Who Was Paul Revere?

by Roberta Edwards

Overview

In 1775, Paul Revere of Boston made his now-famous horseback ride warning colonists of an impending attack by the British. This event went largely unnoticed in history until Longfellow celebrated it in a poem in 1861. So who was Paul Revere? In addition to being an American patriot, he was a skilled silversmith and made false teeth from hippo tusks! This biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, brings to life Paul Revere's thrilling ride as well as the personal side of the man and the exciting times in which he lived.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101535592
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/01/2011
Series:	Penguin Who Was...Series
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
Lexile:	710L (what's this?)
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Roberta Edwards lives in New York, New York. Ken Call lives in Northbrook, Illinois.

Editorial Reviews

Paul Revere had a head for business, hands for silversmithing and other arts, and a heart for freedom from British rule. Readers of this lively, well-researched biography—part of the "Who Was...?" series—will learn as much about Revere the person as they will about the ride (and poem) that made him famous. Edwards traces Revere's life from childhood to his death and his lasting legacy. The introduction portrays Revere as a clever boy who believes in fairness. At age fifteen, he sets up a bell-ringing contract between himself and several friends, at the Old North Church—the site where, decades later, Revere crafts a plan to signal the British soldiers' approach. Edwards describes Revere's parents, childhood (including fascinating facts about schooling, spelling, and silversmithing), his service as a Colonial soldier, family, and livelihood. Revere's political involvement intensifies as the British tighten the reins on the colonies and on Boston in particular. Kid-friendly explanations of the Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and the approaching war make the times and its people come alive. Nearly every page has handsome black-and-white illustrations. Sidebars on topics ranging from the fur trade to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow appear throughout the book, adding to its appeal. Although Edwards' breezy style lends itself well to this biography, one chapter (on the British interception of Revere and his subsequent lackluster military service) has the unfortunate title of "Oops!" Back matter includes a timeline of Paul Revere's life, a concurrent world events timeline, and a bibliography with titles for both young and adult readers. Edwards effectively explains unfamiliar words as they occur in the text, so no glossary is needed; however, readers would benefit from the addition of an index. This authoritative and fun book is sure to catch young readers' interest. Reviewer: Paula K. Zeller

Children's Literature - Paula K. Zeller