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Mr. Revere and I: Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse
Paul Revere didn't make his famous midnight ride alone. Meet a patriot unlike any Scheherazade, the mare who doesn't mind mentioning she was once the fastest and most admired horse in the King's army. But on arrival in America, "Sherry" is quickly let down by her British rider and recruited by Sam Adams to join the Sons of Liberty. Before long, she finds herself teamed with Raul Revere to play a key-if unnoticed-role in the American Revolution. Full of wit and wisdom, this beloved classic presents an unforgettable view to the birth of a nation-straight from the horse's mouth!
Explore this historical time period even further in this new edition of award-winning author Robert Lawson's classic tale, with additional bonus material, including a map of Paul Revere's ride!
Explore this historical time period even further in this new edition of award-winning author Robert Lawson's classic tale, with additional bonus material, including a map of Paul Revere's ride!
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
30 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lawson
121 books78 followersBorn in New York City, Lawson spent his early life in Montclair, New Jersey. Following high school, he studied art for three years under illustrator Howard Giles (an advocate of dynamic symmetry as conceived by Jay Hambidge) at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (now Parsons School of Design), marrying fellow artist and illustrator Marie Abrams in 1922. His career as an illustrator began in 1914, when his illustration for a poem about the invasion of Belgium was published in Harper's Weekly. He went on to publish in other magazines, including the Ladies Home Journal, Everybody's Magazine, Century Magazine, Vogue, and Designer.
During World War I, Lawson was a member of the first U.S. Army camouflage unit (called the American Camouflage Corps), in connection with which he served in France with other artists, such as Barry Faulkner, Sherry Edmundson Fry, William Twigg-Smith and Kerr Eby. In his autobiography, Faulkner recalls that Lawson had a remarkable "sense of fantasy and humor", which made him especially valuable when the camoufleurs put on musical shows for the children of the French women who worked with them on camouflage
After the war, Lawson resumed his work as an artist, and in 1922, illustrated his first children's book, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat. Subsequently he illustrated dozens of children's books by other authors, including such well-known titles as The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (which later became an animated film by the Walt Disney Studios) and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. In total, he illustrated as many as forty books by other authors, and another seventeen books that he himself was author of, including Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos and Rabbit Hill. His work was widely admired, and he became the first, and so far only, person to be given both the Caldecott Medal (They Were Strong and Good, 1941) and the Newbery Medal (Rabbit Hill, 1945). Ben and Me earned a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1961.
Lawson was a witty and inventive author, and his children's fiction is no less engaging for grown-ups. One of his inventive themes was the idea of a person's life as seen through the eyes of a companion animal, an approach that he first realized in Ben and Me. Some of his later books employed the same device (which was compatible with his style of illustration) to other figures, such as Christopher Columbus (I Discover Columbus) and Paul Revere (Mr. Revere and I). Captain Kidd's Cat, which he both wrote and illustrated, is narrated by the feline in the title, named McDermot, who tells the story of the famous pirate's ill-starred voyage, in the process of which he is shown to have been a brave, upright, honest, hen-pecked man betrayed by his friends and calumniated by posterity. His artistic witticism and creativity can be seen in The Story of Ferdinand the Bull, where he illustrates a cork tree as a tree that bears corks as fruits, ready to be picked and placed into bottles.
In the early 1930s, Lawson became interested in etching. One of the resulting prints was awarded the John Taylor Arms Prize by the Society of American Etchers.
Lawson died in 1957 at his home in Westport, Connecticut, in a house that he referred to as Rabbit Hill, since it had been the setting for his book of the same name. He was 64. He is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. An annual conference is held in his honor in Westport.
The Robert Lawson Papers are in the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections.
During World War I, Lawson was a member of the first U.S. Army camouflage unit (called the American Camouflage Corps), in connection with which he served in France with other artists, such as Barry Faulkner, Sherry Edmundson Fry, William Twigg-Smith and Kerr Eby. In his autobiography, Faulkner recalls that Lawson had a remarkable "sense of fantasy and humor", which made him especially valuable when the camoufleurs put on musical shows for the children of the French women who worked with them on camouflage
After the war, Lawson resumed his work as an artist, and in 1922, illustrated his first children's book, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat. Subsequently he illustrated dozens of children's books by other authors, including such well-known titles as The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (which later became an animated film by the Walt Disney Studios) and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. In total, he illustrated as many as forty books by other authors, and another seventeen books that he himself was author of, including Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos and Rabbit Hill. His work was widely admired, and he became the first, and so far only, person to be given both the Caldecott Medal (They Were Strong and Good, 1941) and the Newbery Medal (Rabbit Hill, 1945). Ben and Me earned a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1961.
