Our Liberty Bell

by Henry Jonas Magaziner

Pays homage to one of America's national treasures, from its humble beginnings in 1752 to its prominence as a lasting symbol of American freedom. Simultaneous.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Historical

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Lisa]

One of the better books about the story of the Liberty Bell for children.

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The liberty bell is one of those American icons with which one is familiar, but knowledge of the facts is missing. This little book fills in those facts, from the first liberty bell which arrived from England with a crack in it to the final re-casting in Philadelphia to produce a bell whose sound was pleasant. But eventually, that bell, too, developed a crack.

During the time it hung in Philadelphia, it was used to announce to the population that news had arrived that must be delivered and many of those special events are described, including the Boston Tea Party, the First and Second Continental Congresses, and America's eventual independence. The bell even left Philadelphia for a while to be hidden while the city was occupied by the British.

And, even though the bell cracked and was removed from use, it has still continued to play a party in American history. It has traveled across the United States for display. That keyword "Liberty" enscribed on it has caused it be associated with woman's suffrage and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today the bell is at home in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia where it is visited by more than a million people each year. Bronze copies reside in each of the fifty states.