Brown continues his string of exemplary biographies for younger readers with this profile of the most charming, charismatic and intrepid first lady ever. Between shorter looks at Dolley Madison’s earlier and later life, he focuses on her leading role in Washington society and her courage during the War of 1812. After the soldiers who were supposed to guard the presidential mansion fled, she lingered to make sure that a life-sized Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington was removed before the occupying British could destroy it, and then disguised herself as a farm woman to get away. In the watercolor illustrations, her smiling good nature and exotic attire come through clearly in brighter days, and in darker, she radiates a sturdy presence even in plainer garb. Her altogether admirable tale makes a terrific lead-in to the likes of Robert Quackenbush’s James Madison and Dolley Madison and Their Times (1992). (author’s note, note on Stuart, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 7-9)
