Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Daniel Boone
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 7 to 10
Lerner, 2005 ISBN: 978-0822529415
The sixth child of a farming Quaker family living in Exeter, Pennsylvania, Daniel Boone could not be relied upon to sit still during meeting. Nor did he like the farming life; he much preferred exploring the woods on his own, learning the ways of the wild creatures and the Native Americans. He also became an excellent hunter and was soon not only providing meat for the table but was also able to trade the furs of the animals he caught.
In 1750, when Daniel was just fifteen, the family moved to North Carolina, where it was said there was good land. North Carolina was wilderness country at this time and the journey was a hard one. Daniel loved the experience and during this time he took his first “long hunt” with his friend Henry Miller. They were gone for many months and had the time of their lives. It was such a grand experience that Daniel was keen to repeat the performance.
Thus, after helping his family settle in to their new home in North Carolina, Daniel left North Carolina to join the army of the British general Edward Braddock. He wanted to do his part in the French and Indian War which was actually a war between the British and the French. During his service he heard stories about Kentucky, a land so full of game one “practically tripped over” the deer. Daniel was determined that one day he would go to this place.
Daniel finally got his chance to do this in 1769 when he and a small group of men set off to look for a good route that would get them to Kentucky. And, with Daniel to lead them they were able to do this by going through a narrow pass called the Cumberland Gap.
Daniel loved Kentucky so much that he decided that he would do everything that he could build a settlement there. Little did he know how costly the venture would be to him personally and how hard it would be to build.
This well written little book in the “History Maker Bios” series will provide young readers with an excellent introduction to the life and achievements of Daniel Boone. Many of the myths surrounding Daniel Boone will be laid to rest and children will discover that the real life Daniel was even more exciting than the one they thought they knew.
