Civil War Drummer Boy by Verla Kay

Civil War Drummer Boy Reviews

• 
  leslie

  beautiful, clever, and melancholy
  
  "shady porches,
  fragrant breeze.
  clinging vines.
  magnolia trees."
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  Rhyming text falls flat in comparison to the emotional power of the illustrations.
• 
  Barbara

  Without the foreword explaining the purpose of drummer boys during wars such as the Civil War, I suspect that readers would be lost since the rhyming text plunges readers right into the heat of the action as war is waged across the land. When one young boy, too young to fight, volunteers, he ends up serving as the drummer for the troops. Like the men beside him, his rhythm is affected by the events of the day, and after a day of drumming and watching men die, the beat is slower and less steady than it was at the start of the day. The watercolor and gouache illustrations created over ink and pencil drawings are filled with so much movement and action that readers will almost feel as though they are right there on the battlefield. Add this picture book to a text set on war and peace since it shows so vividly the human costs of war.
• 
  Jenny

  I liked how the ending wrapped back to where the story began...showing both what had changed and what had remained the same. I appreciated the Authors Note...it added much to the text....and I had never heard before that sometimes at night the Union soldiers and Confederate soldiers would gather together to play music. My children were shocked to hear how young some of the soldiers were...about the ages of my oldest two. Which IS shocking...I simply can't imagine any of the boys their age being drummer boys in a war. I also appreciated that this was told from the Confederate point of view, which is less common in children's books. I have mixed feelings about it being written in verse. The illustrations were excellent. Much of the power of the story comes from the illustrations.
• 
  Lynn

  Would be a good mentor text for teachers to show alternate ways of presenting a story, especially an historical event. Sparse text seems simple, but Kay would have to have a good understanding of the war events to craft this. Especially clever the way she brought the end around to the same description as in the beginning! Sparse text also invites further investigation of events and concepts. Realistic illustrations are adequate.
• 
  Samantha

  The story of the Civil War told in poetry set against vibrant illustrations that do an excellent job of showcasing the South and showing the frontlines of the battles, but in a way that is appropriate for young readers. The writing is top notch. The words used to paint the picture of the war are concise and well chosen.
• 
  Lacie Griffin

  For an older audience (upper elementary), this books gives a close look at life as a southern, civil war drummer boy. Written in verse, it is a beautiful depiction of southern life, war, loss and revival. Great pick for a classroom read.
• 
  Donalyn

  The author's note provides the historical context for this story about a Civil War drummer boy, but the rhyming text didn't communicate any emotional impact or additional information.
• 
  Alice

  In brief terse rhyme the author rells of a Southern drummer boy who goes off to the Civil War where all is easy nor pleasant. The rhythm of the text taps along like the beat of the drum.
• 
  Yoo Kyung Sung

  The title attracted me a lot to the story but the story flow is insufficient as if a few important pages were missed to be print. Good topic to be a story though.
• 
  Jen

  water color and pencil. rhymes. includes helpful author's note. I didn't enjoy it though, but I think others might.
• 
  Matthew

  Illustrations are great thought the text is a bit lacking.