Lawson was a witty and inventive author, and his children's fiction is no less engaging for grown-ups. One of his inventive themes was the idea of a person's life as seen through the eyes of a companion animal, an approach that he first realized in Ben and Me. Some of his later books employed the same device (which was compatible with his style of illustration) to other figures, such as Christopher Columbus (I Discover Columbus) and Paul Revere (Mr. Revere and I). Captain Kidd's Cat, which he both wrote and illustrated, is narrated by the feline in the title, named McDermot, who tells the story of the famous pirate's ill-starred voyage, in the process of which he is shown to have been a brave, upright, honest, hen-pecked man betrayed by his friends and calumniated by posterity. His artistic witticism and creativity can be seen in The Story of Ferdinand the Bull, where he illustrates a cork tree as a tree that bears corks as fruits, ready to be picked and placed into bottles.
In the early 1930s, Lawson became interested in etching. One of the resulting prints was awarded the John Taylor Arms Prize by the Society of American Etchers.
Lawson died in 1957 at his home in Westport, Connecticut, in a house that he referred to as Rabbit Hill, since it had been the setting for his book of the same name. He was 64. He is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. An annual conference is held in his honor in Westport.
The Robert Lawson Papers are in the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
May 6, 2020
This is the story of Paul Revere's famous ride through the night warning the Minuet Men that the British are Coming. It's told from his horse. The horse starts out a proud war horse from the British army and after a poker game and chance he ends up living with the Revere's. We see the horse and Paul riding all over the country.
It was an entertaining read and a nice idea to tell his story. The horse is a little too anthropomorphized too much and too human thinking. It's fun to see the horse learn to be proud to be part of the Colonials.
It's written for 8-12 year old readers and so it is black and white about what's good and bad. Still, it's easy to love the horse.
This was a nice read.
It was an entertaining read and a nice idea to tell his story. The horse is a little too anthropomorphized too much and too human thinking. It's fun to see the horse learn to be proud to be part of the Colonials.
It's written for 8-12 year old readers and so it is black and white about what's good and bad. Still, it's easy to love the horse.
This was a nice read.
August 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this one; it's so clever! It's written from the horse's point of view, and boy, can this horse tell a story. If you're looking for a fun, patriotic read, try this one. The kids will like the story and you will appreciate the humor. (The vocabulary within might be a bit difficult for early readers.)
We just visited Boston and saw several historical sites mentioned in the book: watch my reel!
Ages: 8 - 12
Reading Level: 3 - 7
Content Considerations:
Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 15 Incidents: blasted, hang, dratted, stupid, stupidly, damme, stupidity, idiotic
Name Calling - 21 Incidents: Louts, Stupid rustic bumpkins, Lobster-backs, calm-eating yahoos, Rascal, Bumpkin, Clodhopper, Popinjay, Stupid yokels, Hotheads, Puffed-up old fuss-budget, Braggart, Rascally clodhopper
Scatological Terms - 3 Incidents: bl**dy (used as Bl**dy-backs, or to describe war
Religious Profanities - 4 Incidents: egad, gad
Religious & Supernatural - 1 Incident: John Hancock decides not to flee when Revere tells him the army is coming. A lady says "The Almighty will watch over them." To this, Revere thinks "The Almighty will watch over them! The Almighty and eight Militia boys!"
Romance Related - 2 Incidents: A man is "paying court" (courting) a young lady. Breast is mentioned - non sexual.
Conversation Topics - 17 Incidents: Rum was given three times a day. Playing cards at the Liberty Belle (a pub) is mentioned. Wine is mentioned. Playing cards and dice at the taverns are mentioned.
