The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Papp, Lisa

The Town That Fooled the British: A War of 1812 Story

32 pp. | Sleeping Bear | May, 2011 | Trade ISBN 978-1-58536-484-8 $16.95

(4) K-3 Tales of Young Americans series. Illustrated by Robert Papp. St. Michaels, Maryland, a shipbuilding community on the Chesapeake Bay, is targeted by the British Navy during the War of 1812. While bringing a message to his soldier father, young Henry Middle makes a tactical suggestion that saves the town. Though the text is overwrought and the illustrations are uneven, the book effectively highlights how one child's act can make a difference.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King