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2024 Best STEM Book - National Science Teaching Association In January 1776, George Washington had a problem: the British army controlled the city of Boston. The colonial army needed to force the British to leave. But how? Washington had a solution: ask his engineer Rufus Putnam to solve the problem. They needed to take control of the high ground, Dorchester Heights, just south of Boston. They could place cannons there to bombard the British army. Cannons on Dorchester Heights meant the colonials needed to build walls to protect their soldiers. But January in Massachusetts was so cold that the ground was frozen. No one could dig foundations for walls. Inspired by a French book, Putnam designed a wall of wood, filled with bundles of sticks. Quartermaster Thomas Mifflin gathered wood, wagons, hay bales and much more from the surrounding countryside. On March 4, 1776, Boston lay under a light fog, while Dorchester Heights saw a full moon. That night, men brought in materials and built a defensive wall, and then brought in cannons. By morning the battle was won, without firing a shot. Putnam's plan had worked! After eight years of occupying Boston, the British sailed away on March 17, 1776. Courage and engineering ingenuity are celebrated in this intriguing story of the role of engineering in the Revolutionary War. Later in life, Rufus Putnam advocated for the establishment of the Corps of Engineers.

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9781629442204

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Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, two Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children's History Book award. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature. Her books have been translated into ten languages. Terry Kole illustrates children's books and puzzles from her studio on the shores of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. George Washington's Engineer is her sixth children's book. Her career started with a weekly cartoon strip and daily illustrator for the Detroit News. She illustrated college level books and created infographics for the Associated Press while in NYC, Paris and Amsterdam. In Vienna she taught cartooning to students at the American International School. She currently teaches art to ages 10-80 through various art centers in New England. Terry loves to see things grow: children, pets, plants, talent and bellies. She loves to feed people, and finds nothing quite as pleasurable as sitting around a table with family and friends having meaningful conversation while eating a good meal.

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