This is exactly what a good educational picture book should be: historically accurate, visually engaging, and written by someone who actually understands how to talk to kids without talking down to them.

Harness brings Adams to life as a real person—stubborn, passionate, argumentative, principled—rather than a marble statue in a textbook. The inclusion of Abigail's voice and perspective adds warmth and shows the partnership behind the politics. The illustrated maps and primary source quotes make it genuinely useful for school projects.

That said, let's be real: this isn't going to compete with a graphic novel or fantasy adventure for most kids' attention. It's a biography, and it reads like one. If your kid is already into history or needs it for school, this is a solid choice. If you're trying to spark interest in a reluctant reader, you might need to read it together or pair it with something more dramatic (the HBO miniseries, perhaps, when they're older).

The 4.6 Amazon rating and McCullough endorsement tell you it does what it promises. It's enriching, safe, and well-executed. Just don't expect it to fly off the shelf ahead of Dog Man.