Reubin Field and his brother Joseph were two of the “nine young men from Kentucky” who joined the famous Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803. The farmers became soldiers, since this was a military expedition, and began one of the great journeys of all time. Reubin’s folksy narrative covers all of the now-familiar people, places, and events of the tale, from the origins with Jefferson, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase, to Sacagawea, Charbonneau, grizzly bears, buffalo, mountain passes, and even a beached whale. Much information about the purposes and findings of the expedition is included, as are an afterword and a small bibliography. In this first-person narrative, as recorded by Edwards, Reubin is a companionable guide, and the inviting format, lively prose, and dramatic illustrations make this one of the better offerings for the bicentennial of the grand event. (Picture book. 6-10)