Horse racing and wagers is mentioned. Mentions wagers (betting). Mentions losses at cards - "which, of course, was usual and proper for a young Officer..." Mentions gambling tables and tobacco smoke. A man has his tongue burned off for using profanity on a Sunday. The thought of having his old regiment see how far he's fallen (pride), the horse says he'd rather drown himself in the Harbor. The horse attempts suicide by drowning but is stopped. Mentions a man being a prominent Mason. A man is given a pipe and tobacco. Cursing: a man is whipped so says,"may his soul burn to black ashes." A man says people got him drunk. "Officers all drunk, or playing cards."
Smell of beer.
Parent Takeaway
The British are more often than not portrayed as drunks and gamblers while the Patriots are portrayed as upstanding men, busy working towards a cause. A clever telling of Paul Revere's ride.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
We just visited Boston and saw several historical sites mentioned in the book: watch my reel!
Ages: 8 - 12
Reading Level: 3 - 7
Content Considerations:
Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 15 Incidents: blasted, hang, dratted, stupid, stupidly, damme, stupidity, idiotic
Name Calling - 21 Incidents: Louts, Stupid rustic bumpkins, Lobster-backs, calm-eating yahoos, Rascal, Bumpkin, Clodhopper, Popinjay, Stupid yokels, Hotheads, Puffed-up old fuss-budget, Braggart, Rascally clodhopper
Scatological Terms - 3 Incidents: bl**dy (used as Bl**dy-backs, or to describe war
Religious Profanities - 4 Incidents: egad, gad
Religious & Supernatural - 1 Incident: John Hancock decides not to flee when Revere tells him the army is coming. A lady says "The Almighty will watch over them." To this, Revere thinks "The Almighty will watch over them! The Almighty and eight Militia boys!"
Romance Related - 2 Incidents: A man is "paying court" (courting) a young lady. Breast is mentioned - non sexual.
Conversation Topics - 17 Incidents: Rum was given three times a day. Playing cards at the Liberty Belle (a pub) is mentioned. Wine is mentioned. Playing cards and dice at the taverns are mentioned.
Horse racing and wagers is mentioned. Mentions wagers (betting). Mentions losses at cards - "which, of course, was usual and proper for a young Officer..." Mentions gambling tables and tobacco smoke. A man has his tongue burned off for using profanity on a Sunday. The thought of having his old regiment see how far he's fallen (pride), the horse says he'd rather drown himself in the Harbor. The horse attempts suicide by drowning but is stopped. Mentions a man being a prominent Mason. A man is given a pipe and tobacco. Cursing: a man is whipped so says,"may his soul burn to black ashes." A man says people got him drunk. "Officers all drunk, or playing cards."
Smell of beer.
Parent Takeaway
The British are more often than not portrayed as drunks and gamblers while the Patriots are portrayed as upstanding men, busy working towards a cause. A clever telling of Paul Revere's ride.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
January 1, 2017
This is the story of the American Revolution, told from the perspective of a British horse who ends up carrying Paul Revere on a number of significant rides. It's hilariously, stiltedly formal - the voice is wonderfully done - and in a way it mirrors the journey a lot of people with instinctive loyalty to England must have underwent, too: going from determinedly loyal to infuriated by the very details they once admired so much.
July 6, 2009
Fun, often humorous, and delightfully written book about Paul Revere's ride, illustrated with beautiful drawings! I don't know how much is fact and how much fiction, but it got me interested enough to try and find out.
November 8, 2012
This story definitely has a unique perspective. It's taken from the point of view of a horse that was formerly a member of the British Cavalry. The horse is a total loyalist at the beginning, but slowly learns what a life of freedom truly means. She's made aware of things about the British military that make her think perhaps things aren't as good as it seems, such as being lost from the military on a bet to the owner of the glue factory and having to pull cart duty until she's worn thin. She's "liberated" by the famous Sam Adams and given to Paul Revere where their work begins.
At times I found the view of famous characters from history quite comical. The facts are kept pretty straight and the missing details only added to the realistic nature of the whole telling. A horse couldn't possibly be exposed to everything from a firsthand point of view, especially things that a horse couldn't be present for. The view of family life through the kitchen window offered a good connection to events going on in Boston at the time as well as a snapshot of family life in colonial Boston. Best of all, the facts of the midnight ride were kept pretty straight, leaving everyone exactly where they were in the chain of events, Paul Revere having not made it on to Concord.
While the beginning of the story was pretty dry and kind of hard to get into, I think it really lent itself well to the transformation between stuffy, British officer's horse believing she was pampered to an abused workhorse to a truly pampered messenger's horse with a true family. It was a wonderful read and I think my children can enjoy this book over and over again.
At times I found the view of famous characters from history quite comical. The facts are kept pretty straight and the missing details only added to the realistic nature of the whole telling. A horse couldn't possibly be exposed to everything from a firsthand point of view, especially things that a horse couldn't be present for. The view of family life through the kitchen window offered a good connection to events going on in Boston at the time as well as a snapshot of family life in colonial Boston. Best of all, the facts of the midnight ride were kept pretty straight, leaving everyone exactly where they were in the chain of events, Paul Revere having not made it on to Concord.
While the beginning of the story was pretty dry and kind of hard to get into, I think it really lent itself well to the transformation between stuffy, British officer's horse believing she was pampered to an abused workhorse to a truly pampered messenger's horse with a true family. It was a wonderful read and I think my children can enjoy this book over and over again.
March 30, 2013
AMERICAN HISTORY--STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH!
I was surprised that this book read so quickly; it's the story of the horse that Paul Revere rode as the American Revolution was gathering momentum--culminating his famous Midnight Ride. Narrated in the first person by a purebred English horse named Scheherazade, this book recounts her philosophical coming-of-age; she gradually changes from a conceited military parade horse from the Mother Country, into a fast-thinking patriotic mare of the Colonies. She finally decides to "cast in my lot with the champions of Liberty and Freedom."
The first few chapters are full of Lawson's delightful humor while the entire book showcases his pen and ink sketches. One chapter, wherein we experience the danger of his Midnight Ride, is as long as three of his normal chapters. But then, so much action was packed into one 24-hour period--culminating in the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
We learn much about the personal life and skills of Paul Revere--not noted for his horsemanship, but rather for his work as a silversmith and for being a good family man. He sacrificed much of his home life and basic physical comforts to help the Sons of Liberty; he acted as courier to other colonies on many vital political missions before he responded to the signal from Old North Church. This book presents an easy and enjoyable introduction to American studies; it should make elementary children want to learn more about our first steps into Nationhood.
(May 25, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
I was surprised that this book read so quickly; it's the story of the horse that Paul Revere rode as the American Revolution was gathering momentum--culminating his famous Midnight Ride. Narrated in the first person by a purebred English horse named Scheherazade, this book recounts her philosophical coming-of-age; she gradually changes from a conceited military parade horse from the Mother Country, into a fast-thinking patriotic mare of the Colonies. She finally decides to "cast in my lot with the champions of Liberty and Freedom."
The first few chapters are full of Lawson's delightful humor while the entire book showcases his pen and ink sketches. One chapter, wherein we experience the danger of his Midnight Ride, is as long as three of his normal chapters. But then, so much action was packed into one 24-hour period--culminating in the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
We learn much about the personal life and skills of Paul Revere--not noted for his horsemanship, but rather for his work as a silversmith and for being a good family man. He sacrificed much of his home life and basic physical comforts to help the Sons of Liberty; he acted as courier to other colonies on many vital political missions before he responded to the signal from Old North Church. This book presents an easy and enjoyable introduction to American studies; it should make elementary children want to learn more about our first steps into Nationhood.
(May 25, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
September 18, 2023
3.5 rounded up! Fun story about the revolution and paul revere through the POV of his horse - sherry. We all enjoyed it as a read aloud but it definitely has some older turn of phrases and some very long sentences that were a mouthful for me 😂 overall though, rich language & good story.
October 20, 2021
We not only thoroughly enjoyed the story and illustrations but this one is a bit richer with real history than Ben and Me.
