The Patriots and the Pox by Beth Anderson illustrated by Ashley Yazdani**

 History contains so many layers of stories!

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington created strategies to combat two enemies-the British and the small pox outbreak. This picture book focuses on Washington's deliberations about inoculating the troops.

I loved the illustrations and creative layouts.

Pair with Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (middle grade novel).

**Highly, highly recommend. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson

 Elsbeth Culpepper and her father move to Boston from Philadelphia after her mother and siblings die from the smallpox. Mr. Culpepper is employed as a sailmaker. Elsbeth is a kitchen maid in a separate location. She longs to apprentice as a seamstress. When her employer,a Loyalist, flees Boston, Elsbeth finds new employment, where the head kitchen maid is cruel and nasty. With the backdrop of the Revolutionary War, readers experience this era and the smallpox inoculation first hand through Elsbeth's first-person account.

I enjoyed this riveting tale. Ms. Anderson researches extensively and knows how to develop credible characters and how to immerse the reader into the historical event. 

Warning: Elsbeth is a liar. Lying is her natural defense and solution. Her lies eventually get her into trouble. I still liked her as a character-her compassion, her perseverance, her cleverness are all admirable. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Saving the Liberty Bell by Megan McDonald illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington

 Ms. McDonald illuminates how the bell (eventually called the Liberty Bell) was hidden from British soldiers during the Revolutionary War. A farmer & his son haul it to Bethlehem, PA, where their wagon breaks down. Another farmer carries it to its final hiding destination-Allentown's Zion Reformed Church. I found the author's note interesting.

The bold illustrations and first person narration will make this story appeal even more to kids.

-Borrowed from the library.

When Paul Revere Rode by Sarah L. Thomson illustrated by Nik Henderson*

Voices from the First Night of the American Revolution

Ms. Thomson unveils various other people, several unnamed, who assist Paul Revere and his ride to warn the colonist that The Regulars (NOT the British, the colonist considered themselves British , so Paul Revere would not have used that word to describe them. The colonists called them The Regulars) were planning to attack. Before each poem, she introduces the person and their connection to the evening. She also indicates the  approximate time and date when this person's role occurred. Quotes from the person are included. After the main poetical text, she reveals even more information about each narrator.

I liked how Ms. Henderson illustrated in mostly in hues of blue and in a smudgy style to create a mood of night and not being able to see precisely.

A great book to read when studying this event in history.

A teacher could have their students take a point of time in history, research the individuals involved, and then create poems from their points of view to retell the event. It would be a hefty endeavor (& maybe not realistic?).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Independence Cake by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Giselle Potter

 Amelia Simmons was the first American to write an American cookbook, American Cookery published in 1796,  that utilized ingredients found in America.  She identified herself as "an American orphan".  Nothing else is known about her.

Ms. Hopkinson imagines what her life may have been like and what prompted her to write the cookbook.

-Borrowed from the library.

Our Nation's Beginnings (USA) text set

Many books have been published about the Revolutionary War and the USA's beginning government.  The following books my boys have read to themselves or I have read to them during our recent study:

1. Extraordinary Patriots of the United States of America (Colonial Times- Pre-Civil War) by Nancy Robinson Masters**Highly, highly recommend.
Brief biographies with fascinating facts.
Perfect for third graders through high school!
-Borrowed from the library (but if I see this book somewhere, I will buy it.)


2. We the People by Peter Spier
*Highly recommend.
Numerous illustrations depict the preamble of the constitution.  I liked how Mr. Spier contrasted activities and ways of life in the Colonial period with modern times.
-Borrowed from the library.


3. A More Perfect Union : The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy and Giulio Maestro
-We own this book.


4. The Story of the Constitution by Marilyn Prolman
-We own this book.


5. The U.S. Constitution by Norman Pearl illustrated by Matthew Skeens
A very basic overview-good for early elementary school.
-Borrowed from the library.


6. The Magic Tree House Research Guide-American Revolution by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce illustrated by Sal Murdocca
-We own this book.


7. If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore illustrated by Daniel O'Leary
-We own this book.


8. Gingerbread for Liberty by Mara Rockliff illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch
Love this book!  Ms. Rockliff is a local author.
Shares "How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution".  The text is sparse, but Ms. Rockliff includes many interesting facts in the author's note section.
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.


9. 12 Questions About the Bill of Rights by Tracey E. Dils
-Borrowed from the library.


