Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow & Illus by Ted Rand

Listen my children, and you shall hear

of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.

On the eighteenth of April in 'seventy five

Hardly a man is still alive who remembers

that famous day and year.

I loved this poem when I was a kid. As a history nerd, I loved the story of Paul Revere, but I also liked the rhythm and cadence of the words that seemed to mimic the galloping hoof beats of the horse.  

And then, I tend to be a fan of Ted Rand's work in general. 

A phantom ship, with each mast and spar

Across the moon like a prison bar.

And a huge black hull, that was magnified

By its own reflection in the tide.

Spying on the powerful British, outwitting the stronger nation, outfighting the best trained fighters in the world--the Revolutionary era is just chockful of romantic, beating the underdog stories. And Paul Revere's story is the linchpin to the successful begin of the war when we beat back the British in Lexington and Concord, inspiring pride and passion on the side of the colonists. 

Those redcoats

Climbing the belfry of the North Chapel

Paul Revere waiting for the light

One if by land, two if by sea

The fate of a nation was riding that night

And one was safe and asleep in his bed

Who at that bridge would be the first to fall

Who that day would be lying dead

Pierced by a British musket-ball.

That first shot "heard round the world" always interested me. No one could pinpoint who shot, which side was the instigator. They just know a shot was fired and a bloody six year long struggle was begun. 

As an adult, there is less romance and more agony in these stories. You understand the cost a little more--the children without fathers, the boys who would never grow up, the lives irretrievably altered by this political disagreement with the King of England. The abstract ideas of men's rights and independence having very real life consequences for a farmer's wife in the small town of Concord. 

So through the night rode Paul Revere;

And so through the night went his cry of alarm.

To every Middlesex village and farm,--

A cry of defiance and not of fear.

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code by Joseph Bruchac & Illus Liz Amini-Holmes

Today is Native American Day. At least where we live in Northern New York, which is right next to the Awkwesasne Mohawk Reservation. (Or more commonly reffered to as "the rez.") I thought this was an everywhere kind of holiday, but when I looked it up, it isn't any kind of official thing. 

But it should be.

So here is a story about a remarkable man who happens to be Native American.

Betoli was only eight when he was sent to the residential schools. To be taught to act like a white man. And in the process, he was given a white man's name--Chester.

Life was not easy in the residential schools, as I am sure everyone is aware. All the things held precious by the Native Americans were stripped away, ridiculed, and forbidden. 

Even their language, such an elemental tool was wrong. According to the people who ran these schools anyway.

The Navajo language was forbidden. Speaking it was a punishable offense. 

But during the summers, Chester was able to go back to the Navajo lands and remember the things that made his people who they were. 

I love this page, showing Chester in the two different worlds. 

During WWII, the government needed a new code. Every other code had been broken and utilized by the enemies. 

The government decided the Navajo language might just be what they needed. Chester and his friends were called up. 

The government suddenly needed the language it had been trying to beat out of these Native American children and teens. 

The Navajo codetalkers, chose an English word for each letter of the alphabet. A for ant, etc then translated those words into Navajo. The code word for the letter "A" became Wol-la-chee. Which had no bearing on the common languages the enemies would have access to when trying to decode the message. 

In addition to creating the code, Navajo speakers were needed for decoding it on the front lines as well. 

While not actively engaged in fighting, the code talkers witnessed the horrible atrocities of war. 

Chester survived.

When he returned home, they did an enemy way ceremony to help him to relearn and recover the trail of beauty and the Right Way. 

The Navajo code had done much to help the Allied war efforts and played a role in winning WWII. 

Even though the Navajo Codetalkers were so vital to the war efforts, their work and their code were kept classified for over 20 years. 

Fortunately for him, Chester did not let it bother him. He became a painter. 

In 2005, sixty years after the end of WWII, Chester was one of five code talkers who received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Brave Like Me by Barbara Kerley

Remember how I once said I didn't like books with photograph illustrations? Well I lied. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I seriously can't get through it without tearing up.  

This book is a collection of photographs about children who have to be brave when their parent(s) go off to fight war or are stationed overseas. 

When someone is serving their country

 far from home, they have to brave. 

Their families have to be brave.

Even their kids have to be brave.

Like me. 

Before leaving, they spend a lot of time together. 

And then they say goodbye. 

Seriously, how can you not be a little weepy at these pictures? 

And then they're gone.

The house is too empty.

Who is going to take care of me? 

Yep. Teary. 

Sometimes I'm scared Mom will get hurt.

But I know she's really careful. 

Letters, skype, calls. 

At least we live in the age of Skype.

Doing their best so their parents can be proud. 

Aaagh! Writing to his kids. 

And this one. Gets. Me. Every. Time. 

Partly because I know a girl with that same dress. Which makes it that much more real. 

The homecoming. 

And then, at the back of the book, we see a little map of all the people in the pictures and where they lived and where their parents went on duty around the world. I love that they used real kids and tell their real story.

I love that this book exists.