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My Country 'Tis of Thee: How One Song Reveals the History of the Civil Rights
My Country 'Tis of Thee: How One Song Reveals the History of the Civil Rights
Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townnsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: March 10, 2015
Review
Well written and informative, this picture book about a song we grew up singing has quite a history. This traces the history of the song back to England in the 1740's as "God Save the King" This follows the song and it's many verses through the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, dozens of new verses to celebrate the new country and new president, and in 1795 for women's rights. In 1831 Samuel Frances Smith wrote patriotic verses to an old German melody, not knowing it was shared with "God Save the King", it was first sung in a Boston church, titled "America". Abolitionists wrote protest verses during the Civil War and soldiers from both sides sang their own verses. In 1865 free black people sang new verses, also used by labor activists,women's rights activists, Native Americans and for civil rights and ends with being sung at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. Readers are then invited to "write a new verse for a cause you believe in." Includes source notes, bibliography, further resources. The many verses included are inspiration. Collier's illustrations, using watercolor and collage go well with text. For grades 4-6, useful for mentor texts, position writing, civil rights units, music and history.
Overall Book Score: excellent
About the Book
Author:
Murphy, Claire Rudolf
Illustrator: Collier, Bryan
Illustration Quality: good
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Book Type: picture book nonfiction
Genre:
Audience: grades 4-6
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780805082265
Price: 17.99
Red Foxes
Red Foxes
Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townnsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick , Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: March 10, 2015
Review
An introduction to red foxes for very young children. Illustrated with colorful photographs. Brief text includes only the barest basics of facts. If a child were to ask a question, the answer would have to be looked up elsewhere. Illustrations, while labeled, seem stock and too generic to be informative. On page 11, a beautiful photograph of three fox on a rock beside water with reflections in the water may be confusing to young children and unclear. Includes Table of Contents, Index, Glossary, Read more, Learn more Online, About the Author. Very little information in this brief book.
Overall Book Score: fair
About the Book
Author:
Strother , Ruth
Illustrator: ,
Illustration Quality: fair
Publisher: Bearport
Book Type: picture book nonfiction
Genre:
Audience: preschool
Binding Type: library binding
Binding Quality: excellent
ISBN: 9781617729270
Price: 21.23