10. The Bill of Rights in Translation: What It Really Means by Amie Jane Leavitt
-Borrowed from the library.


11. Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Lots of other great books by this author about our founding fathers and our country's beginnings.  My ten year old read at least four from that series in a short amount of time.
-Borrowed from the library.


12. Rush Revere series by Rush Limbaugh
-We own the first three.

The Crossing DVD

Starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington, this movie depicts Washington's struggle and turmoil as he decides what to do a few days before Christmas and the day after in 1776.  The battle featured in this movie was The Battle of Trenton. 
My sons and I watched this after a couple of weeks studying the Revolutionary War.  We were able to compare its content to what we have learned.  We were disappointed how the movie portrayed George Washington-swearing and at one time vulgar.  According to David Adler's book (Heroes of the Revolution), Washington had ordered "no profane cussing, swearing or drunkenness" and required his men to attend religious services and pray to God for His help.   I also know he was a man of manners.  It is sad the movie chose not to exhibit these wonderful qualities. 
Not rated.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warnings: violence (My ten year old had to hide his eyes.)-battle scenes/close fighting with bayonets, mentions a general going to bed with a woman near his post most every night, lots of swearing, George Washington makes a vulgar comment about Henry Knox's testicles.

Heroes of the Revolution by David A. Adler illustrated Donald A. Smith*

Twelve individuals who had a big impact on the Colonies' rebellion and fight against Britain are featured with a full page illustration and a couple paragraphs about their contributions and their "story". (Ethan Allen, Crispus Attucks, Lydia Darragh, Nathan Hale, Mary Hays-"Molly Pitcher", Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, Haym Salomon, Deborah Sampson, George Washington)
Very succinctly summarized with compelling facts.
-I own this book.
*Highly recommend.

Revolutionary Friends by Selene Castrovilla illustrated by Drazen Kozjan

This unique, sweet story shares how the noble Frenchman, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette is so moved by the colonists' determination to be free from the British rule that he sneaks out of France to join the American Revolution and to meet his hero, George Washington.  Americans know him as "Lafayette".  Lafayette proves to be an asset and soon becomes Washington's friend.  In fact, Washington calls him his "adopted son". 
I felt that this story ends very abruptly.  The author, however, continues this story of unique friendship on several pages in the back in an somewhat afterword.  Separate time lines for Lafayette and Washington are included in the back too. 
-Borrowed from the library.

History's Kid Heroes The Top-Secret Adventure of John Darragh, Revolutionary War Spy by Peter Roop and Connie Roop Adapted by Amanda Doering Tourville illustrated by Zachary Trover

The Quaker Darragh family, who resided in British-occupied Philadelphia, lived across the street from General Howe's British Headquarters.  Even though they were opposed to violence, they worked together as a family to spy on the British.  Since their oldest son Charles had enlisted in Washington's army, they justified their spying to keep Charles safe.  Mr. Darragh created a code.  Mrs. Darragh hid the messages in her son John's buttons.  John would then walk to Washington's camp to deliver the buttons/messages to Charles.
This book creates a story about what may have happened as John carried the messages to Washington's camp.
In the afterword the authors explain how Mrs. Darragh played a major role in preventing the British from attacking American forces.
Very interesting!
-Borrowed from the library.
*There seem to be a couple more book in this series  focusing on kids who helped in the Revolutionary War.

Ben's Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick illustrated by Wendell Minor

Twelve year old Benjamin Russell witnesses the dramatic events between the Patriots and British in Boston in 1773-1776.  Based on historical documents, Mr. Philbrick relates how American independence began through a boy's point of view.
The chapters are short, action-packed and interspersed with full page or two page illustrations. 
Benjamin Russell was an actual boy during this time period who grew up to become a leading newspaperman.  He even served as representative in Massachusetts state legislature!
-Borrowed from the library.

