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Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words That Built America
He saved the words that built America! Emmy Award–winning journalist Anna Crowley Redding and Sibert Honor illustrator Edwin Fotheringham bring to life the riveting true story about the lowly clerk who saved the Declaration of Independence from being destroyed by the British army in the War of 1812. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
These are the words that helped found our nation. Today the Declaration of Independence is one of the United States’ most heavily guarded treasures, but during the War of 1812 it would have been destroyed if not for one man whose story has nearly been forgotten by time. Come along on this historic adventure and learn how one ordinary clerk did a truly extraordinary thing.
As a clerk for the State Department, Stephen Pleasonton spent his days quietly immersed in paperwork. He never expected to receive an urgent message telling him that the British army was on its way to the capital. And that the documents that Stephen was entrusted with—such as the original Declaration of Independence and the original Constitution—were all in danger!
It fell on Stephen to get our nation’s most cherished and priceless artifacts safely out of Washington!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
These are the words that helped found our nation. Today the Declaration of Independence is one of the United States’ most heavily guarded treasures, but during the War of 1812 it would have been destroyed if not for one man whose story has nearly been forgotten by time. Come along on this historic adventure and learn how one ordinary clerk did a truly extraordinary thing.
As a clerk for the State Department, Stephen Pleasonton spent his days quietly immersed in paperwork. He never expected to receive an urgent message telling him that the British army was on its way to the capital. And that the documents that Stephen was entrusted with—such as the original Declaration of Independence and the original Constitution—were all in danger!
It fell on Stephen to get our nation’s most cherished and priceless artifacts safely out of Washington!
40 pages, Hardcover
Published April 14, 2020
126 people want to read
About the author
Anna Crowley Redding
10 books49 followersBefore diving into the deep end of writing books, Anna Crowley Redding’s first career was as an Emmy-award winning investigative television reporter, anchor, and journalist. The recipient of multiple Edward R. Murrow awards and recognized by the Associated Press for her reporting, Anna now focuses her stealthy detective skills on digging up great stories for young readers — which, as it turns out, is her true passion. Anna's books have been translated into Russian and Czech.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 9, 2020
The other day I was listening to a RadioLab podcast about the ubiquitousness of fallout shelters in the 1950s. It was fun hearing how panicked America was at the time, even as I studiously ignored the fact that even without a bunker many of us are hunkering down right now. At one point on the episode it was revealed that the United States government was so afraid of the possibility of being bombed and having to restart America that they had made a list of the documents and objects most important to save in the event of certain annihilation. Some were unexpected (a log from the Merrimack?), some had aged particularly badly (a painting of Lewis & Clark), and some were precisely what you’d expect; The Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, etc. But as the episode continued and started to ask other people what they would save, talk turned from thoughtless patriotism to a considered study of the worth of a symbol. Why do we deem these physical documents so important when the very point of them is that they represent ideas in flux? That’s a worthy question that I think bears some serious consideration. In the case of Rescuing the Declaration of Independence, the true story of the man responsible for keeping key American documents out of the hands of the invading British of 1812, it is worth exploring the difference between your own complicated feelings about what a piece of paper represents, and what happens when someone removes your choice from the equation, trying to take it away from you by force. This is a book about the rescue of ideas put to paper.
Nobody remembers the name “Stephen Pleasonton”. He did not appear in our history books as children. There are no portraits or epic painted scenes made in his honor. Yet on August 22, 1814, Stephen was literally sent a call to action. That day he had received a message from his boss, Secretary of State James Monroe. The British army had dropped off its troops just outside of Washington and they were headed his way. And since Stephen was in charge of such documents as the U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence (amongst other things) maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to move them. Like, now. Right now. What follows is an epic story of makeshift solutions and desperation as Stephen works against the clock to move and save items that would have been much desired by the invading forces. Backmatter includes an Author’s Note, information on The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, a Timeline for the Burning of Washington, information on where you can see the documents today, and a Selected Bibliography of titles.
My husband had been in charge of the bulk of the in-house learning with the kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given a certain amount of free reign to teach as he saw fit, he decided thorough history lessons were in order. So when I asked him later what they’d covered, he gave me the run down. “What about the War of 1812?” I asked. Turns out, he hadn’t really covered it all that much, and little wonder. When trying to encapsulate history in brief, you cannot include everything. And The War of 1812 doesn’t really sell itself all that much. Which one was that again? Was it the one where legend says Dolly Madison cut the portrait of George Washington out of its frame to save it when the British came to burn down Washington D.C.? That’s the one. The war that Canadians generally understand a lot better than Americans do. Seems to me that if you're going to do big moments in history right, you need a hook that actually interests people. Someone gunning for the Constitution? That'll do it.
Author Anna Crowley Redding is no stranger to informational books for kids and teens, but her subject matter is usually a bit on the contemporary side. Histories of Google or Elon Musk. That sort of thing. Rescuing the Declaration of Independence is a bit of a gear shift for her and as with all picture book nonfiction I viewed the book with a sharp eye. It would be easy to slip in chunks of fake dialogue in as an exciting story as this one. Yet Redding withstands the temptation time and time again. So now that she’s sticking to the facts (as we know them) what’s her premise? Is it all nationalism, rah-rah-, yay yay U.S.A., or is there another tactic at work? Look, I’m not gonna lie to you. There are some definite rah-rah elements. However, it’s less fixated on America than it is on the documents themselves and what they represent. One could argue that you could hardly discuss one without the other, but there’s another element to the storytelling that’s interesting. One of the last sentences in the narrative is that we have the original documents, “because an ordinary clerk did an extraordinary thing.” I flipped back after reading that, and it's clear that the book is showing you that nobody on these pages was infallible or some kind of super human. Mistakes were made, and corrected, and made again. Reading the book, you sort of get the sense that you're watching something like "Apollo 13" where solutions have to be crafted on the sly.
Now perhaps you think that any two-bit author with a laptop and some drive could whip out an exciting story about Pleasonton’s actions, but I watched with great interest the way in which she chose to frame the story. First off, she’s not going to go into the rudimentary details of why the War of 1812 happened. Good thing too or you’d have your kid readers snoozing before you got to page four. Right off the bat you learn that we were at war, we won, and then we went to war again. Then you get the fast ride from where the British are disembarking to our hero. At no point does Redding say that Stephen was a nerd, but come on. He looks very happy with all that paper around him. And when the call comes in to remove the documents, that’s when the book needs to make things peppy. Making bags, staring down a General, flagging down fleeing farmers, dumping everything in a gristmill, forgetting the Declaration of Independence (that’s my favorite part), and then picking EVERYTHING up again and taking the stuff to an empty mansion. Foof! End with a shot of the White House on fire and your job is done. It’s fast. It’s peppy. And there’s that nice little feeling of urgency to make it work as a whole.
Illustrator Edwin Fotheringham, when he is remembered in history, will someday be regarded as The King of the Historical Work of Picture Book Nonfiction (of course, they’ll probably have a catchier name for him than this). And while he does not specifically specialize in the Revolutionary era, sometimes it feels that if he isn’t talking about John Adams or Thomas Jefferson then he’s dishing on Thomas Paine. Stephen Pleasonton poses a new challenge for Mr. Fotheringham. To wit, he is unknown to the American people as a whole. Not a household name by any stretch. So Fotheringham does something very interesting with his art in this book that I’ve never really noticed him doing before. Everything in this book is digital, but he is able to replicate different kinds of physical art with aplomb. Now normally when I think of his style, I think of pen and inks. But look at the great splotches of colors he uses for mass crowd scenes or in the thought bubbles of characters talking. There’s one scene in particular that really caught my eye. Pleasonton is trying to convince General Armstrong that the British are coming. As he speaks you see troops, faceless blotches of color, running forward en masse. Armstrong counters that D.C. isn’t worth invading and his speech bubble contains big gray bugs, swamps, and a distant White House. It’s subtle, but I like how he foregrounds the characters in pen and inks and renders everyone in the background a blur of action with what looks like watercolors. Kicky.
One thing that we must be vigilant and continually check for in our historical picture books, of course, is representation. In the past an artist would paint a town like Washington D.C. with countless white citizens and the white reviewers wouldn’t even notice. These days, that racist view of history doesn’t (or at the very least, shouldn’t) fly. Fotheringham is interesting in that respect. The major players in this book, from Monroe to Pleasonton to General John Armstrong are all white. This can make it hard for an artist, so what you really need to do is to examine how the illustrator handles crowds. Are the crowds in this book a sea of white faces or is there some variation there? And consistently, in every single crowd scene I could find in the book (with the exception of a crowd of British soldiers) there is as much brown skin as white skin.
The truly great advantage of our constitution is that it is not a fixed point. Oh no, it is an ever changing document, that can be improved upon. When I worked at New York Public Library there was a yearly event that amused me. You see, while Stephen Pleasonton may have saved the original Declaration of Independence, NYPL owns another one. Every year for the 4th of July they put it on display for a little while so that the public can see it. It sort of reminds me of that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where the French soldiers are invited to join King Arthur on his search for the grail and beg off saying, “We’ve already got one!” Still, a lot of people get a real kick out of seeing an item that was written or held by a historical figure. And almost as enticing as the idea of seeing it is the idea that we almost didn’t see it. That it could have been lost in one fell swoop. At its heart, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence is an action movie with a famous star (the documents). And afterwards, you can talk to your kids about whether or not a physical object like a Constitution needs to be preserved and visited or if its merits are found in different ways. And for folks that want to give their teaching of the War of 1812 a more interesting hook, this isn’t a bad way to go about it. An interesting take.
For ages 5-9.
Nobody remembers the name “Stephen Pleasonton”. He did not appear in our history books as children. There are no portraits or epic painted scenes made in his honor. Yet on August 22, 1814, Stephen was literally sent a call to action. That day he had received a message from his boss, Secretary of State James Monroe. The British army had dropped off its troops just outside of Washington and they were headed his way. And since Stephen was in charge of such documents as the U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence (amongst other things) maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to move them. Like, now. Right now. What follows is an epic story of makeshift solutions and desperation as Stephen works against the clock to move and save items that would have been much desired by the invading forces. Backmatter includes an Author’s Note, information on The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, a Timeline for the Burning of Washington, information on where you can see the documents today, and a Selected Bibliography of titles.
My husband had been in charge of the bulk of the in-house learning with the kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given a certain amount of free reign to teach as he saw fit, he decided thorough history lessons were in order. So when I asked him later what they’d covered, he gave me the run down. “What about the War of 1812?” I asked. Turns out, he hadn’t really covered it all that much, and little wonder. When trying to encapsulate history in brief, you cannot include everything. And The War of 1812 doesn’t really sell itself all that much. Which one was that again? Was it the one where legend says Dolly Madison cut the portrait of George Washington out of its frame to save it when the British came to burn down Washington D.C.? That’s the one. The war that Canadians generally understand a lot better than Americans do. Seems to me that if you're going to do big moments in history right, you need a hook that actually interests people. Someone gunning for the Constitution? That'll do it.
Author Anna Crowley Redding is no stranger to informational books for kids and teens, but her subject matter is usually a bit on the contemporary side. Histories of Google or Elon Musk. That sort of thing. Rescuing the Declaration of Independence is a bit of a gear shift for her and as with all picture book nonfiction I viewed the book with a sharp eye. It would be easy to slip in chunks of fake dialogue in as an exciting story as this one. Yet Redding withstands the temptation time and time again. So now that she’s sticking to the facts (as we know them) what’s her premise? Is it all nationalism, rah-rah-, yay yay U.S.A., or is there another tactic at work? Look, I’m not gonna lie to you. There are some definite rah-rah elements. However, it’s less fixated on America than it is on the documents themselves and what they represent. One could argue that you could hardly discuss one without the other, but there’s another element to the storytelling that’s interesting. One of the last sentences in the narrative is that we have the original documents, “because an ordinary clerk did an extraordinary thing.” I flipped back after reading that, and it's clear that the book is showing you that nobody on these pages was infallible or some kind of super human. Mistakes were made, and corrected, and made again. Reading the book, you sort of get the sense that you're watching something like "Apollo 13" where solutions have to be crafted on the sly.
Now perhaps you think that any two-bit author with a laptop and some drive could whip out an exciting story about Pleasonton’s actions, but I watched with great interest the way in which she chose to frame the story. First off, she’s not going to go into the rudimentary details of why the War of 1812 happened. Good thing too or you’d have your kid readers snoozing before you got to page four. Right off the bat you learn that we were at war, we won, and then we went to war again. Then you get the fast ride from where the British are disembarking to our hero. At no point does Redding say that Stephen was a nerd, but come on. He looks very happy with all that paper around him. And when the call comes in to remove the documents, that’s when the book needs to make things peppy. Making bags, staring down a General, flagging down fleeing farmers, dumping everything in a gristmill, forgetting the Declaration of Independence (that’s my favorite part), and then picking EVERYTHING up again and taking the stuff to an empty mansion. Foof! End with a shot of the White House on fire and your job is done. It’s fast. It’s peppy. And there’s that nice little feeling of urgency to make it work as a whole.
Illustrator Edwin Fotheringham, when he is remembered in history, will someday be regarded as The King of the Historical Work of Picture Book Nonfiction (of course, they’ll probably have a catchier name for him than this). And while he does not specifically specialize in the Revolutionary era, sometimes it feels that if he isn’t talking about John Adams or Thomas Jefferson then he’s dishing on Thomas Paine. Stephen Pleasonton poses a new challenge for Mr. Fotheringham. To wit, he is unknown to the American people as a whole. Not a household name by any stretch. So Fotheringham does something very interesting with his art in this book that I’ve never really noticed him doing before. Everything in this book is digital, but he is able to replicate different kinds of physical art with aplomb. Now normally when I think of his style, I think of pen and inks. But look at the great splotches of colors he uses for mass crowd scenes or in the thought bubbles of characters talking. There’s one scene in particular that really caught my eye. Pleasonton is trying to convince General Armstrong that the British are coming. As he speaks you see troops, faceless blotches of color, running forward en masse. Armstrong counters that D.C. isn’t worth invading and his speech bubble contains big gray bugs, swamps, and a distant White House. It’s subtle, but I like how he foregrounds the characters in pen and inks and renders everyone in the background a blur of action with what looks like watercolors. Kicky.
One thing that we must be vigilant and continually check for in our historical picture books, of course, is representation. In the past an artist would paint a town like Washington D.C. with countless white citizens and the white reviewers wouldn’t even notice. These days, that racist view of history doesn’t (or at the very least, shouldn’t) fly. Fotheringham is interesting in that respect. The major players in this book, from Monroe to Pleasonton to General John Armstrong are all white. This can make it hard for an artist, so what you really need to do is to examine how the illustrator handles crowds. Are the crowds in this book a sea of white faces or is there some variation there? And consistently, in every single crowd scene I could find in the book (with the exception of a crowd of British soldiers) there is as much brown skin as white skin.
The truly great advantage of our constitution is that it is not a fixed point. Oh no, it is an ever changing document, that can be improved upon. When I worked at New York Public Library there was a yearly event that amused me. You see, while Stephen Pleasonton may have saved the original Declaration of Independence, NYPL owns another one. Every year for the 4th of July they put it on display for a little while so that the public can see it. It sort of reminds me of that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where the French soldiers are invited to join King Arthur on his search for the grail and beg off saying, “We’ve already got one!” Still, a lot of people get a real kick out of seeing an item that was written or held by a historical figure. And almost as enticing as the idea of seeing it is the idea that we almost didn’t see it. That it could have been lost in one fell swoop. At its heart, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence is an action movie with a famous star (the documents). And afterwards, you can talk to your kids about whether or not a physical object like a Constitution needs to be preserved and visited or if its merits are found in different ways. And for folks that want to give their teaching of the War of 1812 a more interesting hook, this isn’t a bad way to go about it. An interesting take.
For ages 5-9.
March 6, 2020
Okay, now I know that I slept a lot in history class, so maybe I slept through this story? Or maybe it was never taught! This is a fascinating story in our nation's history that doesn't even make the top 10 of notable moments, but it is important nonetheless. It is well told and will interest both young and older readers a like. Everyone should learn something new with this one!
March 27, 2020
An ordinary man does extraordinary things while in a time of turmoil. A perfect read for today’s times. Stephen Pleasanton saved important documents like the Declaration of Independence and the USConstitution from the British during the War of 1812. This PB tells a thrilling bit of history you’ve probably never heard before. Highly recommend.
June 1, 2024
Love finding history tidbits that I have not heard before.
February 21, 2020
Written and illustrated with verve and excitement this nearly forgotten story tells the tale of the heroic clerk who managed to save the words that shaped the United States of America. As the British threatened to burn the new nation's capitol to the ground, reams and piles of important documents were safely transported away from the city moments before the fires took down the buildings.
February 3, 2020
I love stories like this that share "snippets" of history that are often overlooked.
April 2, 2020
The words and pictures of this book work so well to take you back to that time. It captures the tension everyone felt as British soldiers marched closer and closer to Washington DC with the mission to burn it all down. The author does a brilliant job peppering in little details throughout so that you can understand the context of the story, even if you didn't know (or remember) anything about the War of 1812 before reading the book.
In addition to learning about the little known office clerk, Stephen Pleasonton, who saved the Declaration of Independence from getting burnt, kids will also enjoy making comparisons between 1800s America and current times. (eg: rushing letters to one another by horseback, the fact that the quickest way to get all the documents out was to purchase fabric at the store and hand-sew them on the spot to make bags, etc.)
This action-packed nonfiction picture book is a great way to get kids excited about American history. Highly recommend.
In addition to learning about the little known office clerk, Stephen Pleasonton, who saved the Declaration of Independence from getting burnt, kids will also enjoy making comparisons between 1800s America and current times. (eg: rushing letters to one another by horseback, the fact that the quickest way to get all the documents out was to purchase fabric at the store and hand-sew them on the spot to make bags, etc.)
This action-packed nonfiction picture book is a great way to get kids excited about American history. Highly recommend.
May 15, 2020
This nonfiction American history picture book places the reader right in the middle of the action! It takes us on an adventure with Stephen Pleasonton as he does everything in his power to take the declaration of independence and our constitution to safety. Anna Crowley Redding’s fast paced narrative, subtle humor and lively voice keeps the reader glued to the pages and eager to find out what would happen next. What a cool story of persistence, determination and sense of duty! The art by Edwin Fotheringham is perfect and reminiscent of those old political cartoons. Love love love!!! A great addition to any library!
June 18, 2020
Did you know the Declaration of Independence was nearly lost during the American Revolution? I didn't either! This is a fascinating account of how a determined citizen helped to protect some of the nation's most important documents. The style of the prose is gripping and fast-paced - it definitely made me feel anxious for those papers! The text is thorough without covering too many details. Kids will love this book and it will likely make them curious to learn more about American history.
April 9, 2020
For fans of daring American histories like Don Brown's HENRY AND THE CANNONS, RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE is a heart-pounding tale of bravery and ingenuity, as the British march on America ... AGAIN! Redding's delightful text relies on repetition, alliteration, assonance, which all add up to a page-turning read-aloud. Fotheringham's illustrations do a delightful job of providing a sense of time and place, incorporating maps, real documents and more. A must-read for 5th-grade classrooms studying American History.
January 15, 2021
An interesting history lesson.
1/15/21 Read with Naomi and Julia
1/15/21 Read with Naomi and Julia
March 2, 2020
This is how kids should learn about America’s early history! Anna Crowley Redding brings us a wonderful nugget in the story of how Stephen Pleasonton, a simple clerk, used ingenuity and guts to save our country’s founding documents from being lost to the enemy during an invasion on Washington, DC. in 1814. Readers will love the lyrical language that moves the plot along while building the tension for the critical mission he was faced with. The illustrations add to the frantic pace that must have been required to accomplish such a monumental task. Such an interesting story. Budding history buffs will eat this one up!
February 28, 2020
Such a great nonfiction book for kids interested in the foundation of our country (or to get them interested)!
Anna Crowley Redding brings out the drama and action of an everyday American saving our founding documents from British attack during the war of 1812. The story is compelling and introduces so many jumping off points for discussion. With strong illustrations and a high tension story, kids will be engaged and intrigued to learn more. Highly recommend!
Anna Crowley Redding brings out the drama and action of an everyday American saving our founding documents from British attack during the war of 1812. The story is compelling and introduces so many jumping off points for discussion. With strong illustrations and a high tension story, kids will be engaged and intrigued to learn more. Highly recommend!
February 23, 2020
I never learned about Stephen Pleasonton in my history classes, and am so glad I read this book by Anna Crowley Redding and Edwin Fotheringham. Anna's words and Edwin's art take you on a thrilling ride in the early times of our country, as you root for Stephen and hold your breath as time is running out!
February 18, 2020
I love it when a youth book brings me a piece of history that is brand new to me and this charming picture book does just that. I knew nothing about this fascinating story or the courageous Stephen Pleasonton and his fellow clerks who saved these invaluable documents. Redding has done terrific job of researching and writing this chapter in history of young readers - and older ones too.
Excellent back matter includes an Author's Note describing the original idea for the book and its research and creation, information on some of the pivotal documents preserved, a timeline, bibliography and more.
Edwin Fotheringham's comic-style illustration are the perfect accompaniment to the text and add much interest and humor to this charming and important picture book
Excellent back matter includes an Author's Note describing the original idea for the book and its research and creation, information on some of the pivotal documents preserved, a timeline, bibliography and more.
Edwin Fotheringham's comic-style illustration are the perfect accompaniment to the text and add much interest and humor to this charming and important picture book
February 5, 2020
Anna Crowley Redding's book has ensured that Stephen Pleasonton will no longer be a forgotten hero! I had never learned in history classes of his contribution to rescuing America's most important documents when the city of Washington was burning. This book serves as a powerful reminder that an ordinary person can do extraordinary service to his or her country, especially with the support of other helping hands. The story is riveting as we wait to see if Stephen can round up enough help and get the documents out of Washington in time. Despite the tension, there are also moments of humor, contrasting Stephen, "armed with a letter opener" in his capacity as a clerk, with the soldiers armed with guns approaching the city. Children will enjoy poring over the detailed, colorful illustrations and following Pleasonton's journey to safety. Those who were thrilled by the story can find more information about America's documents and this historical period at the end of the book. And some children (and adults!) may even heed the author's reminder to read, protect, and understand the rights and responsibilities contained within our country's most beloved historical documents.
February 18, 2020
Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words That Built America
written by Anna Crowley Redding and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham is a brilliant story of an ordinary clerk who did an extraordinary deed that saved the words and heart of our country. This little-known story in our nation’s history is told with intrigue, expertise and a building intensity that will keep the reader turning the page with eager anticipation. The text and illustrations are beautifully woven to tell this cherished story. Highly recommend!
I was given an arc to read and share my honest thoughts.
written by Anna Crowley Redding and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham is a brilliant story of an ordinary clerk who did an extraordinary deed that saved the words and heart of our country. This little-known story in our nation’s history is told with intrigue, expertise and a building intensity that will keep the reader turning the page with eager anticipation. The text and illustrations are beautifully woven to tell this cherished story. Highly recommend!
I was given an arc to read and share my honest thoughts.
August 1, 2023
This nonfiction picture book shares a thrilling, little-known story from the War of 1812. In this footnote to history, an office clerk saved the original Declaration of Independence, the original Constitution, and other founding documents before the British invaded Washington D.C. The author presents this story in a well-paced, suspenseful way, and the vivid, colorful illustrations convey mood very well. This was an incredibly exciting book to read, and it's a fascinating story, especially since so many higher-ups in D.C. laughed off the idea of a British invasion there.
I'm not sure if I had ever learned about this clerk's bravery or not. The story seems vaguely familiar, but if I did read about it, it was just a side-note in a book with a different focus. I'm glad that this picture book exists to share the story in such a vivid, suspenseful way, and appreciate the notes in the back with additional historical details and information about the documents. This is a great resource for both schools and personal reading, and it's a gripping, inspiring read for adults, too.
I'm not sure if I had ever learned about this clerk's bravery or not. The story seems vaguely familiar, but if I did read about it, it was just a side-note in a book with a different focus. I'm glad that this picture book exists to share the story in such a vivid, suspenseful way, and appreciate the notes in the back with additional historical details and information about the documents. This is a great resource for both schools and personal reading, and it's a gripping, inspiring read for adults, too.
February 6, 2020
Even a lowly, mild-mannered paper pusher can turn into Superman when an army is marching his way and threatening to destroy the documents in his charge--the documents that supported the very founding of this country. You may never have heard of Stephen Pleasonton, but with the aid of a few ordinary citizens, he solved a series of daunting challenges and kept the country's documents safe when the British army attacked and destroyed Washington, DC in 1812. Even when the county's most powerful military man disagreed with the plan, Pleasonton politely told him they would have to agree to disagree and kept on packing! Text and illustrations combine to create an action-packed story that will remind readers about the important documents at the core of the US's existence.
February 6, 2020
Don't you love when a book introduces you to a bit of history you had no idea existed? And even better when it makes it into a hold-your-breath what-happens-next story that has you flipping the pages to find out how everything works out? That's what you've got in Rescuing the Declaration of Independence! I had no idea the documents from the founding of the United States were in danger during the War of 1812, and that there was a hero who worked hard to save them. Anna Crowley Redding's fabulously alliterative text will grab young readers and keep propelling them through the bright and engagingly illustrated pages to find out what happened when the British attacked Washington.
February 3, 2020
I read this with my 7 year-old granddaughter tonight...and as soon as we finished it, she begged for me to read it again.
Filled with fabulous word play, awesome illustrations, and plenty of dramatic page-turns, the book delights ears, eyes, and imagination. I'm such a fan of nonfiction picture book biographies...and I know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2020.
Filled with fabulous word play, awesome illustrations, and plenty of dramatic page-turns, the book delights ears, eyes, and imagination. I'm such a fan of nonfiction picture book biographies...and I know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2020.
February 9, 2020
Never has a book about historical documents for kid been so exciting—or inspiring! Anna Crowley Redding has an extraordinary ability to bring history to life for young people. Now, more than ever, we need to get books about the founding principles of our nation into the hands, hearts, and minds of kids. This one will get kids excited about the nation we were meant to be. Highly recommended!
February 11, 2020
Fabulous picture book about a little known and exciting moment in history when the Declaration of Independence was saved during the War of 1812. Wonderful illustrations and a page turning narrative, that just happens to be true. Essential for students and engaging for all ages.
April 27, 2020
RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE takes place during the War of 1812. In 1814, the British invade Washington. James Monroe, who was the Secretary of State at the time and had been spying on the British, instructs his secretary Stephen Pleasonton to destroy all of the records in Washington. One of the documents in Washington is the Declaration of Independence.
As someone who knows how important these documents are to America, Stephen can't bring himself to destroy them. Instead, he puts together sacks from fabric to haul the documents out. With the help of normal American citizens, Stephen piles the sacks into carts and they're taken to safety. Thanks to Stephen Pleasonton, we can visit the original Declaration of Independence to this day.
RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE is perfect for those children who are interested in history, especially American. Before reading this, I didn't know who Stephen Pleasonton was, but now I realize if it wasn't for him, so much history would have been lost that day. The words that built America would be a pile of ash.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of American History and important documents like the Declaration of Independence.
This review can also be found on YABC: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsno...
As someone who knows how important these documents are to America, Stephen can't bring himself to destroy them. Instead, he puts together sacks from fabric to haul the documents out. With the help of normal American citizens, Stephen piles the sacks into carts and they're taken to safety. Thanks to Stephen Pleasonton, we can visit the original Declaration of Independence to this day.
RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE is perfect for those children who are interested in history, especially American. Before reading this, I didn't know who Stephen Pleasonton was, but now I realize if it wasn't for him, so much history would have been lost that day. The words that built America would be a pile of ash.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of American History and important documents like the Declaration of Independence.
This review can also be found on YABC: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsno...
May 27, 2020
Children will love this illuminating suspenseful historical narrative about little-known hero Stephen Pleasonton. Anna does an incredible job elucidating complex concepts to children. Her riveting prose invites critical thinking and high engagement. Every page encourages questions like: Why did America “call herself the land of the free”? And why does the Declaration of Independence allow us “to defend” our rights “to justice, liberty, and freedom of speech?” I love that fact that Stephen uses his common sense and sense of responsibility to commit an act of civil disobedience against General John Armstrong. The story can be used to study character development, conflict, and narrative arc as much as it can be used to delve into a fresh perspective on why the Declaration of Independence is such a powerful document worth defending at all costs. The author calls her reader to read the Declaration of Independence to understand their own rights. I would have liked a discussion in the back matter about the flaws and limitations of the Declaration of Independence regarding women and black, indigenous, people of color, and the gay community. The illustrations are vibrant, informative, and action-packed and the back matter illustrations are inclusive of POC.
October 9, 2020
A nifty and slightly fictionalized story of how Stephen Pleasonton, US clerk, frantically sacked up and hauled away historic American documents as the British marched on Washington DC, where they burned the building the papers had been kept in. There's even a scene (which I hope is true, but who knows) where Pleasonton looks around to make sure they got everything and suddenly notices the framed Declaration of Independence on the wall!
