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

by Wendell Minor

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.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Childrens, American History, American Revolution

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Wendell Minor was born and raised in the town of Aurora, Illinois. Drawing and painting have always been an integral part of his life, and after completing his studies at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, Wendell began creating original designs for book publishers in New York City. His children's books have consistently exhibited his love for the land and environment.

Illustrating books for naturalist authors Jean Craighead George and Diane Siebert, among others, he approaches his art by researching and experiencing each environment he illustrates. His travels have taken him from the tropical Everglades of Florida to Barrow, Alaska in the Arctic Circle, from the Midwest to the Grand Canyon in the Southwest, and throughout the United States. In addition to picture books, Minor has created cover art and interior illustrations for novels for young people, including Jean Craighead George's Julie and Julie's Wolf Pack, and redesigned the cover for the twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the Newbery award-winning Julie of the Wolves. He has also authored several of his own books.

His books have consistently been named on the annual lists for Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies, Outstanding Science Trade Books, and IRA Teachers' Choices. His books have also received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and Parents' Choice Awards and been featured on PBS's "The Reading Rainbow."

Wendell has had numerous solo exhibitions, and his work can be found in the permanent collections of the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Illinois State Museum, Muskegon Museum of Art, Mattatuck Museum (of Connecticut), the Mazza Museum at Findlay University, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Museum of American Illustration, NASA, Arizona Historical Society, U.S. Coast Guard and the Library of Congress.

He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he serves on the Advisory Council for the Connecticut Center for the Book, and is a member of The Children's Book Council (CBC), a non-profit trade organization dedicated to encouraging literacy and the use and enjoyment of children's books.

Wendell and his wife and business partner, Florence, live and work in Connecticut with their cats, Sofie and Cindercat.

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tidbits of early American History and the Revolutionary War are illustrated by gorgeous paintings on three dimensional wooden signs; the type of wooden signs which would have been used on inns and taverns in the 1700s.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book combines a walk through the ABCs with some significant events and personalities of the American Revolutionary War. For each letter of the alphabet, there is a brief description of an event or a person with a related image. For example, “T is for Trenton,” is the famous crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington and his army that led to a complete defeat of the Germans fighting for the British. It was a decisive and very one-sided battle and gave those striving for independence new hope that they may emerge victorious.
“H is for Henry,” a description of the fiery orator Patrick Henry, whose speech that contained the phrase, “Give me liberty or give me death,” emerged as one statement that all schoolchildren learn. “N is for Native American,” is a refreshing mention of the fact that the Native American tribes in the east generally fought on one side or the other in the American Revolutionary War.
This book is an existence proof that educating children on more than one subject at a time is not only possible, but also can be effectively done.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book free from Goodreads Giveaways.

I really enjoyed this book but I do have a thing for really educational children's book with a fun twist. It is your everyday children's book where each page another letter of the alphabet but each letter of the alphabet introduces a person or event that happened during the American Revolution. I though the pictures in the book were very nice and the information was great! I would recommend this book to any one who wants their child to learn more about our country's history.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teach extended school year with sped students so we always have school the week of the 4th of July. I've used it in abbreviated form the blast two years in my classroom (since I have life skills kids, it has to be shortened). This is a great book. I would totally use it with even my 8th grade students (if I taught social studies instead of math). The art is great, it captures the spirit of the revolution and it's engaging.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has such an inviting little intro that sets the stage and teaches about American history! I learned that many important events happened in the taverns and my boys loved the illustrations, especially the sign with the green dragon on it (code for the sons of liberty)!

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this opportunity to highlight some of the main events and players of the American Revolution with kids. I learned a few things myself. The illustrations are wonderful. This book just made me feel good and am looking forward to sharing this one. A clever and original idea!

[Easter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Informational Text
Grade Range: 3rd-5th

This is a great introductory text to the American Revolution. It covers many different topics from the stamp act to Betty Zane. It gives enough information to understand every topic but leaves enough for more information to be learned.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful history in short bites!

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Yankee Doodle America” by Wendell Minor
A-Z of yankee-isms ***
…….

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick look at the Revolutionary War, but it would have been nice to mention some important details regarding slavery and the fact that history is unsure who Molly Pitcher really was.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written ABC book about American history!

[Godine Publisher & Black Sparrow Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his introduction to this inventive look at Revolutionary America, Minor explains the importance of public houses—marked by graphically striking wooden signs. 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. Accompanying the signs, he offers succinct nuggets of information about influential individuals, key sites , vital symbols, and locations of crucial events in the war. 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.
—Publishers Weekly

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. The factual material is correct, clearly stated, and intriguing, leading students on to more detailed treatments of the American Revolution. [A] riveting visual introduction to the Revolutionary War.
—School Library Journal

What a rousing original book this is. I love it.
—David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize winning author of 1776 and John Adams

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author simultaneously teaches letters of the alphabet in conjunction with facts and information about colonial America and the Revolutionary war. For example, the letter L stands for Liberty and the book discusses the Liberty Bell. P is for Pitcher and the reader learns about Molly Pitcher's role during the Revolution. While you could use this to teach letters to the younger children, I do think the subject matter might be a bit over their heads. I would be more likely to use this with older kids. I do think the facts about colonial life and the war are presented in a way that is much more interesting than a textbook would present information about the Revolution.

Grades: K-4
Publication date: 2006
Awards: None
Themes: Revolutionary War, colonial life, alphabet

Classroom uses:

I would use this for social studies lessons. I probably would not read this from cover to cover, but I might read about letter Q on the day the class is studying Quakers or pick out the pages about famous historical figures from the revolutionary such as Washington, Paul Revere, Molly Pitcher, etc.

There is a list of important dates at the back of the book. The students could create a timeline using the dates and events.

[Erin Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yankee Doodle America Wendell Minor (2006) -ABC Book

Yankee Doodle America is the story of the American Revolution told through the alphabet. Minor does an excellent job focusing on the main events and characters of the Revolution and also adds some that are not so well known. The pictures depict what each letter represents in a way that enhances the words.

Themes: Revolution, Patriotism, Alphabet

Teaching Options: This would enhance the study of the American Revolution by giving students another reference. It could be the inspiration to have students make other parts of history into an alphabet book. The alphabet concept can be used in all subjects for all grades. It might be interesting to collaborate with the art teacher and have their students do the illustrations for any created book.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I is for Independence, L is for Liberty, O is for Old North Church, and S is for Stars and Stripes in this wonderfully-illustrated alphabet book . Each letter’s two-page spread features a significant person, place, event, or symbol of Revolutionary America represented in a lovely oil-paint image on a hand-carved wooden sign, all replicas of those commonly-seen in colonial America. The illustrations alone make this book a must for elementary libraries. Even with the included timeline the information is too shallow to serve research purposes; that said, the book would be an excellent springboard for a classroom project to research each letter’s subject.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern travelers are familiar with billboards advertising all sorts of products and services. But in colonial days the only signs marring roadsides were signboards posted in front of public houses. Readers receive an alphabetical history lesson through Minor’s hand-painted wooden signboards that each feature a major event, person, or place along America’s road to freedom. The signboard paintings include the year for each event depicted. Brief text in large type gives concise explanations that provide a good introduction to the Revolutionary period for intermediate grades.

[Larysa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ABC picture book. Each page is a different letter of the alphabet with a corresponding event and picture about the Revolutionary War. Although this book had wonderful pictures and good information, it would not be useful in trying to teach children the ABCs. The focus of the book is the Revolutionary War not the ABCs, so if that is what you are trying to teach than this book is a great choice.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a pretty good ABC book. It has each of the letters of the alphabet with a corresponding word. However, each word is about the revolution which I think can be useful because they can learn about two things at once. Most of the words were a good choice and not just something they were trying to make up.

[Madison Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alphabet book that uses each letter in the alphabet as a different important term during to revolutionary war. With each new term is a short summary about why that word is important and crucial to the war. It is a great glimpse in history about the people at the time and the places that were important. At the end there is a timeline of events that details the war.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The letters of the alphabet introduce the reader to the people, places, and events that gave birth to our nation during the days we struggled to gain independence. A book that can be tied in with Social Studies/History.

[Louisa]

I think this is a good book to introduce the topic of the Revolutionary War to younger grade students. I liked the creativity of talking about the war in an ABC book. The pictures were also really pretty.

[Ray Chrobak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture Book - ABC

Grades 3-6

Themes: Colonial America; Alphabet

Ways to use with children: use as a visual introduction to the American Revolution; research people and places mentioned in book

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really awesome alphabet book about our nations history during the late 1700's. It has stuff like A is for acts and B is for Boston Massacre and then it goes into historic detail about what each letter represents.

[Jen Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the typo on the Goodreads website, this is a great patriotic alphabet book about our nation's history. I recommend it for 3rd and 4th graders who are learning about our founding fathers and how the United States of America began.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations. Perfect book to use for a history lesson.

[Lauren Richards]

Each letter highlights a person, event, or document surrounding the Revolution. Neat pictures! Good info - I learned new things.
(ABC books)

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad read it. It was beautiful!

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minor has created a beautifully illustrated Alphabet book that looks at 26 people or events connected to the Revolutionary War.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, interesting information with beautifully detailed illustrations.

[Alicia]

THEME: American Revolution
USES: teaching letters and/or new words, teaching American Revolution