Yankee Doodle America: The Spirit of 1776 from A to Z [Hardcover]

Wendell Minor (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

If you traveled the roads of colonial America, colorful hand-painted signs would greet you when you came across an inn or tavern, and inside, folks would be gathered to eagerly share the news of the day.Wendell Minor invites us on just such a journey through America in the days of its struggle for independence. Each striking illustration, painted on hand-carved replicas of these signs, introduces readers to the people, places and events that gave birth to our nation. Beginning with the Stamp Act that angered the patriots and inspired the "Sons of Liberty" to protest, readers meet George Washington (who gave his farewell speech to his soldiers at Fraunces Tavern), Thomas Jefferson (who penned the first draft of the Declaration of Independence at a Philadelphia tavern) and other historical figures, and learn about the documents and battles that keep the fight for freedom alive.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his introduction to this inventive look at Revolutionary America, Minor (Reaching for the Moon) explains the importance of public houses—marked by graphically striking wooden signs. Colonists would gather in these small roadside inns and taverns to share news of the patriots' efforts and of the war's progress. Inviting readers to "follow the signs along a colonial road during the years 1765 to 1783," Minor presents an alphabetically arranged series of handsome, period oil paintings on wood, shaped like the public house signs, which spotlight people, events and places pivotal to the creation of the nation. Accompanying the signs, he offers succinct nuggets of information about influential individuals (e.g., Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Henry Knox, Molly Pitcher, George Washington), key sites (Independence Hall, Old North Church), vital symbols (the Liberty Bell, the Stars and Stripes) and locations of crucial events in the war (Trenton, Valley Forge, Yorktown). Minor cleverly incorporates into his meticulously crafted renderings several relevant references to taverns, noting that Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty met to plot against George III at the Green Dragon tavern in Boston, Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia's Indian Queen tavern, and Washington delivered his farewell speech to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York. Though the volume's A to Z format requires a sequence that is not necessarily chronological, a concise timeline of significant dates sets the contents of this creative compendium in the proper context. All ages. (Apr.)
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From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-In colonial America, the public houses served as the news hubs of their surrounding areas, places where people could gather to share talk of the day, whether it was national or local politics. Using hand-carved replicas of the signs for these inns and taverns to share facts about the American Revolution, Minor, in concert with master woodworker John Reichling, has created an unusual alphabet book. Covering aspects of the Revolution from the Stamp Act to the Old North Church to the X Regiment and Elizabeth Zane, this visually arresting treatment acts as an engrossing introduction to some of the people, places, and events that figured in America's fight for independence. Minor has filled the centers of two distinctive sign-board shapes with beautiful, deep-hued oil paintings. The letter addressed on each page is on the top of the board, with the full title (e.g., Native American: The Mohawk Chief) incorporated into the image. The result is startling, and the shadow cast by the sign gives each picture a sense of depth. The factual material is correct, clearly stated, and intriguing, leading students on to more detailed treatments of the American Revolution. Pair this book with Stuart Murray's American Revolution (DK, 2002) or Lynda Graham-Barber's Doodle Dandy! The Complete Book of Independence Day Words (S & S, 1992), for a riveting visual introduction to the Revolutionary War.-Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (April 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399240039
• ISBN-13: 978-0399240034
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wendell Minor is the author and/or illustrator of nearly fifty award winning books for children. He has collaborated with many accomplished authors, among them Newbery Award winning naturalist Jean Craighead George, Charlotte Zolotow, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Burleigh and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Several of his books, including two with Buzz Aldrin - Reaching for the Moon and Look to the Stars, and Mary Higgins Clark's Ghost Ship - were New York Times bestsellers.

In addition to children's books, his illustrations and design have enhanced over 2000 works, including the covers of David McCullough's Truman, John Adams and 1776, Pat Conroy's The Prince of Tides and South of Broad, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Wendell's paintings have been widely exhibited, and can be found in the permanent collections of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, the Library of Congress in Washington DC and the New Britain Museum of American Art in CT, to name just a few.

Wendell's collaboration with his wife Florence, If You Were a Penguin, was the 2009 selection for Pennsylvania's One Book, Every Young Child early literacy program. He and Florence live and work in Connecticut. www.minorart.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Treasure!, June 3, 2008

By 

J. Arena (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Yankee Doodle America: The Spirit of 1776 from A to Z (Hardcover)

While Yankee Doodle America: The Spirit of 1776 from A to Z would be an excellent purchase for a child, it is also a book of such high quality that adults will adore it. It's a perfect coffee table book. If you love the story of the American Revolution, this book belongs in your library.

Arranged in alphabetical order, a series of truly magnificent illustrations take the reader down a colonial road following the signs that will ultimately take them through the years of 1765 to 1783 to meet the most stellar characters and sites of our history.

This book is very well crafted. The research is impeccable and you will treasure the illustrations.

Thank you, Wendell Minor!

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect book for introducing a lesson on America's Independence, December 24, 2011

By 

Cynthia E. Downes "Cindy Downes" (Broken Arrow, OK, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yankee Doodle America: The Spirit of 1776 from A to Z (Hardcover)

Yankee Doodle America: The Spirit of 1776 from A to Z is an alphabet picture book about American's independence. Each letter of the alphabet tells a piece of the story. By the end of the book, the reader has an overview of the time period, the people involved, and the event itself.

I love picture books for introducing a new lesson or unit study. Picture books appeal to all ages and present information in simple terms so all can understand. My favorite picture books for learning are alphabet books. Not only are they fun to read, but they also provide a brief summary of the topic using the alphabet. Yankee Doodle America is one of my favorites. It's delightful to read and it makes learning fun!