Illustrations by Vincent X. Kirsch
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Christopher Ludwick was a German-born American patriot who loved to bake and loved his country. When American decides to revolt again the British, Christopher is determined to help General George Washington. Not with muskets or cannons, but with his baked goods.
In interesting biography of a little-known patriot in the Revolutionary War, Ludwick's story is both sweet and simple. Probably a bit too simple, based on the extended biography in the back of the book, but one that fits well into a picture book format. What the simple story fails to convey though is that Ludwik (who is never named in the text) spent a good deal of his own money feeding the soldiers. It doesn't mention that although he fed a lot of people, starvation, particularly in the winter, was a huge problem during the Revolutionary War. There was nothing in the text about him baking for captured British soldiers either.
What it does include though is Ludwick's patriotism. His generosity. He was also incredibly good at convincing those in the Hessian army, to convert to the American's cause. It also shows that our strengths, whatever they may be, can be of use no matter the situation. One may not be able to fight, but the soldiers still have to eat, right?
The illustrations were absolutely fitting, done in an almost gingerbread man motif, made me hungry for some German gingerbread.
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