Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805 (Dover Books on Americana)

Large reprint of original.Not exactly same format but still nice.

Like the previous reviewer, this book was not what I was expecting. Thinking that most teenage boys hundreds of years ago are just like teenage boys today, I was very surprised to find a published diary of a kid who was willing to write down his thoughts on life. With many entries consisting entirely of one or two words like "Plowed today." and "Do." (ditto), this book does little to offer the reader insight into the thoughts of this boy. The diary portion of the book is disappointing, and is used as a jumping off point for the author to explain in words and pictures about the technology of the early 19th century. The explanations are fascinating, the technology amazing. Anyone who has ever thought about how the pyramids could have been built by thousands of slaves should take a gander at how a covered bridge (that could hold the weight of oxen and a cart and it's load and driver) was constructed by a few neighborhood farmers. The illustrations are the backbone of this book and they are excellent. I wish the author would strike a deal with the publishers of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series to draw and explain the machinery described in those books. I would recommend this book as a gift for anyone, kid or adult, who is interested in architecture or engineering, or who loves history.

This book is an easy and quick read that anyone should be able to complete in an evening. It is educational and interesting, and contains information about how pioneers completed tasks which we now take for granted. It is a testament to American ingenuity and hard work.

I checked out this book from the library when I was a kid (in the early 60s) and have been looking for it ever since. It's even better now, since I have some perspective about things in general. The actual diary is sweet, even if it describes everyday life in 1805 in a very terse way. It's a diary, after all, and I doubt Noah ever thought anyone was going to publish it so many years later. What Eric Sloan has done with the illustrations is wonderful. His drawings and comments round out the diary, giving the reader an honest picture of life in those times, what a homestead such as Noah's would have looked like, and how things were made. The detail, from making a rocking chair to building a covered bridge, probably provides knowledge adequate to replicate those things today.

I have most of Eric Sloane’s books. I started to not order this one. I thought it would be more for children. I think this is his best book. I love americana history. His running commentary on the diary entries is very interesting and entertaining. The developing love story in the diary entries is heartwarming. I recommend this book for those who are interested in the everyday history of the people who founded this country. It’s a nice escape from modernity.

Just finished reading the short book. With most schools closed with fear of the COVID virus, I am going to give it to my 5th grade grandson to read as a history lesson while school is out. It's an easy read with great drawing created by Eric Sloane to the original manuscript by Noah Blake.

Diary of an Early American Boy is a very informative book. It is listed for use with Sonlight Curriculum's 4th Grade Science program. My 4th grader had trouble tolerating it. (Each child is different.) For my next child, I waited and will do this "4th Grade Science" program with him in his 5th grade year. I think it will be a good fit. The book is best read aloud to this age level (10-11 years old), and in small increments. It is rich with content, and the illustrations are excellent. It is a sit together and savor the pictures kind of book, not a book to rush through. It is a go outside together and try to recreate the described invention kind of book. It is not to be rushed through, that would gain you little. Buy, savor, but if you are in a hurry, don't bother. I don't think most kids will pick this book up on their own without prompting. The excellent illustrations are, nevertheless, black and white (or brown and white), and many children aren't drawn to these less stunning types of art. Hope that helps!

This is a classic, with amazing illustrations of the tools and buildings of the past. It's especially inspiring for young folks who are interested in how things work and how to make them. And of course, it's based on a young boy's diary. We use it in our project-based alternative education program, to help bring history alive. Several of my colleagues, however, remember it as a special book from their youth.

All of Eric Sloane's books are beautiful, and this one follows a young American farmer at the start of the 19th century. It's a well formatted book with a dose of living history, americana and practical farming knowledge. I flick through it regularly