Glenda Armand

Augustus Jackson (1808-1852) left his family in Philadelphia when he was twelve and went to Washington, D.C., where he worked in the White House kitchens and learned to make, and improve on, ice cream - at the time, a treat only for the wealthy and privileged. (His version was made without egg.) He left the White House and returned to Philly, where he opened an ice cream parlor, and invented the practice of adding rock salt to the ice used to make ice cream, speeding up the process. He never patented his creations, but is known as the "man who invented ice cream." Musical ditties to encourage ice cream sales are included throughout the story.

The digital paintings aren't my favorite, but I liked the story!

Recipe for "make your own ice cream," afterword, sources.… (mer)

Well I get to be the first to review this book on LT, Yay! Found myself with my littlest one in a library and while she was playing I got in some reading on celebrations and found this gem of a book about the Juneteenth celebration. Written from the perspective of a 5rd generation grand daughter whole relates how their family go back to visit with her grandmother every Juneteenth to join in the celebrations of the festival in Galveston. The highlight of which is the tale told by her grandma about her grandmas experience as a slave on the day before freedom came to them in Texas a whole two years after the emancipation proclamation was signed by Lincoln in Washington. The story covers the anticipation that was felt, the emotions of the slaves at the time, followed by the big event the following day when they were freed from slaver and became worker who were paid for their labors. The illustration are beautifully done and lend themselves well to the emotions felt by the slaves and then the unbridled joy and exuberance of finally being free at last like a bird that soars in the sky.… (mer)

Augustus Jackson was born in 1808 in Philadelphia. While most African Americans were enslaved at that time, in Pennsylvania, slavery was against the law. But while Augustus and his family were free, they were poor, and they depended on their garden and their chickens for food. Augustus enjoyed helping his mom prepare meals for their family. He dreamed of becoming a professional cook, and when his mom suggested he may be able to make meals for the president one day, Augustus didn’t waste any time in making that dream a reality. In 1820, when he was only twelve years old, he set off for Washington, DC. He applied to work in the White House, where the head cook offered him a job as a kitchen helper. After five years of working hard, Augustus, or Gus, was promoted to cook. He went on to serve presidents James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson. During his time at the White House, Augustus became an expert at making a popular egg-based dessert. He soon made an eggless version—known to us today as ice cream—and left the White House determined to make and sell the frozen treat to everyone, not just the wealthy.… (mer)