I Survived #15 The American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis*

Ms. Tarshis is one of my favorite authors simply because she writes books that will appeal to boys and also reluctant readers.
Nathaniel Fox is living with his Loyalist uncle.  When his uncle explodes in rage, Nathaniel flees to New York City and finds himself in the middle of the Revolutionary War. 
Ms. Tarshis focuses on the Battle of Brooklyn (the Battle of Long Island), the biggest the battle of the Revolutionary War but not well known.  She weaves the tone and the setting into the story well without overloading the reader with information.  Two of the illustrations depict what the different guns/weapons were used during the War and also what the soldiers looked like.  She concisely shares more interesting facts at the end.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warning:  Uncle is physically abusive; War violence-explicit

America's Tea Parties Not One But Four! by Marissa Moss*

Ms. Moss shares about the four different tea/tax protests in the Colonies in 1773.  Boston was joined by Philadelphia, Charleston and New York in refusing to allow the tea to come on land and to pay the tax.
Ms. Moss includes a lot of interesting historical insights and background surrounding the tea parties.
Engravings, paintings and copies of pamphlets from the time period add to the authenticity of the book.
Text features: maps, labels, picture captions, photographs/paintings, fact insert pages/boxes, time line, index.
Author's Note includes more in-depth facts about these events.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A relative of mine (Dr. Benjamin Rush), a Son of Liberty in Philadelphia, is mentioned in this book!

Magic Tree House #22 Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne illustrated by Sal Murdocca*

My kindergartner asked me to read this book aloud to him.
Jack and Annie travel back in time to the night when George Washington and his men cross the Delaware River to surprise attack the Hessians (Christmas Day).
The siblings meet George Washington.
*Highly recommend.
Perfect for reluctant readers and transitional readers.
We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: M (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.2

Mesmerized by Mara Rockliff illustrated by Iacopo Bruno**

"How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France"
Ben Franklin travels to France to convince them to offer financial support to the Colonies during the Revolutionary War.  Ben finds France. . .entranced. . .mesmerized by Dr. Mesmer.  Dr. Mesmer can make any ailing person feel better by waving his wand.
Ben utilizes the scientific method to test Dr. Mesmer and his "amazing" wand.
The perfect book to tie history and science together!
Lots of French words throughout the book (I would have liked a translation page for all of the French words.)
Readers learn about the scientific method, the placebo effect and the origin of the word "mesmerize".
In the back the author goes into more detail about Ben Franklin, Dr. Franz Mesmer, science and the state of the world during this time period.
Well researched but presented in an interesting, fun manner.
Love the end papers-optical illusions!
**Highly, highly recommend this book.
Pair with: Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman, The Case of the Missing Moonstone-The Wallstonecraft Detective Agency Book 1 by Jordan Stratford

Gingerbread for Liberty! by Mara Rockliff illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch*

"How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution"
Ms. Rockliff is a local author so my sons and I were able to meet her when she showcased this book.
Christopher Ludwick, a German-born baker, wants to fight in the American Revolution but his wife tells him he is too old and fat!  Her opinions do not prevent him from leaving and approaching George Washington.  He asks Mr. Ludwick to bake gingerbread for the troops!  To General Washington's surprise, Mr. Ludwick also agrees to talk to the Hessians at the British camp.  His gregarious personality has surprising results!
This book proves heroes come in all shapes and sizes and that all our gifts are important.
The illustrations resemble gingerbread cookies.  The end pages contain a simple gingerbread cookie recipe.
Ms. Rockliff also shares other interesting tidbits about Mr. Ludwick in her author's note.
**Highly, highly recommend.

Phoebe and the General by Judith Berry Griffin illustrated by Margot Tomes*

The year is 1776.  Colonist and the British are at odds.  Phoebe's father, a freed African American, runs an inn where Patriots gather.  Her father is good at listening and has learned that someone wants to take George Washington's life.  When George Washington and his family move close by the inn, Phoebe's father sends her to be one of the servants so she can find out who is intending to take the General's life.
A short book full of excitement and good character development.
I have seen this book titled, Phoebe the Spy but my library had the older copy with this title.
*Highly recommend.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale

What a creative way to share history with reluctant readers-comics!
Nathan Hale (the historical figure) shares his story and many interesting stories about the beginning stages of the Revolutionary War right before he is to be executed.  Ironically he shares these stories to his hangman and British officer!  Humor is mixed with real facts.
Liked the end pages with the map of North America in 1775.
As the reader reads this book, it would be beneficial if he/she keeps a list of the numerous characters introduced and discussed.
Points to discuss: a couple of swear words and Mr. Hale (author/illustrator) says they are a quote.??
For this reason I am not "highly recommending" the book.
Others in the series: Big Bad Ironclad (Civil War), Donner Dinner Party (Westward expansion), Treaties, Trenches, Mud and Blood (World War I-coming out May 13, 2014).