Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? The Stories Behind Some of America's Patriotic
Illustrator: John O'Brien
Nonfiction
For ages 9 to 12
Holiday House, 2001 ISBN: 978-0823417841
If you have ever wondered why the American flag is made up of stars and stripes or where Uncle Sam came from, you now, finally, have a way to find the answers to these questions. In fact this book discusses the origins of all the major American patriotic symbols that you can think of: the Great Seal, the Liberty Bell, “The Star Spangled Banner, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the White House, the Capitol, the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Well written in a light and almost conversational tone, this is an easy and interesting read. The author has succeeded in making historical facts come alive, which is truly the mark of a real storyteller. The crosshatch black ink illustrations provide plenty to engage and amuse the eye, the illustrator’s sense of humor coming through and providing light entertainment as we read.
