America Is... [Hardcover]

Louise Borden (Author), Stacey Schuett (Illustrator)

Book Description

In words and pictures, this is a salute to our great country, the land of freedom for us and for people all over the world.

In her poetic text, Louise Borden evokes with bold strokes many aspects of our nation -- its farmlands, its prairies, its cattle country, its cities, its rivers, and the many kinds of people who live and work here. Mountains and deserts, waterfalls and beaches -- each of our states has special things to see and enjoy. And all over this country, our flag flies, with fifty stars for our current fifty states and thirteen broad stripes for our original thirteen colonies.

A few years ago, Louise Borden spoke to a group of schoolchildren in a library in Birmingham, England. When she finished, the very first question was, "What's it like to live in America?" This book is her answer. Readers of all ages will join in this salute to the place we call home, celebrated here in a simple, inspiring text and in lovely, atmospheric, full-color pictures.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"America is our country. It is the place we call home," begins this unabashedly patriotic picture book. Each spread focuses on a defining aspect of the nation, from the flag's symbolism to the country's ethnic diversity. Borden (The Little Ships) brings little individuality to this familiar subject. She praises America's "very first people... whose words bring wisdom to all who listen" as well as "those of us who came later: many kinds of people from many countries of the world. We are one family, and one team. We are Americans." The author touches down in farming country ("America is... old barns and country roads, fields of corn and wheat"), on busy urban streets ("America is skyscrapers, tall, with many windows, up, up, up"), the prairie ("tall grass, and wind, and stars") as she introduces the basic elements of democracy ("America is... the land where we are free. To live. To speak out. To worship. To work. To play. To follow our dreams"). As the text travels from New England to the Pacific Northwest, Niagara Falls to Western rodeos, Schuett's (Purple Mountain Majesties) stirring illustrations take full advantage of the sweeping scope. Her mixed-media paintings offer expansive vistas as well as focused vignettes, all peopled with a multicultural cast. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-"America is our country. It is the place we call home. We are the nation whose name means freedom to people all over the world." So begins this extended attempt to define a country in a picture-book poem. Beginning with the basics of 50 states, moving through traditional symbols, and on to varieties of occupations, transportation, communication, and geography, the recurring emphasis is on " a nation where fifty states meet, where we are all one." Diversity of place-farms to skyscrapers, rodeos to Niagara Falls-and people are presented as creating one "family, and one team." The full-color acrylic, gouache, and ink illustrations are attractive and expansive, but also reinforce the cliched nature of the text. The title page's eagle perched against a star-spangled sky, the Statue of Liberty silhouetted against the flaming sunrise on the next page-it's a bit of overkill, but right in keeping with the romanticized, idealized, traditional images that the author presents. The cast of children and parents is nicely individualized in terms of ethnic features, but there is a sameness to their postures and expressions that saps the vibrancy from the diversity. The treacly acknowledgment of Native Americans-"the proud tribes who live in peace with the earth and the sky "-is no less a stereotype for being positively inclusive. America is many of the things mentioned here, and the poet is entitled to her vision, but relentless wishful thinking denies the complexity of a nation that also includes homeless children, hungry families, and people of color whose experiences belie the "we are all one" refrain. For all its good intentions, this selective series of platitudes isn't going to enrich children's knowledge or experience in any significant way.
Nancy Palmer, The Little School, Bellevue, WA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689839006
• ISBN-13: 978-0689839009
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born (Oct 30,1949) and raised in Cincinnati, I have lived in Ohio my entire life except for two years in Massachusetts right after I was married. Growing up in an old house on a steep street, I attended a small elementary school called Lotspeich. There, all the marvelous shelves of books in the library shaped me into a lifelong reader. So it is a thrill for me to know that some of my books are being read by children in other libraries all over the country.

Before I became a full-time writer and speaker, I taught preschoolers and first graders and was even a part-owner of a bookstore in Cincinnati.

Today, it is hard for me to separate my writing from the way I live my life. My own family, personal experiences, and friendships, as well as a love of history and travel, have rich and lasting connections to the books I write. The first impulse to write a book is always triggered by something that has touched me indelibly.

In addition to my writing, my work in schools allows me to travel the incredible variety of landscape in Ohio, and meet the heart of its people. I have spoken in over 400 schools across the country, but mostly in Ohio. Because of this, I now have lifelong friends in communities from mighty Cleveland to small-town Greenville.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 4, 2004

By 

T. Witmer "Tiffer70" (Bellefonte, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America Is... (Hardcover)

My daughter brought this book home from her school library. I was surprise since she is only in 1st grade. But I read it to her and was refreshingly surprised. I was proud to read it to her and also be reminded of what this country is truly about.
I would recommend it to any school librarian for her library or any parent for their home.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a book!, June 26, 2007

By 

Doris Bailey "teacherbailey" (Tucker, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: America Is... (Hardcover)

This book was written to explain America to British schoolchildren who asked, "What is America really like?" The author and illustrator do a fabulous job of capturing the essence of the cities, countryside, landmarks and geographical features. I highly recommend this book to all elementary level teachers and parents throughout the world.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, October 9, 2006

By 

Mary F. Corbett "Author, National Guard 101: ... (Alpharetta GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: America Is... (Hardcover)

I love this book! It's beautifully illustrated and really breaks it down in language children understand. Only a cynic wouldn't like this book. I have bought several copies as gifts for my kid's friends and everybody loves it.