Doodle Dandy!

School Library Journal

Gr 3-8-- To most Americans, Independence Day means fireworks, parades, picnics, and lots of flag waving and patriotic speeches. Part of the vocabulary associated with the celebration are words such as barbeque, potato salad, Uncle Sam, freedom, and liberty. Doodle Dandy! explores the definitions and etymology of these words along with the historical background of the Revolutionary War and little gems of trivia that personalize the holiday and connect readers to that period. Well written and accurately presented, this is a treasure trove of information that most children will not be able to access any other way. While Lewin's black-and-white cartoons are pleasant enough, the lack of some red, white, and blue is unfortunate. However, the author's joy in the holiday rings true in her writing as does her patriotism. --Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA