The American Revolution from A to Z

by Laura Crawford, Judith Hierstein (Illustrator)

Overview

This alphabet book offers A is for the American Revolution, B is for the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and more. Each entry in this picture book for young readers includes one paragraph of relevant facts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589805156
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	09/08/2009
Series:	ABC Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,073,542
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

LAURA CRAWFORD has been an elementary school teacher for two decades. She is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Illinois Reading Council.


A former elementary school teacher, Judith Hierstein now teaches high school graphic and media arts. She has illustrated several children's books for Pelican including the Toby Belfer Series and The American Revolution A to Z, Nathan's Hanukkah Bargain, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House, and The Pilgrims' Thanksgiving from A to Z. She lives in Tuscon, Arizona.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 2–5—Using an alphabet-book format, Crawford presents snippets of information about the American Revolution. Many topics are familiar, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and liberty, but others may be new to children, such as Lydia Darragh ("S is for Spy"), or Betty Zane, who brought gunpowder to the patriots. The audience for the book is somewhat unclear. Events and people are presented without context or a time line, so previous knowledge of the war is mandatory. Children familiar with the period are likely to be put off by the format and the nonlinear presentation. The letters themselves are written in an old-fashioned script that is often difficult to read. The best element of the book is its design. Vivid watercolor paintings often incorporate entries for two or three letters within the flowing spreads. No sources, bibliography, or index are included. The book could be used for writing or research prompts, but it isn't useful for reports or general information.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

School Library Journal

Simultaneously presenting Revolutionary War people and events in both alphabetical and-roughly-chronological order, Crawford pulls off a neat trick that compensates, at least in part, for the artificiality of it all. Between "A is for American Revolution" and "Z is for Betty Zane" (a heroine of one of the war's final battles), she introduces prominent figures like Washington and Jefferson, such lesser lights as Henry Knox, Molly Pitcher and Lydia Darragh, several battles, the Declaration of Independence, the Liberty Bell and Old Glory-the last properly attributed to Francis Hopkinson rather than Betsy Ross. The brief comments for each entry are seldom so revealing, however, and Hierstein's watercolor figures tend toward the generic, without much individuality of expression. Not the first word on the subject by any means, nor the last, but this once-over merits a spot in the middle somewhere-as a quick topical review, maybe. (Nonfiction. 9-11)

Kirkus Reviews