Synopsis
Examines the history of Independence Day and describes some of the ways that this holiday is celebrated.
Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature
As appropriate for the day we celebrate America's birthday, one of the early spreads in this book with its red, white and blue pages, shows a young boy with a cowboy hat and a shirt that features the elements of the American flag. Readers will learn some very basic facts about the thirteen colonies declaring their freedom from British rule, the writing of the Declaration of Independence and how the holiday is celebrated. One fact I didn't know, was that the Fourth of July did not become a national holiday until 1941. It was celebrated for many years all over the country, but not as a national holiday. Another spread shows how the holiday is celebrated in different states. The text includes a brief recap of holiday symbols (U. S. Flag, Liberty Bell and Statute of Liberty) with references to a couple of web sites and books. For kids who like hands on activities and foods, there are two crafts and a recipe for a red, white and blue ice cream shake. The concluding page contains a brief glossary defining the bolded words in the text and an index. 2004, Weigl Publishers, Ages 5 to 9.