Did you know that John Adams had to coax Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence? It's true. The shy Virginia statesman refused at first, but then went on to author one of our nation's most important and inspiring documents. The third U.S. president, Jefferson was also an architect, inventor, musician, farmer, and-what is certainly the most troubling aspect of his life-a slave owner. Finally, here's a biography for kids that unveils the many facets of this founding father's remarkable and complicated life.

Did you know that John Adams had to coax Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence? It's true. The shy Virginia statesman refused at first, but then went on to author one of our nation's most important and inspiring documents. The third U.S. president, Jefferson was also an architect, inventor, musician, farmer, and-what is certainly the most troubling aspect of his life-a slave owner. Finally, here's a biography for kids that unveils the many facets of this founding father's remarkable and complicated life. The author of more than 225 children's and young adult non-fiction books, Dennis Brindell Fradin was the winner of many awards, including the Flora Steiglitz Straus best non-fiction book of the year, two Carter Woodson awards, a Golden Kite honor plaque, and three Society of Midland Authors Best Book prizes, Dennis prided himself on writing graceful, readable prose for young people.  A born storyteller, the decade he spent as a second-grade teacher helped him perfect his fluid style of writing for children.