The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer's Story

Emile Henriquez's sharply detailed bright colored illustrations and rhyming couplets tell the story of Jordan B. Noble or "Old Jordan" as he was known. "Old Jordan, Old Jordan,' his name rang in the air. He was the crowd's favorite; no one could compare." The crowd refers to the many people who gathered in the 1800s for the January 8th Day parades commemorating the Battle of New Orleans. At that time, those were among the biggest events in New Orleans, and Jordan was beloved by all. Although he was then an old man he continued to march in the parades beating his drum. Old Jordan had quite a history - he served in four American wars, and as a youth was Andrew Jackson's drummer. In this tribute to a man and a city's history, a young boy follows Old Jordan in the parade and listens as the drummer recounts his adventures and the importance of a drummer during wartime. A glossary is included with definitions of terms used in the story, such as `cotton bales' and `dragoons.' Highly recommended for ages 5 - 8. - Gail Cooke