narrative and illustrations convey a sense of the time, place, tension, and issues involved in the actual events leading up to and encompassing the original Boston Tea Party.
The events on the ship itself are most revealing of the civility ands seriousness of the protest.
The only concerns I had involved the low visual contrast between text and illustration background which made it more of a challenge to actually read.
Follow a crowd of disguised protestors through the quiet streets of colonial Boston as they defend their right to control their own destinies.
Russell Freedman's engaging narrative, incorporating meticulous research and quotes from contemporary accounts, follows the rising tensions between the citizens of Boston and representatives of the British Crown.
From the controversial, unpopular taxes on tea through the defiant act of dumping hundreds of chests of British cargo into the harbor, this exciting retelling puts readers in the middle of this historic event.
Detailed watercolor illustrations bring this story of early American protest to life, artfully depicting the colonial era and the charged atmosphere of Boston in the weeks leading up to the Boston Tea Party.
Informational backmatter includes a bibliography, index, and historic map of Boston,
A perfect introduction to a pivotal moment in American history for young readers, I love Russell Freedman's books, He does any amazing job highlighting the major events during the Boston tea party, I even learned facts from this book that I do not remember learning in school, This book is a great read aloud for fifth grade, which is where students learn about the American Revolution.
I would recommend this book to any fifth grade teacher, Genre: nonfiction/ informational
Grade:rdth
The Boston tea party was a huge event that happened in our history.
This book lets students learn about this event, It is entertaining and the pictures show the reader the details that went into preparing for this event.
What better way to introduce new readers to important events in American history than with a picture book, and who better to perform the writing than Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman, one of the most respected authors of nonfiction for kids in the history of the genre Rather than simply laying out the bare facts and hoping some scrap of tinder amidst the information sparks an interest in the reader, Russell Freedman patiently does the work of tracing the little tidbits of history back to big, significant events many people will already know, demonstrating how even the smallest piece of the puzzle affects
everything else, intersecting back on itself constantly.
Russell Freedman makes history stand up and walk, relying on the personal accounts of individuals who were there to help put together a complete picture of the story being told, and he does it with no less stringent standards of accuracy in The Boston Tea Party than in any of his nonfiction books for older kids.
The Boston Tea Party wasn't a completely impromptu event, as one might assume, This book takes us back a few months before that famous night of impassioned American rebellion, to the frustrations that led up to the clandestine revolt, as the budding United States was growing in power and independence and beginning to resent the demands of its mother country.
The U. S. had, in practice, become mostly independent by, stocked with its own resources and wealth, yet the colonies were still required to pay heavy taxes to England's George III.
Of all the charges levied, though, it was the steep tariffs on imported tea that rankled Americans most.
Would it forever be mandated that they continue to pay usury to the crowned heads of a nation whose presence was growing progressively irrelevant to their lives When rational discussion failed to make an impression on the overseas monarchs, it was time for a few brave men to fight back in their own way, declaring they would not pay the king's taxes no matter how loudly he roared.
The best way to do this, they decided, was to board the English ship at Boston Harbor in the middle of the night, the vessel which carried the disputed shipment of tea, and jettison its cargo into the harbor.
While the cover of darkness helped conceal their identities and guard against potential ambush, the men who dressed in exaggerated Indian garb and stole down to the harbor had to be brave to even seriously consider attempting such an act.
Damaging goods sent in good faith by the English could be considered a form of treason to the crown, and treason was a capital offense.
As the "Indians" tiptoed to the harbor and flung the chests of fine British tea overboard the vessel that had carried the imported wares across the Atlantic Ocean, these bold Americans knew a statement was being made, yet surely they couldn't have realized how deep or lasting the statement would be.
Good American soldiers would be dismembered and/or slain in the coming years of the Revolutionary War families would be left without fathers, or brothers, and often both, and English as well as American citizens would suffer the agonies of a yearslong war.
Yet for freedom's sake, Americans were willing to pay such a cost in young lives stolen away forever, and the decision to stand firm for freedom above all else began that fateful night at the Boston Harbor, when a few courageous gentlemen agreed to do whatever it took to send a message to the world that they would not go quietly into the night, and neither would the generations of Americans to follow.
Writing a picture book about the Boston Tea Party was an interesting idea, though I'm sure Russell Freedman could create a longer, more indepth treatment of the subject, and if he did I'd be certain to read it.
The Boston Tea Party does well in taking a snapshot of a single scene in American history and then suggesting the fascinating story both leading up to the snapshot and continuing afterward, effectively hooking readers to wonder what happened next and perhaps want to read more about it.
This is a solid, accurate book that presents history in a way that's easy to understand and isn't too complicated for the target age group, and I commend both author and illustrator for the work they did on it.
I might consider two and a half for The Boston Tea Party, .