P Is For Philadelphia [Hardcover]

Susan Korman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

A unique publishing event: a book for the children of Philadelphia, illustrated by the city's public school children. In this primer, all of the city's rich history is explored: from William Penn's arrival and historic treaty with the Delaware Indians, to its unique position as the cradle of American liberty, to its food, sports, neighborhoods, and festivals. Written to reflect the breadth of Philadelphia's history, its illustrations reflect the distinct talents of its children: every illustration in P is for Philadelphia was drawn by the talented children of Philadelphia's public schools. Published to coincide with Read Across America Day 2005, this book will have the kind of impact on Philadelphia and the region that few children's books ever have, and belongs on the bedside tables of bookshelves of every child in the Delaware Valley.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A primer on the City of Brotherly Love, illustrated by the children of Philadelphia, for the children of Philadelphia

About the Author

Susan Korman is the author of over twenty books for young readers, including titles in the Smithsonian Institution Backyard series, Groundhog at Evergreen Road and Box Turtle at Silver Pond Lane; biographies of Sammy Sosa and Sir Walter Raleigh; and middle-grade fiction in series such as Magic Attic Club, Ghostwriter, Silver Blades, and others. Formerly a children's book editor, she currently works as a freelance writer and is studying to become a school librarian. She lives in Yardley, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press; 1 edition (January 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592131077
• ISBN-13: 978-1592131075
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,236,191 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful And Well-Illustrated Guide to Philadelphia, August 19, 2007

By 

Mark B. Cohen "Improving government for the ... (Philadelphia,PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: P Is For Philadelphia (Hardcover)

The author has written and delightful and well-illustrated guide to Philadelphia, from A (Athletics) to Z (Zoo). Her book is charmingly illustrated with original art from Philadelphia school children.

Her alphabetical chapters include Benjamin Franklin, Cheese Steaks, Delaware Indians, Elfreth's Alley, Fairmount Park, Gardens, Hospitals, Independence Hall, Justice, Kimmel Center, Leaders, Mummers, Neighborhoods, Outdoor Festivals, Philadelphia, Quakers, Rivers, Sculpture, Trains, Underground Railroad, Valley Forge, Washington Square, Xylophones, and Youth.

Written in a format appealing to children by an active author of children's books, the text has numerous facts that will surprise even adult philly boosters. We learn that about 9000 fugitive slaves passed through Philadelphia on the Underground Railroad, that Philadelphia has more outdoor art than any other American city, that Manyunk, now a thriving Philadelphia neighborhood with eating and drinking establishments galore was once a name for the Schuykill River and it means "where we drink."

The author, a suurban Philadelphian, teachers us that Mummers Parade tradition goes back to the original Swedish immigrants who preceded William Penn's arrival in 1681; that Philadelphia was the home of the first hospital, the first medical school and our country's oldest medical research center, as well as pioneering leaders in mental health and surgery; that Philadelphia has the largest Quaker meeting house in the world and the essence of Quakerism is the once radical belief that there is a spark of God in every person.

We learn how outsiders are active in naming activities and place: William Penn's Religious Society of Friends was named the Quakers by a judge told by founder George Fox that he must tremble, or quake, at the word of the Lord; Independence Hall got its name from the Revolutionary War her Marquis de Lafayette, who visited in 1824, when it was known as the old Pennsylvania State House and called it a "hall of independence." She also tells us that it's basement served in the 1850's as the city's dog pound and that the Liberty Bell was last rung in February, 1846 in honor of George Washington's birthday.

This book is a mixture of fun, frivolity, and profundity. It's list of remarkable Philadelphia leaders include early anti-slavery and feminist leader Lucretia Coffin Mott, artist Maxfield Parrish, senior citizens chamption Maggie Kuhn, Puerto Rican leader Dr. Jose De Celis, civil rights leader Leon Sullivan, basketball star and businessmen Jullius Irving, and Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell. It is likely that this is the only book in existence mentioning all of the above.

Philly boosters who read this book will learn that the William Penn Charter School was the private school to educate poor children for free, and that the first private school not connected with a religious group was the Germanown Academy, and the first college not connected with a religious group was the University of Pennsylvania, and that the Curtis Institute of Music has a tradition of being tuition-free.

For a short summary of Philadephia's rise from Penn's vision of a "green country town" to the Philadelphia Flower show, for information on how a deadly fire in London in 1666 led to wider streets in Philadelphia, and why there were no walls around Philadelphia (so visitors would always feel welcome), for names of Philadelphia's many major league and minor league sports teams, for a discussion of Philadelphia's role in both prison history and cheese steak history, this is a book to have, to treasure, and to share with family and friends.

The author gets an amazing amount of eye-popping information into her short text. Few who read this book will look at Philadelphia in precisely the same way again. Future editions would be improved by an index, although that might mar the image of fun and frivolity that the author seeks to create along with her extremely well researched but lightly carried army of facts.

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, overall, January 14, 2009

By 

K. Golla "kagal2" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: P Is For Philadelphia (Hardcover)

I live in PhiladelpHia and bought this for my seven year old son, who loves history, especially of our city. He enjoyed the book, if we read it together. It was slightly above his reading level. The passages are accurate overall, but I felt as if they do not completely represent the city of Philadelphia. Overall, both my son and I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to young people interested in the Philadelphia.