School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2
These simple, educational narratives, suitable for reading aloud, are saved from being completely utilitarian by their colorful illustrations. There are no fact boxes, sidebars, or captions to distract early readers. The paintings are done in bright colors with an unusual but successful mix of realistic and folk-art styles. Though the approach is not as creative as that in Susan Campbell Bartoletti's The Flag Maker (Houghton, 2004); Lynn Curlee's Liberty (2000) and Capital (2003, both S & S); or Bill Martin and Michael Sampson's I Pledge Allegiance (Candlewick, 2002), it is effective in acquainting very young children with topics of national significance.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
