Lane Smith’s funny, irreverent, highly unreliable account of several well-known figures in our nation’s struggle for independence from Britain gets an added lift with references to the twentieth-century British invasion involving four lads from Liverpool. John (Hancock), Paul (Revere), George (Washington) and Ben (Franklin), along with Tom (Jefferson), each played a significant role in the founding of America. But what about their formative years? Smith turns the facts upside down and inside out, fabricating a series of hilarious childhood incidences to underscore the best-known quality of each one’s character (“George was an honest lad . . . Ben was a clever lad . . . Tom was an independent lad.”) From Paul Revere’s youthful job selling underwear to John Hancock’s confident blackboard scrawl, the facts are few and far between but the humor is abundant. Smith clears up any misconceptions in a final section called “Taking Liberties: Wherein we set the record straight with ye olde True or False section.” (Age 7 and older)

"K-Gr. 3. The title offers a clue that Smith is winking at adults, but as good a joke as it is, most children just won't get it. In the stories within, bold-schoolboy John (Hancock) writes his name so large on the blackboard that his exasperated teacher remarks, "We don't need to read it from space." Similarly, loudmouthed Paul (Revere) embarrasses a lady who comes into his shop to buy extralarge underwear; honest George (Washington) admits to chopping down an entire orchard; clever Ben (Franklin) annoys the neighbors with his platitudes; and independent Tom (Jefferson)^B presents a list of grievances to his teacher. The time comes, though, when their traits are valuable to the revolutionary cause. To reach full comic potential, Smith stretches the truth beyond the breaking point, then attempts to undo some of the misconceptions he has created in a true-false quiz, "Taking Liberties," on the closing pages. Deftly drawn, witty, and instantly appealing, the illustrations creatively blend period elements such as wood-grain and crackle-glaze texturing, woodcut lines, and formal compositions typical of the era, with gaping mouths and stylized, spiraling eyes typical of modern cartoons. The artwork and design are excellent and adults will chortle, but this book seems likely to confuse children unfamiliar with the period. Kids will need to know actual, factual American history to appreciate what's going on. Carolyn Phelan Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved " --