Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Daniel Boone's Great Escape
Illustrator: Ard Hoyt
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008 ISBN: 978-0802795816
Daniel Boone - the frontiersman who helped to settle what came to be called Kentucky - was out hunting one day near the Licking River in Kentucky. The hunt was successful but Daniel was not able to take his kill back to his men that day because he was captured by a group of Shawnee warriors. Though Daniel did try to escape he did not succeed, and he was taken prisoner. He was able to convince the Shawnee war chief to spare the lives of him and his men. In return they would go to live with the Shawnee for the winter and then Daniel would help the Shawnee to negotiate with the settlers in Boonesborough.
Daniel had a good life with the Shawnee and he liked the people. He respected the fact that they were angry about all the treaties that had broken. He understood that they wanted revenge for the death of their old chief who was murdered while carrying a flag of truce. At the same time he felt that he had to do what he could to safeguard the lives of the settlers. Daniel knew that the Shawnee warriors where going to attack Boonesborough. And so Daniel began to plan his escape. Somehow he had to get back to Boonesborough to warn the people there about the Shawnees.
In this picture book the author tells the remarkable story about how Daniel Boone not only escaped from his Shawnee captors, but how he was able to elude them and travel over one hundred and fifty miles in just four days. The story is skillfully written, and Ard Hoyt - who has illustrated many splendid books - brings Daniel Boone's adventure to life with his expressive illustrations.
