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Saving the Liberty Bell
Some tall tales are actually true. This is a grand one, told with rightful pride by a boy who was there in the city of Philadelphia in 1777 and was lucky enough to play a role in the American Revolution.
John Jacob Mickley, eleven years old, and his father were in the city when the Great Bell began ringing Brong! Brong! BRONG! from atop the State House to warn the "Redcoats! The Redcoats are coming!"
And come the British did -- with their muskets and their cannons and their will to keep the colonies for their king. Looting they came and stealing any metal they could get their hands on to melt down for the making of more weapons. And the prize above all? The Great Bell itself -- metal for many a cannon!
But the clever Pensylvanians (yes, the word was spelled like that then) had other plans for keeping the Bell safe from the British.
Megan McDonald has aptly caught John Jacob's excited retelling of the story, and Marsha Gray Carrington has relished every wild and wooly moment of it in her pictures -- both funny and carefully researched.
John Jacob Mickley, eleven years old, and his father were in the city when the Great Bell began ringing Brong! Brong! BRONG! from atop the State House to warn the "Redcoats! The Redcoats are coming!"
And come the British did -- with their muskets and their cannons and their will to keep the colonies for their king. Looting they came and stealing any metal they could get their hands on to melt down for the making of more weapons. And the prize above all? The Great Bell itself -- metal for many a cannon!
But the clever Pensylvanians (yes, the word was spelled like that then) had other plans for keeping the Bell safe from the British.
Megan McDonald has aptly caught John Jacob's excited retelling of the story, and Marsha Gray Carrington has relished every wild and wooly moment of it in her pictures -- both funny and carefully researched.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2005
About the author
Megan McDonald
311 books746 followers"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, and THE SISTERS CLUB. "I'm certainly moody, like she is. Judy has a strong voice and always speaks up for herself. I like that."
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 15, 2023
A good book about the time when the Liberty Bell was hidden to save it from the British. The illustrations are too surreal for my liking. Enjoyed the online reading.
December 23, 2018
I did not know this story. The illustrations are great. I like the true history part in the back.
December 3, 2019
I like the antiquated, first person telling of the story. It makes a great way to address the standard about changing times and expectations.
June 22, 2022
Fun children's picture book
December 28, 2020
Entertaining story for my kids. Good history at the end
September 23, 2012
The story, "Saving the Liberty Bell" by Megan McDonald is a story that is classified as nonfiction, but also as a picture book.
John Jacob Mickley an eleven-year-old boy from Northampton Towne narrates the story. He tells the story of his travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1777 with his father to bring farm goods to their town. During this time in history the Redcoats come in to steal items from Philadelphia to make weapons for their army. They were terribly worried about their golden bell. While they were there the Mickley's wagon was chosen to help the revolution by transporting this bell to their town for safe keeping so that the British could not melt it down for their own use. They loaded up the bell onto their wagon and rode out of town in the middle of the night while those in Philadelphia tricked the British into believing that they had dumped the bell into the Delaware River so that they would not go looking for it. After much worry and traveling they stumbled upon the Patriots who helped them to get the bell to safety in the Zion Reformed Church, however on the way there the wagon broke and the bell cracked so they stuck it into another wagon and finished their travels to the church. When the British left they brought the bell out and named it the Liberty Bell where it now symbolizes a free nation.
This book is recommended for children ages 5-8. Although it is based on some of the tall tale versions that are out there, it is a wonderful book that kids will like, due to the great illustrations. The actual history part is in the back of the book for further reading. As a nanny I would tie it in to teaching them about our history and how we became a free nation. This is especially useful during the fourth of July.
John Jacob Mickley an eleven-year-old boy from Northampton Towne narrates the story. He tells the story of his travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1777 with his father to bring farm goods to their town. During this time in history the Redcoats come in to steal items from Philadelphia to make weapons for their army. They were terribly worried about their golden bell. While they were there the Mickley's wagon was chosen to help the revolution by transporting this bell to their town for safe keeping so that the British could not melt it down for their own use. They loaded up the bell onto their wagon and rode out of town in the middle of the night while those in Philadelphia tricked the British into believing that they had dumped the bell into the Delaware River so that they would not go looking for it. After much worry and traveling they stumbled upon the Patriots who helped them to get the bell to safety in the Zion Reformed Church, however on the way there the wagon broke and the bell cracked so they stuck it into another wagon and finished their travels to the church. When the British left they brought the bell out and named it the Liberty Bell where it now symbolizes a free nation.
This book is recommended for children ages 5-8. Although it is based on some of the tall tale versions that are out there, it is a wonderful book that kids will like, due to the great illustrations. The actual history part is in the back of the book for further reading. As a nanny I would tie it in to teaching them about our history and how we became a free nation. This is especially useful during the fourth of July.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2012
This book was much better than I was expecting. I was blown away by the story, because I had never heard this before. Being into history as much as I am, it was a pleasant read.The story is told from the eldest brother's perspective to his younger siblings. He starts by telling his siblings about how him and their father were in Philadelphia when the red coats were coming and they were chosen to help save the bell.
I think this book is perfect for grades 2-5 because it contains some figurative language that younger students may not grasp. I think the story has some small humor, such as hiding the bell under a lady's hoop skirt. The pictures are also wonderfully done in a child-like fun way. I think my favorite part of this story is that it is based off of a true story, which is talked about in the back of the book. It shows the children that young children can have important impacts on large situations, too.
I think this book is perfect for grades 2-5 because it contains some figurative language that younger students may not grasp. I think the story has some small humor, such as hiding the bell under a lady's hoop skirt. The pictures are also wonderfully done in a child-like fun way. I think my favorite part of this story is that it is based off of a true story, which is talked about in the back of the book. It shows the children that young children can have important impacts on large situations, too.
July 10, 2012
This story is narrated by a boy about 11 years old, telling his younger siblings how he and his father helped hide the Liberty Bell from the British forces as they move to occupy Philadelphia. Apparently it is based on facts - a father and son with these names were in on the job, their wagon broke down in a certain city, etc etc. Unfortunately, the telling is fairly bland and lackluster. I did like the illustrations - the style reminds me of Music over Manhattan even though it is a different artist.
April 28, 2008
This is a delightful children's book that tells the story of how the liberty bell was spared from British soldiers who collected metal goods to melt and mold for ammunition. Stealing the liberty bell would have been a gold mine for the Britsih, as well as a major blow to the colonists.
Having just visited Philadelphia and seen the liberty bell, this book was a treat to share with my children and teach them a little known story about one of our country's symbols of freedom.
The text and illustrations are well done. My children, ages 3, 5, and 8 all enjoyed this book.
Having just visited Philadelphia and seen the liberty bell, this book was a treat to share with my children and teach them a little known story about one of our country's symbols of freedom.
The text and illustrations are well done. My children, ages 3, 5, and 8 all enjoyed this book.
March 16, 2009
I also bought this for our family at a gift shop in Philadelphia after seeing the Liberty Bell. I liked it; my children really liked it. I'm sure their enjoyment was enhanced by the fact that they had just stood in front of the actual bell the day before I read the book to them. The illustrations are colorful and cute. The narrative is from the perspective of big brother "John-John" who has just returned from a trip to Philadelphia where they were asked to help save the bell. After the story, there's a brief historical note with facts about the event and the Liberty Bell.
July 24, 2015
How can I give anything but 5-stars to a book about my family and their role in protecting the Liberty Bell from the British during the Revolutionary War. Yes, it is true and verified by a local historian in that area of Pennsylvania. The book is written for kids to learn some Early American history as told through the eyes of an 11 year old boy. It was just fun to see the role my fourth great-grandfather played.
November 6, 2015
This was such a cute book with great historical facts for children. The pictures were also beautiful. I want this book to read to my class to teach them about the American Revolution. This book also would teach about the liberty bell. I would read this book as an opening to An American Revolution chapter. I would read this book and then ask the students to draw a picture and a short story telling how they would transport the liberty bell today if they had to save it.
December 3, 2015
This was such a cute book with great historical facts for children. The pictures were also beautiful. I want this book to read to my class to teach them about the American Revolution. This book also would teach about the liberty bell. I would read this book as an opening to An American Revolution chapter. I would read this book and then ask the students to draw a picture and a short story telling how they would transport the liberty bell today if they had to save it.
September 18, 2010
Based on careful research, this is the story of 11-year-old John Jacob Mickley and how he helped hide the liberty bell from the British by sneaking it out of Philidelphia. The bell was buried under straw in the family wagon, transported to Northampton Towne, and eventually hidden under the floorboards of the Zion Reformed Church.
March 9, 2015
The story ended too abruptly. Also, the prose was strange and quite awkward to read aloud. For instance, there were several places where it was clear the author was attempting to be alliterative in a way that would be catchy, but it just made the tongue stumble.
The illustrations were charming, though.
The illustrations were charming, though.
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February 15, 2010This book is about a boy who gets to help transport Philadelphia’s prize possession. This book is a fun book to read a class when teaching history, or even tall tales. Or it is a book that children will enjoy listening to over and over again.
May 2, 2010
A neat book about a father and son who save the liberty bell from those who are out to destroy it. This is a great historical fiction picture book that teaches children about our country's heritage.
May 23, 2011
This is an interesting book about the story of how the Liberty Bell was moved from Philadelphia before the Redcoats could get to it to destroy it. I particularly liked the historical note in the back of the book about the true story.
December 6, 2008
Love to learn the history behind American Icons.
March 17, 2010
Great book to use during a social studies lesson. Lots of great illustrations and facts about history.
March 22, 2010
I learned from this book what the "liberty bell" is. This book explains the American Revolution between the British coming to steal the liberty bell from the Americans.
April 3, 2010
This book tells a story of the Liberty Bell, and this would be good to tie in with a Social Studies lesson.
April 24, 2010
retelling of the liberty bell. Lots of detail, great for a history lesson, a little wordy.
May 3, 2010
Good book to use with Social Studies
July 4, 2012
Very interesting historical story of the Revolutionary war which I was only vaguely familiar with, but I did not particularly like the illustrations by Marsha Gray Carrington.
December 6, 2012
great book for history of liberty bell. says it's a true story but I doubt it. great pictures!
December 14, 2012
Great book! Tells the story od how the library bell was saved as told from a little boy who was on its journey.
April 5, 2013
Naturally, I loved this book. I am a Mickley - on both sides of my family. Great heritage to pass along :)
April 23, 2015
Fun piece of history.
June 27, 2015
4.5 stars! So well written! True story about the liberty bell. Who knew? Love books like these--the best way to learn history!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews