Yankee Doodle - Hardcover

Chalk, Gary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1564582027 ISBN 13: 9781564582027

Publisher: Dk Pub, 1993

Synopsis

In a whimsical retelling of the American Revolution, characters such as mice, rabbits, frogs, pigs, and bears--dressed in authentic garb--participate in the crossing of the Delaware and the Boston Tea Party.

About this title

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Chalk animates the action of the Revolutionary War with mice and other animals a la Wallace Tripp. He begins with an overview of both the original song and an account of America's bid for independence. The music and the lyrics follow, and the next pages of this self-proclaimed nursery version of the song are filled with historical information and interesting asides. The detailed costumes are accurate throughout. The rhyming verses are set off in script, making it easy to read straight through to picture-book audiences. Closer scrutiny of the smaller type by older readers, however, will bring forth lesser-known points of trivia. The Frenchmen are depicted as frogs, the Germans as pigs, the Native Americans as raccoons, and the colonists, by and large, as an assortment of rodents. The lighthearted cartoons make this a pleasing and fun introduction to a weighty subject.
Elizabeth Hanson, Chicago Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From its brief introduction explaining that the popular tune "Yankee Doodle" was first sung by British soldiers to mock their Yankee adversaries, this lively book delights as it informs. After an initial spread that displays the music and lyrics for 16 traditional verses of the song, additional, original verses by Chalk and his "text collaborator," Linda Davis, chronicle the American Revolution. The perspective is unorthodox--that of one passionately patriotic mouse (complete with "Revolutionary Tail") named, of course, Yankee Doodle. Set in an elegant period script, the spirited, clever rhymes ("Times were hard, the winter cold, / We really took a bruising. / But General George Washington / Was not too keen on losing") are accompanied by historical data ("the Battle of Bunker Hill actually took place on Breed's Hill"). Chalk's action- and humor-filled illustrations feature a troupe of animals serving as soldiers, with the French represented as frogs and the Germans as pigs. His art provides the crowning touch, creatively combining historical accuracy with child-pleasing whimsy. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The American Revolution, reenacted by mice and other animals on hobbyhorses, rather like Redwall's heroics; recounted in verse that can be sung to the mocking redcoat song the rebels defiantly adopted (``Redcoats were surprised to find/Us Yankees set on winning./At Lexington a shot rang out,/It was the war's beginning!''); and augmented with more facts and asides (``Does this mean they're going to free the slaves?'' asks a raccoon/Native American). Depicting the French as frogs is an ancient jibe that won't trouble many; Hessians as gross-looking pigs are more problematic. The point of view is insidiously British; neither side is presented as more worthy, but there's a sort of class-conscious preoccupation with dress, as if the Americans' winning depended on getting their uniforms together. (To be fair, such an idea can be derived from the original song, given in full here; and Chalk takes great care with his authentic depictions of the costumes.) Audience may also be a problem: those old enough for the history might be put off by the illustrations, even though they're lively, clever, comically expressive, and adroitly rendered. Not essential, but a curiosity that may engage some readers (and impulse buyers). (Picture book. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Dk Pub
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1564582027
• ISBN 13: 9781564582027
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32