A Very Important Day [Hardcover]

Maggie Rugg Herold (Author), Catherine Stock (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: K and up

"Captures the excitement of immigrants who are becoming U.S. citizens. All across New York City, people are preparing for 'a very important day'...not the least bit daunted by a snowstorm....A tale told with vigor, exuberantly displayed in Stock's people-filled watercolor landscapes and cozy interior scenes of all the pre-oath preparations, this is a thoughtful celebration of one of this country's most meaningful ceremonies."--Kirkus Reviews.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Early one morning, too excited to sleep, a woman from the Philippines watches from her window as snow falls on New York City. As the day breaks, 11 other families-each originally from a different country-are seen heading downtown and heard referring to this "very important day." Youngsters won't pick up on their destination until well past the story's midpoint: these families are bound for the courthouse, where, among a vast group, they are sworn in as U.S. citizens. After each receives a certificate and recites an oath, the judge announces: "Welcome. We are glad to have you. This is a very important day." And as the new citizens, their families and friends leave the building to view the sun shining on the freshly fallen snow, a voice in the crowd proclaims, awkwardly and repetitiously, "This has become our country on this very important day!" Ending with a note explaining the process of gaining citizenship, Herold's first children's book meets the target audience in terms of its content, but its repetitive structure is better suited to younger children. Though stiff in some places and underdone in others, Stock's (Where Are You Going, Manyoni?) watercolor art gives personality to the large multicultural crew assembled here. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?November 25th is the day that 219 people will take the oath of allegiance to the United States and become citizens. The focus of this multicultural narrative is the naturalization ceremony, which brings the 12 families introduced in the previous pages together in celebration of this momentus event. Each double-page segment is devoted to one family as fathers, mothers, children, and other relatives prepare to leave for the court in lower Manhattan. Originally coming from Scotland or Ghana, India or El Salvador, each group shares the nervous excitement generated by this occasion. Because of the episodic nature of the book, it is sometimes difficult to keep track of the many characters, but a glossary of names at the end is helpful for pronunciation and reinforces the geographical spread of the countries represented. Herold includes a brief explanation of what is involved in becoming a U.S. citizen, which will make clear to young readers the lengthy process and amount of preparation that has brought each individual to this day. Stock's sprightly watercolors reinforce the celebratory mood, even as they depict the details of homes, dress, and way of life of various people. Both author and illustrator have also captured the nuances of the way the children are already Americanized in their dress and colloquial conversations. Many books deal with the immigrant experience in terms of getting here and settling in; this title offers another dimension. A welcome addition to the picture-book shelves.?Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 14, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688130658
• ISBN-13: 978-0688130657
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,408 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 Very Important Day", January 5, 2012

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Very Important Day (Hardcover)

This book was very sweet to read. I read it to my family when it arrived on are doorstep. This book is about familie's who move from there original country to the U.S.A to become citizens they all are in a hurry to get downtown to a huge building where you become citizens they all had to put there hands on there hearts and say a speech that would make them officially citizens of the U.S.A. This book isn't representing one family or person it's representing several familie's from different country's like China, Russia, Mexico, Greece, Vietnam, Egypt, Ghana, Scotland, El Salvador, Dominican Republic and The Philippines this book even includes a glossary of names so if you get confused with the names you can look at the back of the book and get to know them better and plus a little section about becoming a citizen and what they had to say to become one. Perfectly good purchase and good timing.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Very Important Day, January 20, 2007

By 

Keye Teach "Keyeteacher" (Rancho Mureita, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Very Important Day (Hardcover)

Confusing! After reading the first page it is difficult to understand where the author is going as she does not clearly define the different families. Great theme, of addressing citizenship, but needs a clearer approach. Not a book I would reccomend for 4th grade.