What do you think?
Rate this book
Rolling Thunder
Award-winning author Kate Messner and acclaimed artist Greg Ruth honor the sacrifices of American veterans and their families in this poetic tribute. Lines of bikes are miles long,shining, half a million strong.Rumbling, grumbling, engines roar.Peace signs. High fives. Spirits soar.Every Memorial Day in Washington, DC, more than a million veterans and their supporters gather for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration that pays tribute to the men and women of the US armed forces. This lyrical story honors the bravery and sacrifice of those American heroes -- the ones who have returned home, and the ones who haven't.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2017
1 person is currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
132 books1,666 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 20, 2017
Spare poetic rhyming text, paired with muted illustrations, creates a beautiful picture book tribute to our veterans. I finished and wanted to turn back to the beginning and read it again. A brief authors notes explaining the inspiration for the story is included at the end.
January 22, 2021
Every library should have a copy of this book: important, enlightening, and satisfying. But short enough that families can read it together and still have time for discussion of context. Some families will see themselves in a picture-book for the first time ever, some will learn about something they've never really thought about before.
I've been to the Wall. I know nobody with ties to active military or to Vietnam, but I still cried.
A walk past the Wall should be required for every incoming president. I wonder if Dubya ever visited it....
I've been to the Wall. I know nobody with ties to active military or to Vietnam, but I still cried.
A walk past the Wall should be required for every incoming president. I wonder if Dubya ever visited it....
November 22, 2017
An interesting subject for a poem--I liked it! Great illustrations. The poem flowed very well for me. A simple way to introduce to children something very important.
May 29, 2017
Early one morning, an excited young boy and his family board a train that will take them to Washington DC where they will meet up with the boy's grandpa. At the same time, grandpa is kissing his wife goodbye and hopping on his motorcycle, complete with side car, also heading to Washington DC.
It's Memorial Day weekend, time for the annual veteran's Ride for Freedom, and this year, our young narrator is riding with his grandpa, along with over a million other of the nation's veterans, all on their motorcycles. Grandpa is riding for friends Joe and Tom, lost in Vietnam, and his grandson is riding for his Uncle Zach, a pilot lost in a different war.
The weekend begins with camping out with all the veterans, and meeting the boy some of his grandpa's old friends.
Early next morning, everyone is up and ready to go, riding through the streets of Washington DC to honor all veterans and especially to bring awareness to people of those soldiers who are still MIA (Missing in Action) or POWs (Prisoners of War).
The Ride for Freedom ends at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also simply called the Wall, listing all the names of service members of the Armed Forces who fought and died in Vietnam, as well as those who are still considered to be MIA. After finding Uncle Zack's name on the wall, and making a rubbing of it, there are speeches and more memory sharing by vets.
As the day draws to a close, it is clear that the Ride for Freedom is an important experience between this grandpa and grandson drawing them closer together in a very meaningful experience.
There are all kinds of books available that can teach kids about Memorial Day and its significance and they are certainly important. But I believe Rolling Thunder is the first book that to be written depicting this special group of veterans.
Messner has written Rolling Thunder in a telegraph-style rhyme, allowing for a great deal of information to be packed into a few well chosen words and she has done it well. The mixture of clipped words and slightly longer sentences also carries the sound of a motorcycle are it revs and rides. At the same time. it is a poignant and emotionally charged narrative.
And Greg Ruth has chosen a palette of bright oranges, warm reddish-browns, khaki and olive greens for his realistic illustrations that manage to to reflect the mood and feeling of the book perfectly.
One Memorial Day weekend, we were going to the house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and while waiting for the Cape May-Lewes ferry, suddenly the car was surrounded by motorcycles. It didn't take long to realize it was part of Rolling Thunder. The ferry hadn't arrived yet, so we socialized with the bikers while we waited and waved goodbye when the ferry docked in Lewes. This year marks the 30th year Rolling Thunder has been riding into Washington DC to keep the memory of POWs and MIAs alive in the hope of bringing them home someday. It has expanded to included POWs and MIAs from all wars that the United States has fought in.
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was purchased for my personal library
It's Memorial Day weekend, time for the annual veteran's Ride for Freedom, and this year, our young narrator is riding with his grandpa, along with over a million other of the nation's veterans, all on their motorcycles. Grandpa is riding for friends Joe and Tom, lost in Vietnam, and his grandson is riding for his Uncle Zach, a pilot lost in a different war.
The weekend begins with camping out with all the veterans, and meeting the boy some of his grandpa's old friends.
Early next morning, everyone is up and ready to go, riding through the streets of Washington DC to honor all veterans and especially to bring awareness to people of those soldiers who are still MIA (Missing in Action) or POWs (Prisoners of War).
The Ride for Freedom ends at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also simply called the Wall, listing all the names of service members of the Armed Forces who fought and died in Vietnam, as well as those who are still considered to be MIA. After finding Uncle Zack's name on the wall, and making a rubbing of it, there are speeches and more memory sharing by vets.
As the day draws to a close, it is clear that the Ride for Freedom is an important experience between this grandpa and grandson drawing them closer together in a very meaningful experience.
There are all kinds of books available that can teach kids about Memorial Day and its significance and they are certainly important. But I believe Rolling Thunder is the first book that to be written depicting this special group of veterans.
Messner has written Rolling Thunder in a telegraph-style rhyme, allowing for a great deal of information to be packed into a few well chosen words and she has done it well. The mixture of clipped words and slightly longer sentences also carries the sound of a motorcycle are it revs and rides. At the same time. it is a poignant and emotionally charged narrative.
And Greg Ruth has chosen a palette of bright oranges, warm reddish-browns, khaki and olive greens for his realistic illustrations that manage to to reflect the mood and feeling of the book perfectly.
One Memorial Day weekend, we were going to the house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and while waiting for the Cape May-Lewes ferry, suddenly the car was surrounded by motorcycles. It didn't take long to realize it was part of Rolling Thunder. The ferry hadn't arrived yet, so we socialized with the bikers while we waited and waved goodbye when the ferry docked in Lewes. This year marks the 30th year Rolling Thunder has been riding into Washington DC to keep the memory of POWs and MIAs alive in the hope of bringing them home someday. It has expanded to included POWs and MIAs from all wars that the United States has fought in.
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was purchased for my personal library
January 20, 2019
1. Does anyone here know someone who is serving in military? What do we do to honor those who risk their lives to keep us safe, and those who have given up their lives for our safety? In today’s book, Rolling Thunder by Kate Messner, we will read about a family traveling to Washington D.C. to take part in a Memorial Day parade of motorcycles. How do you feel when you see a parade that honors those who serve in our military? We have a word to show the feeling of pride in those who serve us and our country. It is called patriotism. Patriotism, honoring those who serve in the military, and being grateful for our freedom are all themes of this book.
Listen to the first words of the text: “Rolling thunder, freedom ride, today we’ll be at Grandpa’s side.” What do you notice that might be unusual about the way the author has put together these words? [They rhyme] This whole story is told kind of as a poem or song. Listen for for rhyming words and rhythm as I read it. Also pay attention that the author doesn’t always use complete sentences, but sometimes allows the illustrator to fill in more understanding of the story with their pictures. Meanwhile, the author just gives enough words to let us understand what is going without writing out every single thought. It’s a different way of telling a story that gets an idea across without telling every detail.
2. *Lay the groundwork for helping children understand the theme.
*Alert children to unusual features of the text, such as its structure or narrator
*Draw attention to the writer’s or illustrator’s craft
*Copyright 2017
*Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Awards Nominee 2018-2019
*Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee 2018-2019
Listen to the first words of the text: “Rolling thunder, freedom ride, today we’ll be at Grandpa’s side.” What do you notice that might be unusual about the way the author has put together these words? [They rhyme] This whole story is told kind of as a poem or song. Listen for for rhyming words and rhythm as I read it. Also pay attention that the author doesn’t always use complete sentences, but sometimes allows the illustrator to fill in more understanding of the story with their pictures. Meanwhile, the author just gives enough words to let us understand what is going without writing out every single thought. It’s a different way of telling a story that gets an idea across without telling every detail.
2. *Lay the groundwork for helping children understand the theme.