Read
May 10, 2009It all started with the imbecile, practically sacriligeous, determination of these stubborn Colonists to defy the sacred authority of our Royal and Sovereign Majesty King George III.- Scheherazade, on her early career as a horse in His Majesty's armed forcesLawson wrote at least four books in this vein: a famous figure in American history as seen by a close animal companion (ranging from a mouse acting as advisor to a ship's cat). This is the only one of the four in which the narrator would seem at first glance to be based on something that definitely existed, since Revere in his role as a courier obviously *did* have at least one horse.Lawson, however, isn't attempting to be meticulously accurate; he's concerned with writing an entertaining story that will bring the human historical figure to life, aimed mostly at young readers. So what we have here is historical fiction in which the broad historical details are reasonably correct, including the characters of the leading figures of the Sons of Liberty, but most of the Loyalists are caricatures - the most notable exception being the storyteller, commonly known as "Sherry".Sherry tells the story as a retrospective in her near-retirement years after her involvement in Revere's pre-War courier work have ended, starting with her early career as the personal mount of an officer in His Majesty's 14th Regiment of Foot. She's careful to retell events as she saw them at the time, underscoring the laughable arrogance of her former associates - at least, of the officers and so-called gentlemen. The "most thrilling moment of [her] entire military career" was the Regiment's last Royal review before being dispatched to Boston - through which her rider and his immediate superior slept on horseback. Lawson's portrait of Sherry's former owner Lt. Barnstable could serve as a poster about the evils of inbreeding among the gentry - and that's just Lawson's illustration. At the time, though, Sherry was deeply devoted to him just because he was her master.The first two years of the Regiment's posting to Boston are skimmed over very quickly, mostly serving to illustrate how unsanitary long-distance ocean transport could be, the drawbacks of conscripting convicts for jobs they're neither trained nor motivated to perform well, and the high-handed behaviour of the regulars toward the people of Boston (and the cold shoulders they got in return). Unfortunately for Sherry, Barnstable opts to kill time by gambling, and has to sell her to a local factory owner to settle some of his debts.Thus begins Sherry's long path of disillusionment with her old loyalties, when her devotion to her former master is repaid with life as an ill-treated carthorse, and her former best friend rejects her with "I never speak to civilians". Life is very bleak, until the day she wrecks her cart trying to avoid being seen by her former associates - and comes to the attention of Sam Adams, who arranges for her to be 'appropriated' and turned over to Paul Revere for his courier work. And as Sherry becomes acquainted with the revolutionaries' point of view - and even that of the rank-and-file regulars, mostly homesick conscripts - she herself begins to change.Revere's personal tragedies in the year in which Sherry comes to live with his family are omitted, but Lawson goes to some trouble to humanize him, emphasizing his family life - particularly along the lines of implying that he couldn't afford a horse of his own, and had never ridden a horse before Sherry was given to him.A fun story, and while it can't be taken as historical gospel, it might inspire the reader to learn more about the people involved. For that, I recommend PAUL REVERE'S RIDE by David Hackett Fischer.
April 20, 2021
A delightful read aloud from the perspective of his horse. Had my animal and history loving boy heavily invested the whole time!
January 19, 2023
A British horse comes to the colonies and winds up taking Paul Revere on his historic ride. I don't know if kids today will even understand the humor here.
September 5, 2017
Fun and silly story of Paul Revere from his horse's point of view. When I was a kid I loved the Disney short "Ben and Me," which was based on a similar story by Lawson, so this was kind of a letdown.
This kind of thing can be done well (the gold standard, in my opinion, is Richard Adams's Traveller, which takes this gimmicky concept and imbues it with real drama and pathos), but Mr. Revere and I's characterization is thin and, for the historical figures, grossly inaccurate; the history bad; and the story a series of very loosely connected episodes. Lawson also indulges in every American Revolution stereotype in the book--the British are all stuffy aristocrats with bad teeth who have been inbred to the point of idiocy, and the Americans are all strapping, freedom-loving Lockeans who have discovered the ancient secret of how to aim a musket, which enables them to mow down the mindless lobsterbacks willy-nilly. The main draw here is Lawson's intricate illustrations, which are a wonder to behold.
In short: beautifully illustrated and amusing Revolution-flavored nonsense. Worth the read if you're looking for something fun and fluffy.
This kind of thing can be done well (the gold standard, in my opinion, is Richard Adams's Traveller, which takes this gimmicky concept and imbues it with real drama and pathos), but Mr. Revere and I's characterization is thin and, for the historical figures, grossly inaccurate; the history bad; and the story a series of very loosely connected episodes. Lawson also indulges in every American Revolution stereotype in the book--the British are all stuffy aristocrats with bad teeth who have been inbred to the point of idiocy, and the Americans are all strapping, freedom-loving Lockeans who have discovered the ancient secret of how to aim a musket, which enables them to mow down the mindless lobsterbacks willy-nilly. The main draw here is Lawson's intricate illustrations, which are a wonder to behold.
In short: beautifully illustrated and amusing Revolution-flavored nonsense. Worth the read if you're looking for something fun and fluffy.
May 12, 2013
5/13/13 ** I didn't find much not to like. I think that the book does leave some space for discussions about who is NOT represented (women, non-white men), but the copyright is 1953! The vocab is sophisticated, but nothing that I don't see in high fantasy or other historical fiction. After reading the full book, I think that I definitely need to order multiple copies for read-aloud next year. This book would be a fabulous exemplar text for examining how a character changes throughout a novel.
5/11/13 ** I recently read King George: What Was His Problem? by Steve Sheinkin recently and this whet my interest in the Revolutionary War. I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school - several times, and decided to re-read. Interestingly, I know that I have owned a copy as an adult, but can't find it anywhere. So, I'm reading a library copy.
This would be an excellent book to use when teaching perspective or point of view. The horse is so clearly in favor of the British, and the first few chapters could easily stand alone.
5/11/13 ** I recently read King George: What Was His Problem? by Steve Sheinkin recently and this whet my interest in the Revolutionary War. I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school - several times, and decided to re-read. Interestingly, I know that I have owned a copy as an adult, but can't find it anywhere. So, I'm reading a library copy.
This would be an excellent book to use when teaching perspective or point of view. The horse is so clearly in favor of the British, and the first few chapters could easily stand alone.
August 15, 2013
While I found this interesting, I am unsure how many children would read it. It seemed to start off slowly, and the language was old fashioned. (There's nothing wrong with old fashioned language, but I think in this case it may be a deterrent to some readers.) Ultimately, I came to really like Sheherazade (Revere's horse) and it was an interesting perspective on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. I listened to this on CD, and perhaps that contributed to my feeling that children may not like it. I started off listening to it with my children and they quickly became bored. So I finished it on my own. But I used to teach 5th grade, and I think that few children would pick this up on their own for pleasure reading.
October 14, 2016
My summer reading adventures took place at the Raytown branch of the Mid-Continent Library serving the suburban KC metro area. There were no prizes, programs or smiling librarians. It was simple. Read 60 books and you get a free book. SIXTY! After I blasted through a lot of picture books and my annual read of The Diary of Trilby Frost I got to sixty and was dismayed when there were only two books left. Both looked super gross. I took Mr. Revere and I because at least there was a horse on the cover.
I read this book so many times that even a re-read decades later I knew the drawings and story by heart. Isn't nostalgia the best?
I read this book so many times that even a re-read decades later I knew the drawings and story by heart. Isn't nostalgia the best?
March 2, 2019
Although the story is told through the perspective of a horse, making it more about what was going on with her, it was a different look at the coming of war. In books about war the story is usually just rewritten with the same facts. Being told from a different type of character, other than human, causes the reader to see things often unnoticed.
We all, I read aloud to my 13 & 11 year olds, found it fun and informative!
We all, I read aloud to my 13 & 11 year olds, found it fun and informative!
January 27, 2018
Mr. Revere and I A Junior book
Very interesting and fun book about the American Revolution. This story is narrated by Paul Revere's horse Sherry. Sherry starts out as a very dedicated British cavalry horse and gradually changed into a fierce patriot horse ready to die at any time to carry the famous warning.
Chris S.
Very interesting and fun book about the American Revolution. This story is narrated by Paul Revere's horse Sherry. Sherry starts out as a very dedicated British cavalry horse and gradually changed into a fierce patriot horse ready to die at any time to carry the famous warning.
Chris S.
August 23, 2020
I love this book. I love the fact that Lawson used a mare.
A great retelling of Revere's ride from the viewpoint of his horse.
A great retelling of Revere's ride from the viewpoint of his horse.
January 9, 2020
a stunning retelling of the story of Paul Revere,this book offers an amazing historical fiction,if you have not tried out Robert Lawson's other book Ben And Me you should it is hilarious.
March 3, 2021
Before we get into this review allow me to say this: I LOVE THIS BOOK SO STINKING MUCH AND WILL BE RE-READING IT OFTEN.
There now that we have that I shall tell you why.
1: It tells history in a humorous and fascinatingly interesting way!!! In short, it hooks you!!!
2: THE WRITING IS SO FANTASTIC and the CHARACTERS!!! Oh my goodness the characters are just the BEST!!!
3: SHERRY. SHERRY IS AMAZING AND SO AWESOMEEEEEEE.
4: Just everything!!!!!!!!!
5: Oh yes It's clean!!!!!!
There is that enough reasonings? It ought to be!!!
There now that we have that I shall tell you why.
1: It tells history in a humorous and fascinatingly interesting way!!! In short, it hooks you!!!
2: THE WRITING IS SO FANTASTIC and the CHARACTERS!!! Oh my goodness the characters are just the BEST!!!
3: SHERRY. SHERRY IS AMAZING AND SO AWESOMEEEEEEE.
4: Just everything!!!!!!!!!
5: Oh yes It's clean!!!!!!
There is that enough reasonings? It ought to be!!!
May 16, 2023
A fun book with a little history and a little action. My son really enjoyed this story as I read it to him, especially the last two chapters with Paul Revere's famous ride and how the British left Boston.
I read this when it first came out as a young child myself and was just as thrilled almost fifty years later as I was then. It is a great story for kids and the author (in my opinion) had to have had the parents in mind as he wrote it. It is just that easy to read to another person.
A must read for kids who love animal stories and those who already have a love for history.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
I read this when it first came out as a young child myself and was just as thrilled almost fifty years later as I was then. It is a great story for kids and the author (in my opinion) had to have had the parents in mind as he wrote it. It is just that easy to read to another person.
A must read for kids who love animal stories and those who already have a love for history.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
February 20, 2022
Great historical account of Paul Revere’s famous ride (and others) through the eyes of his horse. Superb language, funny, and interesting read that I read aloud to my children as part of our Revolutionary War history unit.
May 17, 2021
This was really enjoyable and Lawson's illustrations are always a favorite.
May 29, 2024
Such a clever perspective to write from! My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
September 22, 2023
We enjoyed this little book! Very sweet!
August 20, 2021
As the back cover says, the story "straight from the horse's mouth", that here is literal because it is a horse that tells the story.
Robert Lawson (1892-1957) wrote and illustrated children's books, and years ago I had read and liked Mister Wilmer (I have it in the first edition signed by the author).
The horse, which is a mare, Sheherazade called Sherry, lands in Boston in 1769 with the English troops who have the task to control the settlers who want independence. Almost a year later her owner loses her playing dice and Sherry ends up in the hands of the owner of a glue factory (horses were used to make glue, with skin, bones, muscles, tendons and hooves). For months Sherry carries parts of fish and horses to make glue and she is not looked after in any way. Before she too can be destined to become glue, she is rescued by a rebel settler who finally hands her over to Paul Revere in exchange for the payment of a debt. She is well looked after by Paul Revere and his family and so she returns to her former glory.
Like a good English mare, she follows with horror the military training of the rebel colonists. Then, little by little, she begins to have doubts, she too discovers the freedom with respect to life in the regiment. Then we can follow the whole story, the Tea Party etcetera. I remember it for having done the Freedom Trail in Boston years ago (it is a walk that recalls the most salient facts of independence that took place in the area). From the story I remembered only one ride, where Paul Revere raises the alarm to the settlers of the towns around Boston shouting “At arms! At arms! ". Actually the rides were more than one because Paul Revere was a courier and was in charge of carrying around information.
A really nice book, its optimistic views make it an apt book to be read in difficult times.
Robert Lawson (1892-1957) wrote and illustrated children's books, and years ago I had read and liked Mister Wilmer (I have it in the first edition signed by the author).
The horse, which is a mare, Sheherazade called Sherry, lands in Boston in 1769 with the English troops who have the task to control the settlers who want independence. Almost a year later her owner loses her playing dice and Sherry ends up in the hands of the owner of a glue factory (horses were used to make glue, with skin, bones, muscles, tendons and hooves). For months Sherry carries parts of fish and horses to make glue and she is not looked after in any way. Before she too can be destined to become glue, she is rescued by a rebel settler who finally hands her over to Paul Revere in exchange for the payment of a debt. She is well looked after by Paul Revere and his family and so she returns to her former glory.
Like a good English mare, she follows with horror the military training of the rebel colonists. Then, little by little, she begins to have doubts, she too discovers the freedom with respect to life in the regiment. Then we can follow the whole story, the Tea Party etcetera. I remember it for having done the Freedom Trail in Boston years ago (it is a walk that recalls the most salient facts of independence that took place in the area). From the story I remembered only one ride, where Paul Revere raises the alarm to the settlers of the towns around Boston shouting “At arms! At arms! ". Actually the rides were more than one because Paul Revere was a courier and was in charge of carrying around information.
A really nice book, its optimistic views make it an apt book to be read in difficult times.
April 8, 2020
I would recommend this book to a 4th or 5th grader looking for a historical fiction book set during the American revolution. Not too long, only about 150 pages, which might appeal to a reluctant reader. Told through the perspective of Paul Revere's horse lends a bit of humor to the first days of the war. The work is sprinkled with many illustrations which is always appealing to kids.
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March 26, 2020By framing the story as from the horse’s point of view, the author sets himself up to provide scenic descriptions more than deep character development. Naturally there are things we can’t know...it’s told by a horse.
It was an engaging story. Unfortunately, there were some antiquated and insensitive portrayals of Native Americans and Quakers in pictures and words. Perhaps when it was originally published in 1953, readers may have accepted that. This raises the question for me: do I continue to have the book in the book room with a disclaimer pointing out these problems, or do I remove it entirely?
It was an engaging story. Unfortunately, there were some antiquated and insensitive portrayals of Native Americans and Quakers in pictures and words. Perhaps when it was originally published in 1953, readers may have accepted that. This raises the question for me: do I continue to have the book in the book room with a disclaimer pointing out these problems, or do I remove it entirely?
March 19, 2019
Fun read for the entire family. The beginning starts a little slowly as we meet Scheherazade or "Sherry" as she starts out as a British army horse under the control of "Leftenant" Barnstable. The illustrations definitely show this British soldier as an oafish idiot with buckteeth. (Remember this was written after WW2 and I think deliberately lent to foreshadow the defeat of the British, who were indeed a superior fighting force on land and sea.) But, back to the story, Sherry's story contains much of the way horses were worked and treated, in this case, sold away by her owner to cover gambling debts. Life was hard and boring for army horses.
The story picks up as she is rescued, restored and then gifted to the Paul Revere family. Of course, the best part is the racing along the countryside to deliver and support the Patriots cause. And the ending is exciting as Revere and Sherry accomplish the task of warning everyone of the impending advance of the British.
I would definitely follow this with Longfellow's poem of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and a look at some of the paintings of this theme especially Grant Woods'. See if you think any of these painters and poets captured Sherry's role.
The story picks up as she is rescued, restored and then gifted to the Paul Revere family. Of course, the best part is the racing along the countryside to deliver and support the Patriots cause. And the ending is exciting as Revere and Sherry accomplish the task of warning everyone of the impending advance of the British.
I would definitely follow this with Longfellow's poem of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and a look at some of the paintings of this theme especially Grant Woods'. See if you think any of these painters and poets captured Sherry's role.
February 14, 2020
Told from the narrative of the female horse from Paul Revere's famous ride, we were able to experience first hand the events and moods leading up to that fateful day. Starting with such a staunch Loyalist (horse), I could not imagine how she could be won over to aid in the Patriots' flight. We were caught up, we were entertained, we were thrilled with the ride. I plan to follow this up with two different picture book variations of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride as well as a few others for our reading pleasure.
My daughter loves the horses point of view and that the book taught her move of the Revere tale than she ever knew. My middle daughter mentioned she loves the character of the grandmother, Mrs. Revere. She is a consistent point of comic relief. Now, while I'm typing this they are all taking turns quoting her and laughing about her silly obsession with tea and her sewing basket at such a life or death moment in time.
We own this book as a vintage mass market paperback and have it on recommendations of BookShark Level 3 and Sonlight D.
My daughter loves the horses point of view and that the book taught her move of the Revere tale than she ever knew. My middle daughter mentioned she loves the character of the grandmother, Mrs. Revere. She is a consistent point of comic relief. Now, while I'm typing this they are all taking turns quoting her and laughing about her silly obsession with tea and her sewing basket at such a life or death moment in time.
We own this book as a vintage mass market paperback and have it on recommendations of BookShark Level 3 and Sonlight D.
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