.S. postal system … or wondering how paper money came to be … or wanting to know how Ben Franklin was part of it all, is sure to pore over Ben Franklin’s Almanac.
Resources
- A Big Cheese for the White House Classroom Guide
Awards and Honors
- Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book 2000
- CCBC Choices 2000
- Center for Children’s Books Best Book, 1999
- NCSS-CBS Notable Trade Book, 2000
- Nest Literary Classic
Reviews
“As she did in The Hatmaker’s Sign, Fleming once again parlays a little-known historical nugget into a diverting picture book. In the late 19th century, the folks of Cheshire, Mass., a locale known for its delectable cheddar, grow mighty disgruntled when they learn that President Thomas Jefferson is offering cheese from a Connecticut town to his White House visitors. The Cheshire residents band together to produce a gigantic wheel of cheese that will catch the Chief’s eye and please his palate for years. They gather produce from every milk-yielding bovine in nearby pastures into a “cow-created river,” a large apple press squeezes whey from the curds and the village blacksmith pounds out an enormous hoop to hold the 1235-pound, four-foot-high cheese. A town elder, accompanied by the cranky local naysayer transports the formidable fromage by sleigh and ship to the White House, where Jefferson “cut into the cheddar’s golden glory.” With his finely detailed, droll pen and watercolor pictures, Schindler, who collaborated with Fleming on Madame LaGrande and Her So High, to the Sky, Uproarious Pompadour, wryly captures both the period flavor and tall-tale tone of the story. A satisfying, well-aged slice of American lore. ” (Publishers Weekly)
“A little-known piece of American history is at the center of this humorous story. When the people of Cheshire, MA, hear that President Jefferson is eating cheddar made in Norton, CT, instead of their own, they decide to do something about it. Against all odds, they make a 1235-pound wheel of cheese and ship it to the president, who declares it the best that he has ever tasted, puts it in the record books, and serves it until it finally goes bad. Using a cast of amusing characters that include little Humphrey Crock, who is good at arithmetic; Elder John, the real-life mastermind of the scheme; and the doubting Phineas Dobbs, who scoffs every step of the way, Fleming makes this strange bit of history interesting and funny. Each of the characters has a distinct personality, and the watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations bring all of them to life. Schindler’s detailed, cartoonlike artwork integrates well with the witty text. An author’s note separates fact from fiction and explains what happened next. This book would be a great choice for classroom units on history, world records, cheese making, or even on succeeding at something that seems impossible. It’s also a good bet for anyone looking to liven up historical fiction collections for the younger set.” (School Library Journal)