Americans

by Douglas Wood, Elizabeth Sayles (Illustrator)

Learn what makes Americans great, from sea to shining sea, in this patriotic and diverse picture book for New York Times bestselling author Douglas Wood.

What makes Americans great?

Americans are different from one another in many ways. And despite these differences, Americans share certain ways of doing and being that hold us all together. From the Fourth of July to the Bill of Rights, Douglas Wood and Elizabeth Sayles share the story of what it is to be American.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 19, 2018

About the author

Composer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."


Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of this book reminds me of my childhood when we as a people actually loved America, American History, Civics, Government, etc.
"Even Americans who disagree, agree on the freedom to disagree." Not anymore, not anymore.
If anything, this book serves as a good introduction to children about America during these times of so much protest and civil unrest.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some problematic things in this book. I'm uncomfortable with the simultaneous erasure of First Nations tribes + monolithic spotlights of certain elements. Combined with a propaganda-ish feel to some of the wording, it just feels off.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever wonder what makes America so great? We are all different in our own ways and that is what makes us so great. We have many similarities though too. Americans love, create, dream, believe, disagree, care, sometimes fight, make peace, make mistakes. Through all these different characteristics of an American we also can grow, we can choose to change, we can have hope. Being an American is the greatest. This is such a great book to share with children the main points of what it means to be an American. All these characteristics holds us all together. This is a great way to share with children to lean on others and stand up for the great country they live in.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect book to introduce the concept of what it means to be an American. Sometimes it is heavy on glorification, but that is balanced by pointing out our faults. Because of the complexity of some of the ideas, I feel it is be for third grade an up. It would definitely serve as a jumping off point for a discussion of what Being an American means.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book! This will win Awards! Beautifully illustrated way for young kids to learn American history ! Elementary history teachers will probably want this in there classrooms ! Recommended for elementary history teachers

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the message in the book was deep, it was written at an age-appropriate level. Lots of wonderful words and messages here.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my nephews for Christmas and as I was about to wrap it, I paused to read it. It covers many notable events in American History, talks about our constitution and bill of rights and how we are all diverse but share a common desire for freedom. It highlights many remarkable people. I have decided to keep this book. It’s beautifully illustrated, well written and actually adults can learn from it as well as children. I will share it with my nephew when he is here. It’s a beautiful book. One thing I think the author should have highlighted when he mentioned some of the mistakes in America’s history is how we wronged our First Nation brothers and sisters by stealing their land and forcing them onto reservations. Mr. Wood if you are reading this, I still love your writing.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Americans by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2018. $18. 9781416927563

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL

KID APPEAL: LOW

Wood creates a tapestry of all of the different things that are part of being Americans. Sayles illustrations add depth and interest to Wood’s narrative. Besides traditional qualities that you might expect, he does include ideas like Americans disagree and Americans fight and Americans make mistakes. If you need another patriotic book or a book to start a patriotism discussion, here is a decent option.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the message in this book - we are Americans. We are different from each other, we love deeply, we create, dream - believe. We care, yet we believe in our right to disagree. Sometimes we fight, but we also make peace. We make mistakes, but we often get a whole lot right. Most of all, we have the right to choose all of the above, and more.

This is written for children, and I believe in the message, although I am not entirely certain all children will understand. As an adult, I truly appreciate this book!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was bit heavy handed with how wonderful America is until I got to the page that said "Americans make mistakes," with references to slavery, internment camps, and destroying the environment. We must know our mistakes so we don't repeat them and we are not perfect. 2018 has done much to prove that fact. Recommended.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful picture book tells lots of ways Americans are different and the same as people around the world. It would be a great mentor text for giving reasons or possibly for persuasive writing. The art work is beautiful and gives examples of each of the reasons. It would probably work better with bigger kids rather than little ones.

[Escape Into Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book with a lot of positive speech and language about Americans.. even when saying we make mistakes, it is written in a positive voice, and make a very good sweep of history to start a young child learning about the country and its people

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - very interesting choices. I really appreciated the inclusion of Laura Ingalls Wilder, despite the controversy of her work.

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite.