Haym Salomon: American Patriot    by Susan Goldman Rubin & David Slonim Order:  USA  Can Harry N. Abrams, 2007 (2007) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch This picture book (geared for the elementary school set) chronicles the story of a little known Jewish player in the Revolutionary War: Haym Salomon. Salomon was a Polish immigrant who lived in New York at the start of the war. He became known as a fair and honest loan officer. Soon he was recruited to help with the war efforts and moved to Fort Ticonderoga at Lake George, New York to help the soldiers and their families. Eventually he was arrested and was able to talk his way out of prison by translating the British general's orders into German. Haym helped the war effort in any way he could, risking his personal safety by helping prisoners escape and working undercover for the Sons of Liberty. Soon he was captured and sentenced to death for treason but, with a little ingenuity, found a way to escape. He then resumed his work on behalf of the Americans, providing financial means for Washington to win a crucial battle at Yorktown.                                              This twist on a familiar subject provides an interesting look at a relatively unknown Revolutionary War hero. The soft watercolor illustrations are pleasing and sometimes amusing (which doesn't fully fit the serious nature of the text). A glossary at the end provides further understanding of phrases used within the book. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews