Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols [Paperback]

James Cross Giblin (Author), Ursula Arndt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2001 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

This spirited look at our national birthday explores the stories behind the familiar symbols of the Fourth of July and tells how they have come to be associated with the holiday. It will make the Fourth of July more meaningful for readers young and old. James Cross Giblin is an editor of children's books who also writes for children. He edited the Clarion holiday series started by the late Edna Barth. Ursula Arndt brings to this book the same delightful style she employed as illustrator of the six Barth holiday books. This title, along with all of Edna Barth's classic holiday books, is now being reissued with a fresh, new jacket design and fun activities inside the paperback covers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

James Cross Giblin does an excellent job of bringing the history of America's Independence Day to life. Woven into his vivid descriptions of events surrounding the Declaration of Independence (down to the annoying flies and mosquitoes in Philadelphia's State House) are amusing anecdotes--how the 1890s "Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise" tried to outlaw Fourth of July firecrackers; what a Yankee Doodle really is; that Uncle Sam was a real person; and how Benjamin Franklin wanted America's national bird to be ... a turkey. Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags concludes with chapters on the Centennial and the Bicentennial, a July 4 events timeline, and a helpful index. Ursula Arndt's skillful pen-and-ink drawings enliven this already spirited treatment of the symbols and history of America's most patriotic holiday.

Ages 9 and up. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A crisp, conventional style enlivened with poignant, homely, or dramatic de-tails." Horn Book

"A crisp, conventional style enlivened with poignant, homely, or dramatic details." Horn Book Guide

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (April 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061809654X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618096541
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,353,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good information book, January 9, 2010

By 

Simple Style (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols (Hardcover)

This book is well-researched and very informative. It is written for an upper-elementary/middle school reader, but is still a great resource for the lower-elem teacher. It could be read aloud to older students in short segments, but is not intended to be shared in its entirety. It is presented in narrative form with pleasant pen-ink sketches.

Great for a research project and a fresh look at some of our unofficial symbols.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wave your Flag and Ring your Bell, Uncle Sam, August 12, 2008

By 

Renee Huskey "I learn something new every day." (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols (Paperback)

James Giblin does a fine job of tying our Independence Day symbols back to the beginnings of our country. After a brief but comprehensive account of how and why the Declaration of Independence was written, Giblin focuses subsequent chapters on such symbols of patriotism as "The Flag," "The Eagle," and "The Liberty Bell," explaining in detail the stories behind these familiar symbols and how each was propelled to the iconic status that it holds in our culture and traditions today.

Unfortunately, while the text of Fireworks... is interesting and age appropriate, the illustrations seem to be more of an afterthought - instead of truly supporting the text, in most cases they seem at best ornamental. The illustrations admittedly are well rendered; however, they lack inspiration, which is especially unfortunate in the case of this book, when there is such potential and opportunity for outstanding supporting illustrative detail.