Synopses & Reviews
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 Legs" regiment, thinks of home and the fight ahead. The next morning, he beats
ratta-TAT ratta-TAT ratta-TAT TAT TAT The Red Legs and the other Union soldiers fall into rhythm. They meet the Confederate army on thebattlefield. Shots ring out. Cannons boom. The fighting has begun.
Ted Lewin dramatically captures one of many battles waged in the bloodiest war fought on American soil. In this book he pays a moving tribute both to the brave Civil War soldiers and to the dedicated reenactors who preserve their memory.
Review
“Glorious to look at and reads aloud well.” ALA Booklist, April 2001
Review
“…[Lewins] careful attention to detail in the sun-dappled watercolor scenes…high standards of authenticity cherished by avid reenactors.” Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 2001
Review
“Lewins luminous watercolor paintings are beautiful; his depiction of light coming through trees is stunning.” School Library Journal
Review
“[An] emotional look at a Civil War reenactment. A true passion for history...may be ignited in readers.” Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
When the "Red Legs" regiment and other Union soldiers meet the Confederate army on the battlefield one fateful day, Stephen, the regiment's drummer boy, falls to the ground. But unlike the 100,000 real child soldiers who died in the Civil War, Stephen and his fellow reenactors can get up and go home. Full-color illustrations.
About the Author
Ted Lewin grew up in an old frame house in Buffalo, New York, with two brothers, one sister, two parents, a lion, an iguana, a chimpanzee, and an assortment of more conventional pets. The lion was given to his older brother, Don, while he was traveling as a professional wrestler, and he shipped it home. The family kept Sheba in the basement fruit cellar until Don returned and their mother convinced him to give it to the Buffalo zoo.
Ted always knew he wanted to be an illustrator. As a child he copied the work of illustrators and painters he admired, including N. C. Wyeth, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Velázquez, and Goya. When it came time to go to art school (Pratt), he needed to earn money to finance his education. So, following in his brothers footsteps, he took a summer job as a wrestler -- the beginning of a 15-year part-time career that eventually inspired his autobiographical book I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler. Teds career as an artist began with illustrations for adventure magazines, and its only over the last several years that he has devoted his time to writing and illustrating childrens books. "Im having more fun doing this than anything Ive ever done before," he says. He is an avid traveler, and many of his books are inspired by trips to such places as the Amazon River, the Sahara Desert, Botswana, Egypt, Lapland, and India. His Market!, published in 1996, showcases markets around the world, from Uganda to Ireland to Ecuador.
Touch and Go is a collection of stories about the adventures Ted had while researching his books. Gorilla Walk is his first collaboration with his wife, Betsy, and is about their trek to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda. Theyve just completed their second collaboration, Elephant Quest, set in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. Teds current project is about a Civil War drummer boy.
Ted and Betsy live in Brooklyn, New York, where they share their home with two cats, Slick and Chopper.
Ted Lewin grew up in an old frame house in Buffalo, New York, with two brothers, one sister, two parents, a lion, an iguana, a chimpanzee, and an assortment of more conventional pets. The lion was given to his older brother, Don, while he was traveling as a professional wrestler, and he shipped it home. The family kept Sheba in the basement fruit cellar until Don returned and their mother convinced him to give it to the Buffalo zoo.
Ted always knew he wanted to be an illustrator. As a child he copied the work of illustrators and painters he admired, including N. C. Wyeth, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Velázquez, and Goya. When it came time to go to art school (Pratt), he needed to earn money to finance his education. So, following in his brothers footsteps, he took a summer job as a wrestler -- the beginning of a 15-year part-time career that eventually inspired his autobiographical book I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler. Teds career as an artist began with illustrations for adventure magazines, and its only over the last several years that he has devoted his time to writing and illustrating childrens books. "Im having more fun doing this than anything Ive ever done before," he says. He is an avid traveler, and many of his books are inspired by trips to such places as the Amazon River, the Sahara Desert, Botswana, Egypt, Lapland, and India. His Market!, published in 1996, showcases markets around the world, from Uganda to Ireland to Ecuador.
Touch and Go is a collection of stories about the adventures Ted had while researching his books. Gorilla Walk is his first collaboration with his wife, Betsy, and is about their trek to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda. Theyve just completed their second collaboration, Elephant Quest, set in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. Teds current project is about a Civil War drummer boy.
Ted and Betsy live in Brooklyn, New York, where they share their home with two cats, Slick and Chopper.