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Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?

Book Summary

Reviewed by Tanya Smith

What could possibly get Samuel Adams, an avowed walker, on horseback? Nothing short of a revolution, of course! Read this amiable tale and learn how one man, his dog, and, yes, his horse figure into the fabric of the early days of America. A quick read, with lots of amusing illustrations.

Is It Any Good?

3

WHY DON'T YOU GET A HORSE, SAM ADAMS? delivers a clear history lesson about the events leading up to the American Revolution. Along the way, the author effectively describes Adams' personality and appearance. The author's two-page postscript provides background information on Adams' reasons for resenting England. The note sheds light on his political motivations, but it is a clumsy device and should have been incorporated into the main story, where it would have bolstered the slender text.

Instead, the illustrations add a welcome dimension to Adams' story. The drawings are mainly black and white, although some are shaded with brown tones. Small details enliven everyday scenes (a cat arching against a chair leg), and the facial expressions convey simple but strong emotion (the joy of a boy carrying the American flag).

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