A Big Cheese for the White HouseSynopsis: The town of Cheshire is known for their cheese. So when they hear that the White House will be serving their rival's product, they all contribute to make the largest cheese ever as a gift that will be talked about all over the country. They overcome the naysayers and the problems to triumph in this heartwarming true story.
Citation: Fleming, Candace. A Big Cheese for the White House: The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar. Illus. by Schindler, S. D. New York: DK Ink/Melanie Kroupa.
My thoughts: After reading this, I craved cheese. And more true stories. I loved this little known snippet of American history and love sharing it with new audiences. The faith of Elder John is inspiring.
Library usage: It would be so much fun to make cheese in the library based on this method. (and stinky) But perhaps a science/making butter or ice cream program instead?
Review:
Ages 4-8. It sounds like a tall tale, but it's true--well, almost. In 1801 the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts, made a cheese that weighed 1,235 pounds and stood four-feet high, which they delivered to President Jefferson in Washington as a New Year's Day gift. Fleming says in her historical note that the events are true but that some of the characters are not. One of her best fictional figures is the town grouser, doubting Phineas Dobbs, who is sure at every stage--whether it's collecting the milk, pressing the cheese, or transporting the gigantic offering by wagon and ship--that the task cannot be done: "I told you it couldn't be done." Schindler's lively period illustrations, in pen and watercolor with delicate cross-hatching, express the wry characterizations and triumphant larger-than-life action of the ordinary people, who take their place in the history books when they send their big cheese to Jefferson's table.
Ages 4-8. It sounds like a tall tale, but it's true--well, almost. In 1801 the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts, made a cheese that weighed 1,235 pounds and stood four-feet high, which they delivered to President Jefferson in Washington as a New Year's Day gift. Fleming says in her historical note that the events are true but that some of the characters are not. One of her best fictional figures is the town grouser, doubting Phineas Dobbs, who is sure at every stage--whether it's collecting the milk, pressing the cheese, or transporting the gigantic offering by wagon and ship--that the task cannot be done: "I told you it couldn't be done." Schindler's lively period illustrations, in pen and watercolor with delicate cross-hatching, express the wry characterizations and triumphant larger-than-life action of the ordinary people, who take their place in the history books when they send their big cheese to Jefferson's table.
Rochman, Hazel. "A Big Cheese for the White House: The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar." Booklist 1 Nov. 1999: 538. Literature Resource Center. Web.
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