Rolling Thunder, written by Kate Messner, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Brandon A.
Summary: The story Rolling Thunder by Kate Messner and artfully illustrated by Greg Ruth is a book that introduces children to Vietnam Veterans and the yearly Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. Hundreds of thousands of riders meet in Washington DC for camping, camaraderie and uniting in a common message to never forget. It is written in a catchy rhyme scheme with alternating lines having end rhyme.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is a good introduction to the Vietnam War, Vietnam Veterans and the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. It is also ideal for creating strong feelings of patriotism in children that can last a lifetime. Therefore, the best use for this book is as a teaching tool for parents and teachers to help their children and/or students to understand veterans and why they deserve respect. For slightly older children, it could be repurposed to introduce children to the Vietnam War which is briefly mentioned in the story. The illustrations are done in a colorful sketch style, utilizing realistic images and a brown/olive color pallet to create imagery reminiscent of military colors. The book does touch on topics and words that would need to be explained to children such as “Obelisk,” “POW’s,” and “MIA” as some examples. It facilitates easy teaching moments for parents and teachers to expand the childs’ vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. The message is actually quite heartwarming, seeing the protagonist child learn about veterans and grow to respect them. That respect can be extended to other groups to teach an overall message of respect and appreciation for what others have done. In summary, Rolling Thunder is a well written, beautifully illustrated story that aims to help children learn about veterans and how to honor their sacrifices. This is an ideal book to use during a history lesson. It would be a good read aloud for a high school history teacher just before a unit on the Vietnam War.