Parents' Guide to

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?

By Whitney Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Adventure and humor mix with history.

Book Jean Fritz Historical Fiction 1973
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

jwelder
jwelder Adult
January 6, 2012
age 4+

Paul Revere review

It is very historic and learnig

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere--and a lot more! A silversmith at fifteen, he became a furniture maker, a dentist, a portrait engraver, and, of course, a legendary Revolutionary War messenger. Jean Fritz tells his story well, although background information on the purpose and significance of his rides is lacking.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Jean Fritz's book makes a great read-aloud text, especially for the classroom. She is at her best when she includes little-known facts that make children and adults chuckle, and kids will ask many questions about America's early history. Margot Tomes' illustrations add humor to the story but are not particularly vibrant. They succeed, however, in enhancing the mood Fritz establishes in her text.

Fritz sometimes assumes readers know more than they probably do. For instance, Fritz describes Revere's mission to Hartford, New York City, and Philadelphia without fully clarifying the purpose: She says simply that he is spreading news. Children may not come away understanding his travels or where the British were and what they did in America. Tomes does, however, include a map illustrating Revere's southward ride.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Revere's ride and the start of the American Revolution, exploring areas not fully addressed in the book. What were the British doing in America? What was at stake with Revere's ride?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate