When Washington Crossed the Delaware : A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots

Rating:
Summary: beautifully written and illustrated
Review: "It was November 1776, a time of trouble for our young country"...so starts this lovely picture book, that is educational, inspiring, and has a marvelous layout to appreciate the paintings by Peter M. Fiore, a multi-award winning artist whose brushwork is bold, with a sense of movement and expressiveness in his impressionistic style. This is work that will be liked by all ages, and though most of the colors are in "winter hues", many of them, when lit by candlelight or a fire light, have a brilliance to them, with splashes of red.

Mrs. Cheney has a talent for distilling history into small, memorable sections; her phrases are succinct and beautifully worded, and though much of this story is one of struggle and survival in harsh weather, the feeling is one of courage and determination, and an abiding patriotism.
The square format has a painting that covers 1 ½ pages, and a quote from the Revolutionary War period and Mrs. Cheney's narration covering ½ a page.
The paper is good quality with a nice shine to it, and there is a page of the sources for the information used in the story.
The inside of the cover has a map for Washington's Crossing, the Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton.

I would have loved this book as a child, having always had a "serious side"; it is an ideal gift for a youngster who is thoughtful and has an interest in history.


Rating:
Summary: oh for the days when our president had ideals
Review: a brave and brilliant man was washington, a bold and brilliant notion was what he was fighting for, as this book ably shows. too bad it also shows, by comparison with the current commander in chief and current events, how far america has fallen.

Rating:
Summary: Drama As It Should Be - REAL
Review: Although the story is familiar - at least it should be - Lynne Cheney does an excellent job adding colors and flourishes to an already inspirational story worthy of the holiday it occurred on. To those who sit in warmth and criticize this most rich of our histories, pick up this book, throw on an old shirt, and sit outside in the cold for an hour with your bare feet in the snow and feel how it felt just for a minute to have to fight for your (and our) religious and other freedoms - not just talk about them. Great Job Lynne - thank you.

Rating:
Summary: VERY condensed version.
Review: Huge pictures, fourteen half-pages of story leaves a young reader with a very vague picture of American history.

Rating:
Summary: Remembering Patriotism and Why
Review: I bought two books this week: this book and "The Bamboo Chest". I thought I was getting one for myself about a failed Vietnam treasure hunting adventure and one book for my son and daughter. Instead I got two books that remind me why we're so lucky to be Americans and what those who have dealt with antagonism toward Americans have confronted. Get this book to remind your children what we've gone through to achieve a country where dissent is allowed and even encouraged. In other countries they hang you or cut your head off. Or, in the case of Graham, the author of the other book: convict you of spying for the CIA without trial!

Rating:
Summary: IMPORTANT STORY FOR KIDS
Review: It's amazing how people insist on making their review of Mrs. Cheney's book into a political soapbox. What? are the message boards at Yahoo not working today?

Anyway, this is an important story for kids of any age to read and learn. I've read several books on the American Revolution and I never cease to be amazed at the courage and resolve that George Washington and his men showed during that bitter winter.

Washington's strict but caring command eventually earned him the full support and love of his men. Men who endured bitterly cold temperatures, living in wood shacks with clothing ill-suited to the extreme weather, and only trying to survive, let alone actually face the most powerful army on earth at the time.

In an age where people are only toO ready to look towards their leaders for their next handouts, it's inspiring to read about people who sacrificed so much in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

I think that this small story is one that can be told to kids of any age. From the first time to youngsters as well as serving as a reminder to even kids at the high school level. It's important for them to know the great sacrifices that these men made for their country.

What a joy to read! Thank you Mrs. Cheney!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: My 6 year old son really enjoyed this book and was amazed America wasn't always a free country. The story was wonderfully told and I learned a bit about the Battle of Trenton, myself. Great book!

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: My kids loved this inspirational picture books about America's past. And while this is intended for young audiences, I must admit that in reading it to them I felt that I learned a few things I didn't know before about our first President.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Story
Review: The liberal crowd just can not stand to hear anything positive about this country.

Of course it's a holiday story, it happened during Christmas. It should remind people that they only have the right to criticize this country because of what brave men suffered on their behalf.

Teaching the history of this country is certainly not a glorification of war.

The 10 Commandments evolved to Thou shall not kill only recently from Thou shall not commit murder, which evolved from the oldest translations of Thou shall not kill except in time of war.

It would not matter who wrote this book, how well it was written, or how exciting it was, there is a small, brain-dead segment within America which can not stand the thought of someone actually believing in or being proud of this country.

Rating:
Summary: Christmas Story ? ? ?
Review: The VP's wife wrote a Pro-War book and reads it at Christmas time to her grandchildren? Let's see, we celebrate Christmas as being the birth of Jesus, who's father (GOD) by-the-way, sent down the TEN commandments, one of which is THOU shall not kill. . . .and THIS book is about WAR which , if I'm not mistaken is about killing. So, what's the connection here? No wonder kids grow up with so many psychological and moral problems today, because the ADULTS are so messed up! Way to go Lynne!