*Alert children to unusual features of the text, such as its structure or narrator
*Draw attention to the writer’s or illustrator’s craft
*Copyright 2017
*Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Awards Nominee 2018-2019
*Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee 2018-2019
November 19, 2021
Every Memorial Day in Washington, DC, more than a million veterans and their supporters gather for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration that pays tribute to the men and women of the US armed forces. This lyrical story honors the bravery and sacrifice of those American heroes the ones who have returned home, and the ones who haven’t. This book is a great example of portraying the Role of Citizen standard. Students examine the rights, responsibilities, and duties of a United States citizen in order to understand how individuals contribute to the democratic system of government. This book also is a great reminder because we should treat veterans with respect and teach our children the same. Talking about the importance of being a veteran and the sacrifices they have made for our country, which is something students need exposure to. My grandfather is a Vietnam war veteran and served in the Vietnam war, it is very important that he and every other veteran be recognized for their many sacrifices. I personally have dedicated most of my free time to visit with veterans at the VA and participated in the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) meetings.
September 30, 2017
I'm grateful to have this book as a way to share just one way to honor veterans on Memorial Day. I wasn't familiar with the Rolling Ride for Freedom, but I'm certainly going to learn more about it now that I do! My father was a WWII vet and I try to make sure to talk about the sacrifices all vets make by fighting for our freedoms and how important it is we honor them. This book will be a great way to share with younger students.
June 7, 2017
This is a rhyming book about a Veteran and Memorial Day. It has lovely illustrations and could be used to explain Memorial Day and who Veterans are to young children, in addition to being a wonderful story.
April 24, 2017
Wonderful book to share with young readers to give them a sense of the pride we have in our military. Thankful to have this book to use around Memorial Day.
October 28, 2017
Memorial Day offers the chance for a young boy and his grandfather to ride in honor of the nation's veterans. While his grandfather rides his motorcycle, the boy is in a sidecar among the veterans and their supporters as they gather in the nation's capital. The rhyming texts follows him on his journey as he meets other veterans, listens to their stories, and visits The Wall where the names of those who lost their lives during the Vietnam War are carved in the granite. I appreciated how the two family members shared this experience, remembering those who gave their lives for our country and those that are still serving in the military. Not only does this book celebrate an event with which many young readers may not be familiar, but it serves as a palpable reminder of the freedoms many of take for granted, made possible by the sacrifices of others. The illustrations are filled with color that makes some of the scenes particularly sentimental even while depicting the golden rays of dawn and the starkness of the monument that is filled with names. It's interesting to see how the youngster gets caught up in all the celebration, making him feel as though he's a small part of history. Books featuring military families are all too rare, given how many service men and women are out there, making this one a welcome addition to a collection devoted to families and warfare.
March 1, 2017
Absolutely gorgeous art illustrates this earnest poem.
March 24, 2017
Beautifully illustrated and poetic personalized account of the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, celebrating vets.
June 5, 2017
Absolutely stunning book. The words, simple & powerful and the illustrations are breathtaking.
December 7, 2017
Wow! Stunning! This rhyming story for children gave me chills. Powerful.
July 2, 2017
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
A touching memorandum and homage to the armed forces—wrapped in a gentle and beautifully illustrated teaching tool.
The premise is simple. A young boy travels cross-country with his beloved grandfather to Washington DC, where they attend the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. His simple-yet-poignant understanding of why they are doing this, and the monumental impressions he receives along the way, are expressed in poetic verse throughout the book.
To be clear, “poetic” is not an exaggeration. Though this is a children’s book (with reasonably large, clear font), a tremendous amount of care has gone into the storytelling medium. It begins with an alternating rhyming scheme, but varies as the tale progresses—offering a range between two and four-line stanzas, and the occasional six-line couplet. It even ends with a terza rima rhyme that clinches the story with tender pathos. The cadence is pleasing and rhythmic, creating an engaging experience that both children and parents will find memorable.
“Motors growling, roaring near
Crowds that cry and wave and cheer,
Raising flags of white and black
For those who never made it back.”
Each page is a gorgeous work of art unto itself: Pastels, sepias, and charcoal in an evocatively realistic style, with a stunning depiction of light the likes of which would have made Thomas Kinkade proud. (Nearly every 2-page spread seems to be cast at sunset, save for the final page, which offers a starscape. This ultimately feels both intentional and deeply befitting the subject matter.)
HIGHLY recommended for all patriotic ages--those who’ve served, those with military family or friends, and anyone who either wants to pay their respects and/or teach their children to honor the sacrifices we hope they will never have to personally understand.
Note: To date, this is the first children’s book that has ever made me cry.
It has my emphatic endorsement.
“Rising Smoke and glowing ember.
Ride for freedom. Ride.
REMEMBER.”
A touching memorandum and homage to the armed forces—wrapped in a gentle and beautifully illustrated teaching tool.
The premise is simple. A young boy travels cross-country with his beloved grandfather to Washington DC, where they attend the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. His simple-yet-poignant understanding of why they are doing this, and the monumental impressions he receives along the way, are expressed in poetic verse throughout the book.
To be clear, “poetic” is not an exaggeration. Though this is a children’s book (with reasonably large, clear font), a tremendous amount of care has gone into the storytelling medium. It begins with an alternating rhyming scheme, but varies as the tale progresses—offering a range between two and four-line stanzas, and the occasional six-line couplet. It even ends with a terza rima rhyme that clinches the story with tender pathos. The cadence is pleasing and rhythmic, creating an engaging experience that both children and parents will find memorable.
“Motors growling, roaring near
Crowds that cry and wave and cheer,
Raising flags of white and black
For those who never made it back.”
Each page is a gorgeous work of art unto itself: Pastels, sepias, and charcoal in an evocatively realistic style, with a stunning depiction of light the likes of which would have made Thomas Kinkade proud. (Nearly every 2-page spread seems to be cast at sunset, save for the final page, which offers a starscape. This ultimately feels both intentional and deeply befitting the subject matter.)
HIGHLY recommended for all patriotic ages--those who’ve served, those with military family or friends, and anyone who either wants to pay their respects and/or teach their children to honor the sacrifices we hope they will never have to personally understand.
Note: To date, this is the first children’s book that has ever made me cry.
It has my emphatic endorsement.
“Rising Smoke and glowing ember.
Ride for freedom. Ride.
REMEMBER.”
March 18, 2021
I would use this book to teach students about Veterans Day. I would present this book around the holiday so students are able to understand what Veterans Day is. An activity I would have my students do is write a letter to either a veteran they may know or a veteran I provided them within the community. This would be a fun activity because they would be able to write to either their loved ones or someone they may not know.
Something that I love that Kate did was use descriptive words such as "clicking". These words can help the reader hear the sounds that are occurring in the story. Another thing that Kate does is make words rhyme together where it almost sounds like a poem. She also uses "engines roar". The illustrator focuses on using colors such as yellows to illustrate the pictures throughout the book. The illustrator also uses double-page spreads and bleeds throughout the entire story.
Personally, I really liked this story because it has details about what veterans had to go through and still go through post-war. As an educator, I can use this in my classroom around veterans day to teach students about all the veterans in our country that fought for our freedom.
Something that I love that Kate did was use descriptive words such as "clicking". These words can help the reader hear the sounds that are occurring in the story. Another thing that Kate does is make words rhyme together where it almost sounds like a poem. She also uses "engines roar". The illustrator focuses on using colors such as yellows to illustrate the pictures throughout the book. The illustrator also uses double-page spreads and bleeds throughout the entire story.
Personally, I really liked this story because it has details about what veterans had to go through and still go through post-war. As an educator, I can use this in my classroom around veterans day to teach students about all the veterans in our country that fought for our freedom.
May 29, 2017
First sentence: Rolling Thunder, freedom ride, today we'll be at Grandpa's side. Early morning, leaving home, gleaming wheels and polished chrome. Grandpa rides for Joe and Tom, friends he lost in Vietnam. Clicking clacking railroad track, our trip is for Uncle Zach, flying airplanes far away. His picture rides with me today.
Premise/plot: A child and his grandfather participate in the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom on Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. It's written in verse, and is rich in descriptive language.
For example,
My thoughts: I liked it. I think it fills a definite need. There aren't that many picture books I can recollect that explain--in vivid ways--the importance of honoring and remembering veterans. It may be a picture book for older readers as well. I had not heard of Rolling Thunder before reading this picture book, so it's always nice--in my opinion--to learn something new while reading.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
Premise/plot: A child and his grandfather participate in the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom on Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. It's written in verse, and is rich in descriptive language.
