Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

From Publishers Weekly Moving at a brisk gallop, Krensky's (The Moon Robber) narrative recounts the eventful night of April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere rode from Boston to Concord to warn that British troops were on their way to seize the rebels' military supplies. The author's accessible account incorporates background information, elucidating the events leading up to Revere's escapade as well as its aftermath ideal for pairing with Longfellow's The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Harlin's (Mississippi) painstakingly detailed watercolors evoke period artwork, successfully capturing the aura of colonial streets and the primness of British uniforms as well as the sense of movement and urgency in the hero's ride and the royal army's river crossing. Set against deep blue, teal or white backgrounds, the paintings balance closely focused portraits with animated panoramas and vividly re-create the drama of this historical episode. Visual highlights include Revere's boat passing next to a British warship under cover of darkness and the Minutemen and British troops exchanging gunfire from opposite ends of Concord's North Bridge. A memorable re-creation of a momentous mission. All ages. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 2-4-Krensky uses short descriptive sentences to bring to life the famous incident. He details the movements of the British regulars in their march toward Concord to seize the colonists' military supplies, Revere's famous ride, and his capture (and release) by British troops. Several paragraphs of background information mention the issues that led to fighting and offer a brief overview of the Revolutionary War. Harlin's soft, realistic paintings display his dexterity with watercolor and his deft use of perspective. Double-page panoramas capture the span of a British warship, a line of red-coated soldiers, and Revere being chased on horseback at dusk by British soldiers. A map showing the area from Boston to Concord indicates Revere's route. Missing are source notes and/or a bibliography. Despite the picture-book format and brief text, this slice of history is not easy to understand without some background information about the period. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (Handprint, 2001), illustrated by Christopher Bing, includes notes, letters written by General Gage and Paul Revere, detailed maps of the British march to Concord and Revere's ride, a bibliography, and a full page of acknowledgments. An edition of Longfellow's poem illustrated by Jeffrey Thompson (National Geographic, 2000) also includes background notes. Add Krensky's book to collections needing additional materials or as a companion to Longfellow's poem.