Customer Reviews

We the Kids

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As David Catrow tells us in his introduction, "...For me, the Constitution is a kind of how-to book, showing us ways to have happiness, safety, and comfort...", and he uses his immeasurable talents as an artist and cartoonist to teach an inspirational and unforgettable lesson that is sure to open interesting discussions at home and school. Following a glossary of what the actual words in the Preamble of the Constitution mean, (e.g. "IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION: To come together and make things better for everyone who lives in our country. INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY: To make sure we can all have a nice life and get along with one another. TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY: For kids, parents, other grown-ups, and all the people born in our country after we are."), Mr Catrow details the meaning of these important ideals, phrase by phrase, using his marvelously bold and busy cartoon illustrations. Each two page spread is a clever feast for the eyes, rich in engaging details, manic energy, and droll humor. Perfect for youngsters 8-12, We The Kids is a witty and memorable treasure, and one of the real winners of 2002 that shouldn't be missed.

This fun book helped me to reach my fifth grade class in a way their social studies text never would have! Catrow finds a way to take the elegant (and sometimes difficult to translate into kid-talk) language of the Preamble and not only make it simeple to understand, but really helps put the kids right in there.

He makes it clear that this is a document for all Americans, not only including kids, but maybe especially for kids.

His buddy 'Bubbs', is pictured throughout so even the less than interested can be drawn in by finding the dog...

So glad I found this!

As a librarian, I recommend this book for everyone from 5 to 105. All right, this is actually a picture book that depicts some wonderful insights into our freedom and basic tenets of this great nation from a child's viewpoint. The hilarious illustrations by David Catrow will delight readers of all ages and will be fun for those who are not even studying the Constitution. For those students who are studying the Constitution, this book would be a great visual aid to memorizing the Preamble. I have not met a teenager who didn't enjoy a quick read in a great children's picture book. Teachers: Why not reduce the stress level of your students and let them begin their studies with this light-hearted look into some very serious words? Buy a couple of copies and circulate them through the class. Everyone will love them. For the younger reader, ESL or special ed student there is one page explaining the basic meaning of these words and another page and a half explaining why anyone bothered to write the Constitution of the United States. It's ALL GREAT!

If you are teaching your children about the preamble to the constitution and are looking for something fun to use as a tool, this is NOT the book you want to purchase. It's opinionated. For example the author states: "it (the Constitution) gave us rights and privileges that nobody had ever had before." The constitution states the rights contained are granted by God, not the constitution. The interpretation of what some of the words and/or phrases in the preamble mean are off. For example: "Promote the general welfare: To help make life good for everybody. Having enough to eat, a place to live, being safe and having friends and fun times are some of the things that make our lives good." You're kidding, right? Lastly, the author instructs children to "check out what the dog is doing in the story to understand what the words in the preamble mean, but the illustrations either vaguely connect with the words or don't connect at all. How does a dog dragging a huge backpack up a hill illustrate forming a more perfect union? Further, I certainly don't want my children thinking domestic tranquility means watching television! Skip it.

I really love the book. The pictures and color are beautiful. The language is simple enough so a child with some adult help could understand the Preamble which includes words not common to the vocabulary of most children today. A great book.
M. Preston

I was very disappointed in this book. I purchased it as an introduction of our Constitutional history for my 6 yr. old. It is little more than a picture book with one line of dialogue on each page. Dealing with a 6 yr. old who is always asking why and inquistive-normal for six yrs., this book could have expended thru out on the topic with more substance. Geared more for childrens in lower age of age catagory listed.
Savanna

This book has some amazingly beautiful and vividly colorful illustrations. I collect children's picture books, and find this one to be special. It's simple to read to your child, and the message is wonderful. There is a lot going on in each picture. The message is simple.

I am a third grade teacher, looking for teaching materials to help my students understand the power and importance of our Constitution as well as the incredible foresight and courage of our Founders. This book popped up in my search, and I have seen the author's work before. He is talented and creates beautiful illustrations. I read that he was a political cartoonist, so I thought I'd better check out his work before buying. When I looked at his political cartoons, I found many of them disparaging to the ideals I hold dear. I do not want to support this author and if you are a lover of country, you might not want to either. Please research him first.

The illustrations depict a backyard campout with everybody helping out. Cute enough.

The text of the preamble as presented on the pages is correct.

The book includes an author's note, which is plagued with misinformation and makes the book worthless for training young Americans.

-For one example, our rights and privileges do not come from our government, nor from our Constitution. The Constitution and the government are there to uphold our rights, not to GRANT them. Our rights come from God, not from government.
-For another example, the phrase "promote the general welfare" does not mean, and I quote, "To help make life good for everybody. Having enough to eat, a place to live, being safe, and having friends and fun times are some of the things that make our life good."

If David Catrow's interpretation is correct, then I have a "right" to a place to live. Oh, and three squares a day. And a "right" to be safe, whatever that means. And of course, a "right" to have fun times. Get serious.

David Catrow's interpretation is NOT correct.

Note to moms: The Preamble is easy to memorize -- try schoolhouse rock on youtube-dot-com -- look up "We the People." They even print the lyrics.

A terrific way to learn the preamble. The illustrations are a riot! My whole family loves this book.