Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Jef Czekaj (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this brightly illustrated picture book, children dressed in chunky, state-shaped costumes act out a play called “Unite or Die,” which dramatizes problems that sprang up after the American Revolution and their resolution at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Bound only by the Articles of Confederation, the little states begin by bickering about issues such as currency, borders, and trade. At the Constitutional Convention, they hammer away until they have created an entirely new federal government. Though the subject may not seem well-suited to a picture-book format, Jules does a good job of presenting the essential ideas simply, and Czekaj’s droll, cartoon-like illustrations may appeal to some students beyond the primary-grade range. Amusing remarks as well as bits of information are relayed in speech balloons, while on each double-page spread, a few sentences of text introduce the main ideas, as a narrator would. The book concludes with four pages of notes and a bibliography. An original presentation of a pivotal point in U.S. history. Grades 2-4. --Carolyn Phelan

Product Description

After the American Revolution, our country was anything but unified. Using the conceit of a school play, Unite or Die traces the challenges, conflicts, and compromises that shaped the United States Constitution and brought unity to the states. This accessible introduction to the drafting of the Constitution features exuberant illustrations and an engaging style suitable for reader's theater.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; New edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580891896
• ISBN-13: 978-1580891899
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #571,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This exuberant book is a fun way to learn about our country's unification process, May 12, 2009

By	D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's time for the big play at school! Everyone has learned their parts and people are lining up outside the Forest Lake Elementary School auditorium door preparing to go in to see "United or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation." The cast of thirteen has been posted on the bulletin board and you can even buy something at the bake sale before you go in. Thirteen students, each encased in a costume in the shape of the state they are representing, are ready for their curtain call.

The opening scene begins with the September 3, 1783 Treaty of Paris at the end of the American Revolution. The students, errrr, the states, have declared their freedom and now the hard work has just begun. The Articles of Confederation would no longer work and the states needed to unite in order to unify the country. Delegates from Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York sent delegates to Maryland to work out the particulars. George Washington, the commander in chief would lead this closed door convention. Could these fifty-five delegates actually come together, hammer out any number of details until they were . . . "United at last and ready to govern" themselves?

This book was very exuberant and the dynamic artwork was colorful, very busy and enticing. The characters had a very "Simpsonish" look about them. This book is what I've dubbed a hybrid book, a cross between a graphic novel and regular text. The history is relayed in a straightforward manner throughout the book while the cartoon-like characters relay other important bits of information in their cartoon bubbles. In the afterword there is a brief history of the Constitutional Convention, a simple map of the thirteen colonies and a comprehensive notes section with additional information relative to the text. One example would be "Who printed the money?" This is not an in depth historical text, but an excellent one for the reluctant reader or someone looking for a brief overview. Hey, is that Vincent Ang playing Virginia?