It's a fun story with engaging illustrations about a niche moment in history. Although all the named characters are white guys, the crowd and extras are more inclusive and the modern pictures at the end include girls and boys that represent all of America. The back matter describes how the author came upon the idea for the book, a succinct explanation of what the Declaration of Independence is and where it originated, an even shorter description of the Constitution and Articles of Confederation, a timeline of the burning of Washington DC during the War of 1812 (it burned in 1814) and finally a bibliography showing some of the references used.
This is a fun book to read while zooming through history (I don't think elementary history spends much time on this period) or even just as an entertaining read.
It's a fun story with engaging illustrations about a niche moment in history. Although all the named characters are white guys, the crowd and extras are more inclusive and the modern pictures at the end include girls and boys that represent all of America. The back matter describes how the author came upon the idea for the book, a succinct explanation of what the Declaration of Independence is and where it originated, an even shorter description of the Constitution and Articles of Confederation, a timeline of the burning of Washington DC during the War of 1812 (it burned in 1814) and finally a bibliography showing some of the references used.
This is a fun book to read while zooming through history (I don't think elementary history spends much time on this period) or even just as an entertaining read.
June 11, 2020
If this had been a retelling of a more familiar story, I might have only given it four stars. The fact that this tells a part of American history that is so vastly overlooked, though, earned it an extra star. The war of 1812 is barely covered in school, and often for the wrong things. In this case, the book is about the saving of history, in the form of the original or official documents that made up much of our nation's early events. The official, signed version of the Declaration of Independence, for example, along with a treasure trove of items now contained in our National Archives.
I also loved how the author stumbled across the story, in a location seemingly unrelated to the events until she dug much deeper.
The only flaw in the book, to me, was that we never learn how the President reacted to the way that General Armstrong was so thoroughly wrong, and what his errors almost cost our nation.
I also loved how the author stumbled across the story, in a location seemingly unrelated to the events until she dug much deeper.
The only flaw in the book, to me, was that we never learn how the President reacted to the way that General Armstrong was so thoroughly wrong, and what his errors almost cost our nation.
December 27, 2024
One of the things I love about children’s history picture books, is that they often share bite-sized history, for which there may not be a plethora of sources or records to flesh out a whole adult sized biography, but which are important nonetheless.
This is the story of how the Declaration of Independence and other early American ideas were preserved. James Monroe, Secretary of State at the time, sent a letter to his clerk, Stephen Pleasanton, in Washington, announcing the advancement of British troops on the Capitol on August 22, 1814. Monroe wrote with an imperative to remove and protect the new countries’ records. The rest is the story of how Pleasanton did that.
I also personally loved the diversity represented in the illustrations, and the scrivening included in the illustration of General John Armstrong, common to embellishments found in official documents of the time period covered here.
This is the story of how the Declaration of Independence and other early American ideas were preserved. James Monroe, Secretary of State at the time, sent a letter to his clerk, Stephen Pleasanton, in Washington, announcing the advancement of British troops on the Capitol on August 22, 1814. Monroe wrote with an imperative to remove and protect the new countries’ records. The rest is the story of how Pleasanton did that.
I also personally loved the diversity represented in the illustrations, and the scrivening included in the illustration of General John Armstrong, common to embellishments found in official documents of the time period covered here.
May 6, 2020
I love reading little-known stories from American history and this one was fascinating. Where I live in Massachusetts, stories of Paul Revere's ride are paramount, and this anecdote held all the drama of that story and more. The author's text is well written and fun to read and the pacing keeps you turning the pages. The illustrations capture the movement and drama of the story - the rush of people fleeing Washington, the nighttime race to save the young country's most important documents, and the glow of Washington burning in the background. I also liked the theme of a quiet, everyday American standing up to authority and doing what he believed was right in the name of patriotism. Thank goodness he was there to rescue our Declaration of Independence and Constitution! An excellent nonfiction book!
April 20, 2020
What a fun work of nonfiction! Before reading RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, I knew nothing of mild-mannered office clerk Stephen Pleasonton and his mission to save the documents our country was founded on. I found myself even more engaged as the story progressed, thanks to vibrant full-page spreads showing a dramatic series of events, including Pleasonton's showdown with the Secretary of War, his secret midnight ride, and Washington, D.C. being set ablaze. I plan on sharing this interesting and little-known piece of American history with my own young Revolutionary War buffs, who have been primed by Hamilton and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, and are begging for more.
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