Which Way to the Revolution?

by Bob Barner

A clever clan of mice helps Paul Revere find his way.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Bob Barner has been drawing since he was three years old. He graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design, then moved to Boston where he was an art director at several advertising agencies and design studios. He was hired to help comic strip creator Al Capp draw Li'l Abner and studied with Milton Glaser at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He lives with his wife, Cathie, in San Francisco, California, where, in 2004, he was honored as a San Francisco Library Laureate.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the contention of some reviewers that this book is confusing, I found it to be an informative and inventive historical picture book. The use of maps is an interesting way to illustrate the story of Paul Revere's ride. The maps include standard map devices such as scale, compass roses, keys, and icons; they are colorful and easy to read and are paired with drawings of Paul Revere and the mouse who accompanies him on his quest to warn of the British approach, even when rats bar the way. This book would work as part of a storytime, or a grade 1-3 classroom lesson about maps or the American Revolution

CIP Summary:
Text and maps describe the route traveled by Paul Revere when he warned the colonists of the approach of the British prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution.

From Kirkus:
Barner's idea is a good one: to use Paul Revere's ride to teach map skills. Rich colors, silhouette figures, and jazzy graphics draw readers in and bring some order to the confusion of the opening pages, which offer no context for the two lights at the Old North Church (the text begins on the title page) or any sort of date or historical milieu. A final section encourages children to attempt their own maps; it will be up to adults to flesh out the innovative, but bare- bones discussion.

From School Library Journal:
Grade 1-3. Barner combines a snippet of history with engaging cut-paper illustrations to create an appealing concept book.

[Amanda Hlava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about Paul Revere but uses the path he took as the main point.