Summer -- Independence Day Readers learn that the narrator, Amy, is the great-great-granddaughter
of Nora Belle whose farm is now the Nora Belle Prairie Restoration Project.
Each year volunteers all over North America take part in the Fourth of
July Butterfly Count and Amy and her mother go to the family farm to look
for the regal fritillary, a rare butterfly. Readers see a variety
of prairie plants, animals, and best of all, butterflies. Kratter’s
watercolors provide a soft view of the prairie and butterflies. The story
ends with fireworks that remind Amy of butterflies. While enjoying
the book, readers who wish for labeled butterflies, are rewarded with fourteen
pictures of butterflies along with their common and Latin names and an
informative paragraph. At the end of the book readers also learn
about the North American Butterfly Association’s Butterfly Count including
their website and snail mail address. Guidelines for watching and
attracting butterflies are given along with information about a book and
pamphlet. This picture book would be helpful for studying conservation
and/or butterflies or to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center, Marquette, MI 49855
32 years of experience as a school library-media
specialist
Grimes, Nikki. DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN. Illus by
Floyd Cooper.
New York: HarperCollins, 2002.
32p. 0-688-13155-7; hb., $15.95.
0-688-13156-5; lib.bdg., $ 15.89.
00-069725 K-Gr. 3 E
The two friends readers met in MEET DANITRA BROWN
(Harper, 1994) are back. Zuri is unhappy because Danitra is leaving
town to spend the summer with relatives. The friends correspond through
letters that comprise the thirteen poems in this book. Each double
page spread contains one expressive illustration by Cooper. The poems
are set against the illustrations but readers will appreciate that there
is little detail behind them to detract from the text making it easy to
read. Although this is a summertime and Independence Day book, the
friendship theme makes it a year-round book. Two of the poems are
especially good for reading or reciting at Fourth of July celebrations.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center, Marquette, MI
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
Told in the first person by an 8-year-old female
narrator, this story includes every possible way to celebrate the Fourth
of July in a small town: visiting with relatives, eating, swimming,
a watermelon spitting contest, playing board games, carrying flags, watching
or participating in a parade, riding a bike with spokes wrapped in crepe
paper, riding in a boat, watching fireworks, lighting sparklers, and even
eating a birthday cake with fifty candles. The watercolor, paints
and colored pencil illustrations provide a nostalgic quality to this celebration.
The text is full of activities and includes “An army of aunts swarm out
of the kitchen…” There aren’t many books for this holiday and
this one fills the bill for patriotism.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
Nardo, Don. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: A MODEL
FOR
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. Words that Changed
History Series. San Diego, CA:
Lucent, 1999. 96p. 1-56006-368-8; lib.bdg.,
$22.45 98-7338 Gr. 6+
973.3
Be it the written or spoken word, both reflect
and shape America's history and this works by historian and award winning
author, Nardo reflects how important speeches and documents have influenced
out country, its beliefs, laws and public opinion. It details the
importance and significance of this famous document and what it symbolized.
The text is compelling enough to hold a child's interest, but not so complicated
that it is hard to follow. Interspersed are numerous black and while
historical pictures and paintings as well as copies of articles and excerpts
of lesser documents to help develop a more realistic understanding of this
monumental shaping of history. The text is preceded by a forward
which explains to the young reader how "Many primary and secondary
source quotes give readers insight into the thoughts of the document's
contemporaries as well as those who interpret the document's significance
in hindsight." Also included are source notes, reading lists, and
bibliography. The book would be a welcomed supplement to any classroom
or public or school library.
Patricia Fittantte, Children's Librarian,
Escanaba Public Library, Escanaba, MI
23 years of experience as a teacher and
librarian
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. New York: Scholastic Cartwheel,
2001.
32p. 0-439-24184-7; pb., $5.99
PreS-Gr. 3+ 323.65
Clear color photos are accompanied by phrases from
“The Pledge of Allegiance.” At the end of the book, miniatures of
each photo accompany an explanation of the photo. One of the photos shows
four children placing their hands on their hearts “to show we mean what
we say.” Other photos show the first flag, the world’s largest flag,
the one planted on the moon, and those flying at the Capitol and the Washington
Monument. One page is devoted to history and content of the pledge.
Another page is devoted to special days for displaying the flag and a few
interesting tidbits of information; for example, it does not fly over the
White House when the president is not in town. There is also information
about why the flag looks like it does. Anyone who has ever heard
the jokes about children’s misconceptions about the pledge will realize
the value of this book. Libraries of all types need this book
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
