Red Legs: A Drummer Boy of the Civil War

by Ted Lewin

Book Overview

The Civil War divided the United States and pitted North against South, brother against brother, and often children against children. On the eve of a fateful battle, Stephen, a drummer boy in the "Red... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Library Binding
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688160255
• ISBN13: 9780688160258
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.6" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 6 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 5

Customer Reviews

A surprising story and gorgeous illustrations

Ted Lewin always does gorgeous work, and "Red Legs" is no exception. This story is about nine-year-old Stephen, a drummer, who goes off to do his duty to help save the Union during the Civil War. It is a real shocker to get towards the end of the book--I won't give it away, but you may want to read this yourself first before sharing it with your children in case they are squeamish or scare easily.Fortunately, the surprise turns out to become another, happier surprise and the book ends with Lewin telling the story of the real Stephen on whom his book is based. Lewin's handsome watercolors deftly convey the heat, stickiness and tension of men awaiting battle, while at the same time being handsome in their own right. His use of light within the forest scenes is really something to behold, and the pictures with many soldiers in them are amazing--each soldier has a different expression, with some of them apprehensive, some angry, some laughing, some wistful. It's masterful work.Any older child who is interested in the Civil War would enjoy this book, and any adult as well, if only for the superb illustrations and the interesting history of the real Stephen.

The Civil War from the drummer boy's point of view

I really enjoyed this book. The pictures are wonderfully detailed and colorful. The story is about Stephen, a drummer boy in the Civil War, and is, in fact, based on the life of a real drummer boy, as you learn at the end of the story. We follow Stephen as he prepares for battle, and then throughout the battle when the drummers are sent to watch from a nearby hill. We see Stephen fall, blood showing on the drum strap across his chest. Then, we see his father come help him up - this has been a reenactment. I was surprised and relieved. What a great way fo teach kids about the Civil War in a personal way.