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The Sowers
George Washington Carver: Man's Slave Becomes God's Scientist
A Children's Book That Celebrates a Christian Hero Teach your kids about one of the greatest Christian leaders of these blessed United States, George Washington Carver! It’s more important than ever for young people to be in touch with the Christian roots of this country and its greatest leaders. George Washington Carver was an American scientist and inventor. Born into slavery, Carver became the most noteworthy black scientist of the early 20th century. A heroic story of overcoming incredible odds, and the importance of pursuing your dreams no matter what. Watch your children light up with intrigue and inspiration from reading about George W. Carver. In this book and the other books in our Sower Series biographies, you can read for yourself from the actual pen of historical figures on their relationship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you read from the first-person perspective of Carver himself, you’ll be surprised to learn all about what has been left out of the history books. Perfect for inclusion in homeschool curriculum, or as a read-aloud for the whole family. Learn all about George Washington Carver’s relationship to God and Christianity, and how that relationship affected his decisions, helping create the world’s greatest nation! Christian character is a precious gift that often isn’t talked about in our schools. Now there are books that can teach your children the Christian roots of American history! This religious biography for children was designed for reading ages 10-15 and reading grades 5-9. “We are desperately in need of inspiring Christian models with which our young people can identify.” - James Dobson “Our young people need heroes to follow of the caliber exemplified in the Mott Media Sowers Series of World Heroes” - Tim LaHaye
131 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 1981
About the author
David R. Collins
95 books1 followerDavid R. Collins is a published author and a narrator of children's books and young adult books. Some of the published credits of David R. Collins include George Washington Carver: Man's Slave Becomes God's Scientist, Cesar Chavez (Just the Facts Biographies), J. R. R. Tolkien (Just the Facts Biographies), and The Time Travelling Cat & the Tudor Treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 11, 2021
This was my second time through this book, and I would say I enjoyed it more than I did the first time! (Pre)reading Booker T Washington’s biography last year gave more context to the school at Tuskegee, which only led to greater conversations with the boys about the significance of Carver’s work and his attachment to the school.
March 16, 2024
AO year 5 pre-read! I think biographies are my favourite way to learn history! This book was one of the lighter reads for year 5. His humility and care for people was so inspiring.
May 17, 2017
This is the first book I have read in the YA "Sower" series. It is written in 1st-person narrative and emphasizes Carver's Christian faith. I think it's a great biography for all ages, and especially for youth. Personally, I also find it interesting to look at the religious side of a person's background while reading of the contribution he/she has made to the world. As a 6th grade teacher, I am happy to find a well-written biography that teaches about historic characters who are often forgotten. I learned many things I didn't know about George Washington Carver and am anxious to try other biographies in the series called "The Sowers."
January 15, 2023
This biography was wonderfully written and very engaging. I can't wait for my daughter to read it.
January 28, 2016
I was clearing out books in my basement to give away and found this book I had purchased for my grandchildren but never read. Even though it was written for young people, I was intrigued about Mr. Carver's life and wanted to know more which this book told. It is a wonderfully written book about this great man's life and struggles in addition to his deep faith in a loving and merciful God. Children need to learn of the true lives of people including their faith or lack of but not remove all references. I was amazed about the hundreds of uses Mr. Carver discovered for the use of peanuts and sweet potatoes and how he transformed the agriculture of the South and other lands with his discoveries.
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May 6, 2016Uncle Andy knew well the Lord's words. But he did not obey God's way.
What a happy spirit he carried.
"It's just that sometimes the Lord's world and the world of science seem divided," one thin lad told me. "How do you, or rather can you, bring them both together?"
"No one needs to bring them together," I answered, eager to accept the challenge. "Everything we have in our world of science springs from the world God has created for us. Science is simply a study of God's creations."
"Neither my prayers nor the power of this medicine could penetrate the profanity in your heart," I declared sternly. "I cannot help you because you would rather hate me than be helped. I suggest you go now, and pray for the Lord's forgiveness."
What a happy spirit he carried.
