Happy Birthday America by Mary Pope Osborne

After performances of some of America's most celebrated patriotic songs, the fireworks begin, and the entire audience is awed. An extended family enjoys the day at Memorial Park, participating in various community activities - fundraisers, contests and games, eating good food - until it is time for the evening concert. 'About this title' may belong to another edition of this title.Mary Pope Osborne, creator of the immensely popular Magic Tree House chapter-book series, offers a poetic description of small town America on the 4th of July in this lovely picture-book.

Libraries that need additional materials to support holiday collections will find this worthy of consideration even though the ideals of independence and patriotism remain elusive. The author's notes cap the work with a few historical and personal tidbits. Catalanotto's illustrations capture the festivities with selective realism and just enough detail.

Though most children would rather be at an event than read about the nice time others have, Osborne's text is an agreeable slice of life. Finally, a happy, tired family drives home. 'Yankee Doodle,' 'Stars and Stripes Forever,' Lady Liberty, reading from the Declaration of Independence, and a community singing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' lead right into the 'Oooooh!' 'Ahhhh!' 'Wow!' sparked by the fireworks. Food, fun, and family fill the day, with firemen members of the Kiwanis, American Legion, and Knights ofColumbus and a local dance school and band all playing their parts. Osborne tackles this challenge through a nostalgic recollection of a small-town Fourth of July celebration. Pair this with Marsha Chall's similarly titled picture book, published in 2000, for a doubly festive reading. School Library Journal Independence and patriotism are hard concepts for the very young to grasp. Catalanotto's watercolor palette lends a candlelike glow to scenes as the expressive faces of kids and adults enjoy the occasion.

The day is made up of little things, while the celebration is about big ones-community, freedom, and pride. Catalanotto's familiar, softly colred artwork stages the scenario: a pet parade popcorn, pizza, and raffle tickets for sale face painting antique cars, penny pitching a nighttime concert, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and fireworks. An author's note details the origins of Independence Day traditions. Booklist This sparkling tribute to the Fourth of July depicts how a family of eight living in a small town celebrates this favorite holiday. Thickly applied watercolors depict the festivities, including a pet parade, picnic, concert and fireworks. Publishers Weekly Mary Pope Osborne joins in a family's small-town Fourth of July celebration in Happy Birthday, America, illus.

Happy Birthday America by Mary Pope Osborne