Free Access to the Audiobook and eBook

The story of one family’s gift passed down from the time of the American Revolution. Fully illustrated, 256 pages.

One April in Boston is a children’s book unlike any other you have ever read. Written for ages 10-13, it teaches American history, the power of imagination, and the value of goal setting. In this unique book you will learn the real story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride; witness the first shots of the American Revolution; attend the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston on July 18, 1776; visit the Paul Revere House in 1909; and much more. One April in Boston was originally published in 2000. The second edition was released as an eBook in 2015 and in print form in 2017. That version, and this 20th Anniversary Edition (revised in 2024),  include 27 new pen and ink drawings created by Cortney Skinner, bringing the total number to 47.

The 3 1/2-hour audiobook, read by award-winning narrator Phil Rosenthal, was revised in 2024. Access the Free Audiobook and eBook.

Free Access to the Audiobook and eBook

The story of one family’s gift passed down from the time of the American Revolution. Fully illustrated, 256 pages.

One April in Boston is a children’s book unlike any other you have ever read. Written for ages 10-13, it teaches American history, the power of imagination, and the value of goal setting. In this unique book you will learn the real story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride; witness the first shots of the American Revolution; attend the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston on July 18, 1776; visit the Paul Revere House in 1909; and much more. One April in Boston was originally published in 2000. The second edition was released as an eBook in 2015 and in print form in 2017. That version, and this 20th Anniversary Edition (revised in 2024),  include 27 new pen and ink drawings created by Cortney Skinner, bringing the total number to 47.

The 3 1/2-hour audiobook, read by award-winning narrator Phil Rosenthal, was revised in 2024. Access the Free Audiobook and eBook below.  (Scroll)

After researching his Boston ancestors for six years, author Ben Edwards has crafted a tale that not only tells their story by tying in real connections to Paul Revere and Abraham Lincoln, but honors his relative Private Philip Edwards by revealing the gift he gave to the neighborhood children before leaving for France to fight in World War I and passing into legend.

When the story begins in April 1775, 10-year-old Ben Edwards carries a spyglass that once belonged to his grandfather, an early Boston sea captain. Ben believes he can glimpse the future through its lens. His goal is to work on a sailing ship and see the world. Can the spyglass and a member of the Sons of Liberty help Ben on his journey? Will his predictions about the future come true? By reading the book you’ll discover that Ben’s gift is something we all possess, a power that can help you on your own life’s journey—if you believe in it.

The Spyglass Blog

Read the Spyglass Blog, written by Ben Edwards and illustrator Cortney Skinner, created for the book’s 20th anniversary in 2020.

Get the Free Audiobook and eBook

The audiobook consists of MP3 audio files, broken down by chapter, that you can play using your computer’s default audio player or download and play on a digital audio device. The eBook is available at Apple Books and at Google Play.

Click here to access your free Audiobook and eBook.

Listen to One April in Boston Audio Samples

The One April in Boston audiobook is read by Phil Rosenthal. Mr. Rosenthal is a nationally renowned singer, songwriter, recording artist, and record producer. He has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the White House and, as the lead singer and guitarist in the bluegrass band The Seldom Scene, received a Grammy nomination for his work on Scene 20. Mr. Rosenthal’s audio recordings for children, under the label American Melody, have garnered wide acclaim including awards from the Parents’ Choice Foundation, American Library Association and other organizations.