"It's just that sometimes the Lord's world and the world of science seem divided," one thin lad told me. "How do you, or rather can you, bring them both together?"
"No one needs to bring them together," I answered, eager to accept the challenge. "Everything we have in our world of science springs from the world God has created for us. Science is simply a study of God's creations."
"Neither my prayers nor the power of this medicine could penetrate the profanity in your heart," I declared sternly. "I cannot help you because you would rather hate me than be helped. I suggest you go now, and pray for the Lord's forgiveness."
October 7, 2013
I read this ahead of my son's reading it for school. I enjoyed it, and I think for a child it was excellent. A biography of a naturalist who changed the way a lot of farmers and university professors in the Southern states thought about farming and nature (not to mention the African-American race). Putting it that way it sounds boring, but it wasn't at all. My son enjoyed it as well (9 years old)
April 22, 2011
Isaiah and I read this book together for his book club. I love the Sower Series books because they focus on the figure and their relationship to God. Isaiah and I both got a lot out of this book. GWC is an amazing man who did whatever God wanted him to do, even though he would have rather taken a different path. A great read for 8-12 year old boys!
May 25, 2008
So what if the club girls snubbed this short read?!? It's a great read, and I learned some things I never knew about this great man... am going to the library website now to get more of David Collins' books about great people in history
February 4, 2015
The author did an excellent job of relating George Washington Carver's life in a story format. It was informative and exciting to read. The book really showed how Carver's faith played a huge role in his life, teaching and science.
December 11, 2008
What an amazing man George Washington Carver was! We read this for our homeschool boys club, "Knights of Freedom". Inspirational and educational.
August 31, 2013
I love this book and I think it is good history
August 12, 2013
this book is great for historical readers
June 28, 2016
Great introduction to an amazing man. I definitely want to learn more about him and his life and accomplishments.
March 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this short, easy read. A glimpse into the life of a man who, with God's help, was able to do miraculous things.
August 26, 2022
George Washington Carver: Man's Slave Becomes God's Scientist (The Sowers) by David R. Collins, Illustrator- Joe Van Severen- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of George Washington Carver, an Afro-American agricultural scientist. Born in 1860s Missouri, nobody expected George Washington Carver to succeed. Slaves were not allowed to be educated. After the Civil War, Carver enrolled in classes and proved to be a star student. He became the first black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and later its first black professor. He went on to the Tuskegee Institute where he specialized in botany (the study of plants) and developed techniques to grow crops better. His work with vegetables, especially peanuts, made him famous and changed agriculture forever. He went on to develop nearly 100 household products and over 100 recipes using peanuts. He worked as hard as he could to become a scientist and he accomplished his dream. He taught many students through his years as a science teacher. After he decided to stop being a teacher, he still made many changes in the world of agriculture. He is famous for being the author of a book that lists the uses of peanuts. This book explains what George had done while he was alive and all of his accomplishments in agriculture, soil, and other practical uses. He had a long interesting life full of discovery built around helping others. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story.
June 19, 2021
George Washington Carver was an amazing man, and I really enjoyed reading this biography of him. It was a little religion-heavy, but from what I understand, so was the man the book was written about. That said, it was fascinating to read as Mr. Carver has a unique way of looking at things, all things, and it was interesting to see things from as close to his point of view as we are likely to get.
What I liked about this book: The author does appear to do their best to be authentic and true to their subject. It covers his whole life as best as possible, not just his later, more successful years. It was written in a very easy-to-read style that did not feel stilted as many other biographies do.
What I did not like about this book: As mentioned, it is a bit religion-heavy. There are a few topics that were not covered in as much detail as I would have liked. A few of the recreated "conversations" are a bit expositional and do not flow naturally.
What I liked about this book: The author does appear to do their best to be authentic and true to their subject. It covers his whole life as best as possible, not just his later, more successful years. It was written in a very easy-to-read style that did not feel stilted as many other biographies do.
What I did not like about this book: As mentioned, it is a bit religion-heavy. There are a few topics that were not covered in as much detail as I would have liked. A few of the recreated "conversations" are a bit expositional and do not flow naturally.
March 11, 2018
George Washington Carver was an amazing scientist! I didn't know anything about him before I read this, but I found this story of his life to be very interesting. He did things that no one thought were possible in agriculture. He found ways to use seemingly- boring crops. Yet Carver did it all for God's glory, being very humble. I would definitely recommend reading this book, especially for 10 to 14 year olds.
November 28, 2020
Story of a black man who worked against racism to work as a scientist and find ways to farm without being dependent on cotton. His contribution to agriculture and black history is significant and well worth studying both from a scientific perspective as well as how his contributions affected farming and people in the south. His life spans the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s.
I could see using this in historical studies as well as with science. Classroom library 3rd through 6th grade.
I could see using this in historical studies as well as with science. Classroom library 3rd through 6th grade.
June 7, 2018
From my 11 year old: “I love this book so much it is a wonderful book, it’s a true story about a black man that wants to go to college and the complexities that came with it during that time. After doing school for a while, he finally does and he finds out he loves plants and he’s a great artist. He starts teach a class about plants.”
March 17, 2019
This book is hard to rate. It's well researched and the events described are well chosen; however, it glosses over the harshness of the times in the Jim Crow era. There are a few incidents of discrimination and prejudice depicted, but very mildly. I understand that this is a middle grade book, but I think it could have filtered a bit less.
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March 15, 2020An AO selection...I believe for Y5?
I am stunned that George Washington Carver died as recently as 1943. Born a slave and went on to be one America’s most important scientists. An amazing life.
This biography was short and readable and a good introduction, but not terribly well-written or commendable otherwise.
I am stunned that George Washington Carver died as recently as 1943. Born a slave and went on to be one America’s most important scientists. An amazing life.
This biography was short and readable and a good introduction, but not terribly well-written or commendable otherwise.
May 19, 2020
I loved reading about this man’s life. It was written in first person, so it feels very personal. Easy reading, very suitable for 3rd grade and up. My only question is how did the author glean enough knowledge of Carver’s thought life to feel confident writing this biography in first person? That was the only nagging disappointment I had with this read.
July 3, 2020
Excellent book. Author traces how Carver overcame poverty through his work ethic and love for learning. He was humble and gave up the offer of riches and publicity to be faithful where he was. This was a great way to expose my kids to slavery in the South, and things like “Jim Crow law”. Mentions his faith in God and scripture many times.
July 13, 2020
A very, short easy read, this book was very interesting and I enjoyed it very much. I was familiar with his name but not really his life. Now I know a little bit more.
I have stack of books to assign to my children for personal reading this year. I’m reading through them this summer. This is one of them.
I have stack of books to assign to my children for personal reading this year. I’m reading through them this summer. This is one of them.
February 13, 2021
George Washington Carver was a man of God. He rose from slavery and didn't want handouts. He fought with dignity and respect for his work, education, and career. He wasn't slowed by people who were racist. He was confident and kind. When he made a lot of money he only kept what he needed and donated the rest.
May 18, 2024
Inspiring! While I was pretty familiar with Carver, I learned much more here, such as that he was mute as a child and later took his Tuskegee agricultural education program on the road to benefit more who could not attend the college in person. A great man of care, perseverance, and faith. I’m glad to see Tuskegee is still going strong as a university.
March 28, 2022
Y5 AO book. The story of Carver is wonderful. He’s an amazing man and much to be admired. I liked how the story had some of his own quotes peppered throughout the book but didn’t love the writing style. I felt like it was choppy. 4 stars for the story but 3 for the writing voice.
December 14, 2022
This book introduced me to George Washington Carver. I kept craving peanut butter while reading it. :D This man was an amazing scientist and devout christian. An amazing man to introduce your kids with through this book.
May 1, 2024
his life was very interesting and i'm glad to know more about him, but this wasn't the best-written book and the first person narrative is never my favorite. i'd like to read a biography about him targeted for adults
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews