Descriptions, Reviews, etc.
Description:
In the name of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, Stephen had to save it!
Today, the Declaration of Independence is one of the most heavily guarded treasures of the United States of America, but during the War of 1812 it would have been destroyed if not for a man whose name and story have nearly been forgotten by time. . . .
Stephen Pleasonton knew paper. He spent his days reading and writing letters, organizing files, and recording the recordables. However, none of that prepared him for the urgent message he received from his boss alerting him that the British army was on its way to the capital. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and numerous other documents that Stephen was entrusted with were all in danger! It was up to him to get our nation's most cherished and priceless artifacts safely out of Washington. But how would a lowly clerk manage that?
Award-winning journalist Anna Crowley Redding and Sibert Honor illustrator Edwin Fotheringham bring to life this riveting true story about how Stephen Pleasonton saved the words that built America.
Brief description:
Anna Crowley Redding loves nothing more than putting on a detective hat to discover a forgotten tale of history and heroism, which made Rescuing the Declaration of Independence such fun to write. Anna's stealthy research skills come from an Emmy Award-winning career as an investigative reporter and a lifelong tendency to never mind her own business. Anna is also the author of Google It: A History of Google and Elon Musk: A Mission to Save the World. She lives with her family outside Portland, Maine. You can visit her at www.annacrowleyredding.com.
Review Quotes:
"Budding historians as well as those unfamiliar with history will both enjoy this pleasant, fast-moving selection." - Kirkus Reviews
"This rollicking tale gives a nice sense of the time period. It also emphasizes how the actions of a less-than-famous but determined individual can have great effect and demonstrates that each person's role in history--even one that focuses on packing up government files and papers--is important. Budding historians as well as those unfamiliar with history will both enjoy this pleasant, fast-moving selection."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Fotheringham's (Most Wanted) action-packed illustrations, hand-drawn and digitally rendered, bring to life a little-known piece of United States history...Redding (Google It) imbues her often-alliterative narration with a sense of urgency, echoed in the artwork, as Pleasanton works to save original manuscripts such as the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Nearly every spread features exigent motion, whether a galloping horse or Pleasonton running." - Publishers Weekly
"The narrative propels readers forward and is complimented by Fotheringham's playful, digitally rendered illustrations...this picture book is a unique tale of heroism by an ordinary and relatively unknown clerk. A welcome addition to history shelves." - School Library Journal
"At its heart, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence is an action movie with a famous star (the documents). You can talk to your kids about whether or not a physical object like a Constitution needs to be preserved and visited or if its merits are found in different ways. And for folks that want to give their teaching of the War of 1812 a more interesting hook." - School Library Journal
