Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Betsy Ross
Historical Fiction Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Holiday House, 2011 ISBN: 978-0823419081
Betsy was busy because she had an important job to do. She took some red fabric off the washing line and began to rip it into strips until she had “seven rich, / Crimson strips.” Next, she took an old white silk slip and cut six strips out of the fabric. She also used the slip fabric to make thirteen five-pointed stars, one star for each of America’s colonies. Betsy needed a background for her creation so she dyed white fabric in indigo to create a piece of deep blue cloth.
Now that all the components were ready, Betsy got to work putting it all together, and when her work was done, she had a flag that a country could be proud of.
With a simple lyrical text and wonderful illustrations that were created using fabric, fabric paint, dye, embroidery, and linoleum block prints, the author and illustrator tell the story of how Betsy Ross made the first American flag.
At the back of the book readers will find notes from the author and the illustrator about their work, and they will find instructions that show them how to make “You Own Betsy Ross Star.”
