I did not like this book. I didn't even finish reading it. The writing the author uses is dull - boring. All I thought was, if I can't get through this book, how will a child respond? The illustrations are alright. I found them to be very formal, especially for a young reader. I didn't find the book to be welcoming nor engaging. ( )

I gave this book a 3, because it bored me. I think his story was cool, and he had a pretty sad life, yet overcame all of it in the end, but the whole thing just wasn't very fun to read. I felt like I was reading a fact book about Simon. I think it was cool how all of the family and loved ones he lost during his life really fueled and motivated him to fight for his countries' independence. ( )

Bolivar was born and raised in Venezuela. Both his parents died when he was young. He was raised by his Uncle and a slave woman. He looked up to his childhood teacher Rodriguez, who inspired him to fight for Venezuela's independence. Bolivar fought all his life to gain his countries independence from Spain. He ended up getting all of South America's independence from Spain. I decided to read this book because there is a street in New Orleans named after him and I knew nothing about him. I really liked this book because it was a quick read, very interesting, and I learned a lot about Simon Bolivar. This short story was so informative that it made me realize that I could use this in place of a section in a textbook. If I were ever teaching my students about Simon Bolivar I would get this book out for them. I feel that textbooks can be so dull that students do not always take much away from them. This story was interesting and captivating and filled with amazing facts and history of Simon Bolivar. This short picture book made me want to get more books and read more about him. ( )

Simon Bolivar's life is detailed in this book, from his upbringings to how he fought to gain Venezuela's independence from Spain. Even though his parents were considered wealthy, they themselves could not enjoy all the freedoms that were afforded to white men and women because of their Creole descent. ( )

This book would work as a great companion to any young learner's History class. Simon Bolivar and his struggle for Venezuelan independence is analogous, and a great parallel to, the U.S. and its own war of independence. Also mentioned are the class divisions inherent in colonial South America at that time, including the slave class, and the progressive belief, still developing at that time around the world, that all people are created equal. ( )