*Gingerbread for Liberty! by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch

gingerbread

*Gingerbread for Liberty! How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch. HMH Books, 2015. 32 pages

While there’s more to it than simple cooking finesse, one German baker put his baking talents to heroic use during the American Revolution, receiving high praise from George Washington himself!

Christopher Ludwick was passionately committed to his new country’s freedoms and reward for personal industry. When Revolution loomed, he left his thriving bakery to offer his jovial, rotund self to General Washington. Seeing the hunger etched on the troops’ faces, Ludwick put on his apron rather than weapons and set to work. Ludwick was instrumental in showing foreign soldiers kindness and wooing them to America’s promise.

Charming illustrations in the style of gingerbread cookies enhance this cheerful, patriotic look at the service ordinary people provide when they serve where God has gifted them. Ludwick went the extra mile with General Washington himself, providing thousands of pounds of bread for their starving former enemies at war’s end. *Note: Endpapers include a gingerbread cookie recipe; in addition, see excellent author’s note at end

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 5 (out of 5)

  • Worldview Rating: 4.75
  • Artistic Rating: 5

Categories: Picture Books, Nonfiction, History, Starred Review, Character Values

*indicates starred review

cover image from amazon

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Betsy Farquhar

Betsy is the Managing Editor at Redeemed Reader. When she reads ahead for you, she uses sticky notes instead of book darts and willfully dog ears pages even in library books. Betsy is a fan of George MacDonald, robust book discussions, and the Oxford comma. She lives with her husband and their three children in the beautiful Southeast.

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2 Comments

  1. Beth on July 8, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    This was charming! Thanks for getting the word out about this informative and fanciful book. I loved the illustrations and the end notes are a must read.

  2. Betsy Farquhar on July 9, 2015 at 11:13 pm

    Glad you liked it, Beth! Yes–the end notes are essential!

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