is the second of Lawson's fictional biographies with an animal narrator. A former British army horse, Scheherazade, lost by her officer in a dice game to a colonist, is the narrator of this Paul Revere biography. She enters Revere’s life when Sam Adams entices her new owner to donate her to provide Paul Revere with transportation for his courier position. There is just one minor issue, Paul Revere cannot ride and must learn.
One of the values of this book is that it starts with Paul Revere's early journeys, not his ride to Lexington and Concord. Readers learn more about his activities for the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence.
Scheherazade’s transition from British army horse to Sherry, Paul Revere's rebel horse is an interesting one. Her transition is provided to show readers that the liberty the colonists were fighting for was so clear that even a horse would eventually understand the difference between tyranny and liberty.
I would suggest reading this book along with more factually accurate sources. While this story will generate interest, it does fictionalize enough information that children should be aware of the factual events and how they compare to the novel.
I love stories from an animal's perspective. It's one of the reasons I love your dogs' blog so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Finding an interesting way to give kids the factual information you want them to know is a great way to get them to learn it. They have a natural interest in reading it and it is easier to get them engaged.
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