The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere [Hardcover]

Henry W. Longfellow (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Through Longfellow's engaging rhymes, children follow Paul Revere on his fateful ride through the Massachusetts countryside on the eve of the first battle of the American Revolution. A historical note clarifies the facts, and a map shows Revere's route.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fusing scratchboard drawings and computer technology, first-time children's book illustrator Thompson creates a series of ruggedly sleek illustrations for Longfellow's classic poem. From the stirring first line ("Listen, my children, and you shall hear/ of the midnight ride of Paul Revere"), the artist takes his cue from Longfellow's expert scene-setting. He orients readers with a frontispiece of Revere rousing villagers as he gallops through cobblestone streets. Thompson then zeroes in on the perspective of Revere and "his friend," the one who will signal to Revere with one lamp or two. This opening illustration introduces all the necessary elements: the pair stands at the foot of the North Church with a schooner clearly visible in the harbor. Later, his approach results in a climactic view of the harbor as the British boats begin to cross the Charles River under a full moon: readers see just the outline of the North Church's steeple and the river stretching before them, as if they are in the position of lighting the two lanterns--the signal of an invasion by sea. Echoing the poem's grave tension, Thompson opts for the dark, gothic look of a Tim Burton movie set. Whether outlining the gnarls and whorls of tree bark or the crisscross shadow thrown by a leaded window on a sleeping villager's quilt, he conveys a visual freshness and clarity that breathes new life into this standard of American lore. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-Paul Revere rides again in this oversized version of Longfellow's narrative poem, reproduced here in its entirety, with the stanzas generally laid out as they are in the original version. Thompson's excellent scratchboard and computer-colorized illustrations follow the pattern of this layout, with each full-page drawing accompanying one or two stanzas of the narrative. The artwork has a formal, more stylized look to it than Paul Galdone's drawings in Paul Revere's Ride (Crowell, 1963; o.p.) or Ted Rand's realistic, action-packed paintings in Paul Revere's Ride (Dutton, 1990), and their woodcutlike appearance seems to fit the mood of this monumental tale. Using mostly subdued tones of blue, black, and brown with occasional touches of color (such as the red in the grenadiers' coats), the artist has provided a suitable backdrop for the somber message that the horseman had to deliver. As is true of the aforementioned versions, Revere figures prominently in the illustrations; however, Thompson also alters the perspective in several scenes. In doing so, readers come to understand that this poem is not just about one man's heroic deed, but is also about the nameless people who gave up their lives for the cause of liberty, such as the villager asleep in his bed "Who at the bridge would be first to fall." The map and historical note at the end of the book indicate the inaccuracies of Longfellow's poem, illustrating how writers sometimes employ poetic license. Most libraries will want to own this accomplished rendering.
Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792276744
• ISBN-13: 978-0792276746
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,236,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Stunning Visualization of Paul Revere's Ride, December 4, 2001

By 

David Bradford (Merritt Island, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (Hardcover)

As a middle school English/Social Studies teacher, I require my students to memorize The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. I was interested in how Christopher Bing had interpreted this most famous poem by Longfellow. I must say that I was stunned by his artistic rendering of the different parts of the poem. Most unique of all was the three dimensional letter attached to the flyleaf which was written by Thomas Gage, the British commander. This letter, sent to Lt. Col. Smith, described how he (Gage) would march a force of men to Concord to seize any munitions the Americans might have stored there. And equally incredible is the three dimensional fold out deposition by Paul Revere which described the actions he took to warn the Americans the British were coming. This book was alive with surprises and "hands on" interactivity. When I tried this book out on my 110 students, they were amazed. Then something really amazing happened....history and a poem came alive, giving them a much fuller understanding of the events of April 18, 1775. The way the poem was layed out page by page even helped them memorize the poem quicker and more accurately. The maps, illustrations, and the miscellany concerning the historical ride lend so much to this famous poem that even the most jaded American historian/teacher could learn all over again why we Americans are who we are and why we do the patriotic things we do. This is a must have book for every red-blooded American! Thank you Christopher Bing for transforming American history.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece of History and Drama....., December 7, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (Hardcover)

Christopher Bing, author of the 2001 Caldecott Honor book, Casey At The Bat, is back with his innovative and creative interpretation of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's, The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere. His obvious love of history, meticulous research, and attention to detail transports the reader back to that long ago night. This is a very visual experience. Mr Bing's marvelously evocative illustrations give the appearance of old engravings in dark blues and subdued tones. And the text itself, looks as if it was printed on yellowed parchment, and torn from an old book or diary. Imaginations will soar as children examine historical objects, and re-creations of maps, military orders, and other documents, that appear officially sealed, and can be opened and read. This adds to the drama and excitement of the poem, and brings Longfellow's words to life. With additional end notes and historical information about the days leading up that fateful night, and beyond, and a short biography of Longfellow, Christopher Bing has authored a unique, interactive American experience. Perfect for youngsters 8 and older, The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere is a masterpiece to be treasured and savored each and every time it's read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, October 11, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere (Hardcover)

I think this book is great! It's an educational book about a very important ride that warned America the British were coming. It's also an adventurous book, that tells how America beat Great Britain and won are independence . It's an event that effected all of are lives. Ages 5-14 will love this book in my opinion. It's a great book that I think you should read.