Colonial Voices - Hear Them Speak
Illustrated by Larry Day

Dutton/Penguin, 2008, 978-0-525-47872-0
$17.99

Colonial Voices - Hear them Speak:

Booklist , May 15^th issue.(Starred Review). Also, Book Links (July, '08):
Winters, who so successfully captured the common folk in Voices of Egypt (2005), offers an even more layered and textured group of voices here. It’s December 16, 1773, and “Boston is about to explode.”. So begins a glorious introduction to the Boston Tea Party, which is so much more. There’s the printer, the baker and the shoemaker, who are secret patriots; the milliner, who says, “Pay [the tax]! Count your blessings. I prefer the King to a rabble-rousing mob!” The tavern keeper, the blacksmith’s slave, the Native American basket maker, and others have their say. Winter’s strong, moving text is supported by a thoughtful design and rich paintings capture the individuals and their circumstances as well as what’s at stake.. This does for colonial times what the 2007 Newbery Medal book, Good Masters, Sweet Ladies, does for the Middle Ages. —Ilene Cooper

School Library Journal ,June, '08, (Starred Review):
Colonial Bostonians introduce themselves through free-verse vignettes… A glossary is included to help children with terms such as “fripperies,” “journeyman,” “limner,” “hackle,” and “wag-on-the-wall.” Historical notes go into more detail about each person’s job and compare similar positions in the northern and southern colonies. Both men and women are portrayed; while most characters are white, a Native American woman and a male African slave are also featured. A unique presentation for all libraries.–Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA

Kirkus Reviews(April, '08):
Ever wonder what it felt like to be in Boston on December 16, 1773 - the day of the infamous Boston Tea Party? Everyone has an opinion about the King and his tea tax. By nightfall..., the patriots opt to turn Boston harbor into a teapot and defy the King. Told from the perspectives of ordinary citizens engaged in ordinary work, the text conveys the diversity and defiance of the times. Engaging ink-and-watercolor illustrations contrast the drama of this historical event with details of everyday life in the streets and shops of colonial Boston. Savory historical fare.