For example,
Memories. Speeches. Quiet crowd. Bugle song, and heads are bowed.
My thoughts: I liked it. I think it fills a definite need. There aren't that many picture books I can recollect that explain--in vivid ways--the importance of honoring and remembering veterans. It may be a picture book for older readers as well. I had not heard of Rolling Thunder before reading this picture book, so it's always nice--in my opinion--to learn something new while reading.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
September 9, 2024
This is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G book that I L-O-V-E so much!
The illustrations are I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E and so B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!
This is a fictional story about a true event.
"Every year on Memorial Day weekend, veterans and their supporters gather in Washington, DC, for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration honoring America's veterans. Motorcycle riders number in the hundreds of thousands. Many more come to watch and wave, all with a common message: We will never forget." - Author's note from this book.
My family had a very hard time buying this book - We originally got it from the library, but then decided to buy it to have for ourselves. I guess it's out of print or something because it took us a while, even to find it on a used book website. It's 100000000% worth looking for it everywhere, though. This is an amazing book and a great way to honor and remember the fallen.
Beautifully written, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do!
Thank you for reading my review! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!
The illustrations are I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E and so B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!
This is a fictional story about a true event.
"Every year on Memorial Day weekend, veterans and their supporters gather in Washington, DC, for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration honoring America's veterans. Motorcycle riders number in the hundreds of thousands. Many more come to watch and wave, all with a common message: We will never forget." - Author's note from this book.
My family had a very hard time buying this book - We originally got it from the library, but then decided to buy it to have for ourselves. I guess it's out of print or something because it took us a while, even to find it on a used book website. It's 100000000% worth looking for it everywhere, though. This is an amazing book and a great way to honor and remember the fallen.
Beautifully written, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do!
Thank you for reading my review! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!
March 14, 2018
I picked up Rolling Thunder in our local library in a quest for biographies and general social studies picture books I could use for lessons in class. What a wonderful and unexpected read about a boy who rides with his Vietnam Veteran grandfather to the big event in Washington D.C. The book's illustrations by Greg Ruth are phenomenal. The vibrant colors pop off the pages and really bring the story to life.
Written in rhyming text, the book is a great introduction for elementary-aged students (upper) to not only the Rolling Thunder Ride For Freedom but also Veterans Day and Memorial Day. There is some background knowledge that will need to be covered like the Vietnam Memorial, P.O.W. and M.I.A., etc. Still, the book hits a patriotic heart strings for me that few children's picture books can pluck. You'll want to keep this in your classroom or home library as a regular tribute to those who served.
Written in rhyming text, the book is a great introduction for elementary-aged students (upper) to not only the Rolling Thunder Ride For Freedom but also Veterans Day and Memorial Day. There is some background knowledge that will need to be covered like the Vietnam Memorial, P.O.W. and M.I.A., etc. Still, the book hits a patriotic heart strings for me that few children's picture books can pluck. You'll want to keep this in your classroom or home library as a regular tribute to those who served.
June 30, 2017
Messner, Kate Rolling Thunder, illustrated by Greg Ruth. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Press, 2017. $18.
A young boy and his family join their grandfather for the yearly Rolling Thunder ride to remember the fallen from the Vietnam War.
Messner writes the story in simple rhyming poetry, complimented by Ruth’s luminescent illustrations. For me, the poetry did not allow me to immerse myself into the story – instead it was so sparse that created a barrier to the context, leaving the illustrations to carry the emotional weight. For a child, I am not sure that the blurb at the end about the ride is enough to help younger readers connect to the information.
EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
A young boy and his family join their grandfather for the yearly Rolling Thunder ride to remember the fallen from the Vietnam War.
Messner writes the story in simple rhyming poetry, complimented by Ruth’s luminescent illustrations. For me, the poetry did not allow me to immerse myself into the story – instead it was so sparse that created a barrier to the context, leaving the illustrations to carry the emotional weight. For a child, I am not sure that the blurb at the end about the ride is enough to help younger readers connect to the information.
EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
October 21, 2017
Simply put...wow! I am not always moved to tears by picture books, but this one got me. The power of the simple rhyming text is remarkable as this child narrator takes us to the Memorial Day parade of bikes, Rolling Thunder. The sense of patriotism, strength of memory, and recognition of the dedication and strength of our military folks from all wars is palpable. In this story they end at the Vietnam Wall to remember specific loved ones there. Kudos to Kate Messner for sharing her obvious connection to this yearly event and to Greg Ruth for his depictions are perfectly matched to the mood and the moment they capture. Though I have never been to Washington D.C. nor seen or heard about this particular annual event, I was transported while reading this book. I admit I reread it as I wanted to relive the moment and the sense of pride that washed over me the first time.
December 30, 2017
*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*
Kind of torn about this one. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the text is a very somber explanation of the Rolling Thunder ride. However, I'm not sure it accurately represents the purpose of the ride. It started off as a political protest to bring attention to POWs and MIAs. My understanding is that now it is a generally pro-military rally, and also a way to honor service members who died.
Just a reminder, y'all, that Memorial Day honors service members killed in action, and Veteran's Day honors veterans.
Kind of torn about this one. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the text is a very somber explanation of the Rolling Thunder ride. However, I'm not sure it accurately represents the purpose of the ride. It started off as a political protest to bring attention to POWs and MIAs. My understanding is that now it is a generally pro-military rally, and also a way to honor service members who died.
Just a reminder, y'all, that Memorial Day honors service members killed in action, and Veteran's Day honors veterans.
April 8, 2018
Touching and beautifully illustrated, but being poetry, the words are brief and suggestive. This would take a lot of parental discussion before it would be understood by a child, even one from a military family. Discussion worth having about the price veterans pay and the human cost of war. My grandson now lives near D.C., and this would be a great book to read near Memorial Day, especially if they could go in to see the Rolling Thunder Freedom Ride that is the subject. The emphasis is on remembrance, not protest.
January 2, 2019
I read this for a beginner's book challenge at my local library. Keyly, this is not a book for young children. I feel this book has too much emotion and information for someone so young. I recommend at least 10 years old for this book, a book about POWs and MIAs and the Rolling Thunder tribute ride. I don't think young children can appreciate the gravity of such a subject, especially since this is in a medium of poetry. The minimalism brings a different level of beauty to such a subject. It was a wonderful read, but I don't feel it is for small children.
February 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It is a story about a boy celebrating Memorial Day and honoring some of his family members. This could be incorporated into the classroom in two different ways. The first, could be for a lesson on poetry. This a very simple poetry book that could introduce rhyming in general. The second, is if it is about to be Memorial Day. This would be a great starter for a discussion about Memorial Day and what it is all about.
February 10, 2021
A nice tribute to the annual Memorial Day Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom in Washington, DC, a demonstration honoring American veterans. The sentiment was good, but the randomness of the text didn't help us feel a full experience. The lyrical phrases and words, and the ethereal artwork brought a sense of nostalgia, but beyond that, it didn't really stick for us. It kind of fell short of our expectations.
May 8, 2017
Rolling Thunder is a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated book that honors the Veterans of our nation. Written from the perspective of a child accompanying his grandfather in the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom that occurs every year in Washington DC on Memorial Day, the story tells of his experiences and sends the message that our Veterans will never be forgotten.
July 10, 2017
This story about the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom which takes place on Memorial Day in Washington, DC each year, combines the excitement of a motorcycle ride with the memory of a loved one who fought for our freedom. The illustrations combine with the lyrical text, told in rhyme, to pay tribute to American soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
July 20, 2017
This is about the Rolling Thunder, a very large group of motorcyclists who ride through Washington D.C. on Memorial Day to commemorate veterans of many wars. I have watched this ride and found it so amazing! The shares this story in rhyme. It would be great to have some photographs or back matter to provide more information.
December 29, 2017
A rhyming picture book about the Memorial Day motorcycle ride by and for Veterans in Washington D.C.
As a military kid, this book made me teary eyed. The pictures are lovely, the language simple, yet powerful. There's a lot of feeling packed into this book. This would be a great one for military kids and Memorial Day storytimes and classroom readings.
As a military kid, this book made me teary eyed. The pictures are lovely, the language simple, yet powerful. There's a lot of feeling packed into this book. This would be a great one for military kids and Memorial Day storytimes and classroom readings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews