Flying Colors: A guide to flags from around the world

by Robert G. Fresson (Illustrations), Robin Jacobs

By exploring the designs of flags, we can learn all about the histories and aspirations of the countries they represent. Did you know that only the flag of Nepal has more than four sides? Or that the flag of Mozambique features a book, a hoe and an AK47? Robert Fresson’s vintage-inflected illustrations shed fresh light on the wonders of vexillology.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Geography, Childrens

122 pages, Hardcover

Published March 6, 2018

Reviews

[Demeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toto je kniha plná príbehov o vlajkách. Teda najmä prečo vyzerajú tak ako vyzerajú. Skvelé ilustrácie i preklad! #trebacitat

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this in the children's section while picking out books for my 19-month-old daughter. Too advanced for her at present, but richly illustrated and simply explained formations of national flags that we know today made for a fun quick-read for me. It was interesting to have explained the distinctions between flags that look the same either in color and layout by choice and intention (often geographic, religious, anti-colonial, etc.) and those that randomly converged on a similar design without intention. Also, some crazy animals and other stories for changes in flag design during the 19th and 20th century mostly. #FunWithFlags

[Luân Gia · Rating 5 out of 5]

now THIS is a book

[Dusan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isiel som ku kamosovi zaliat kytky do bytu a na posedenie som tam preluskal toto. Zemepisne encyklopedie som mal vzdy rad, je to krasne urobene a dost som sa dozvedel!

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've started noticing that in books about all the countries of the world, Africa is so weirdly underrepresented. It's huge. And yet it takes up so few pages in books like these. The neglect seems a little extra strange when you see how this book is set up. It's still inexcusable, but it would be less surprising to see so few African countries represented if, say, the book offered a selection of 30 random countries' flags. But the book is organized into flag types. The sections are as follows: "Crosses and Saltires"; "Tribands"; "Diagonals"; "Pan-Arab Colours"; "Crescent Moons"; "Animals", "Stars"; "Pan-African Colors"; "Bi-Colors"; "Suns and Circles"; and "Red White and Blue." Africa is huge and populous. In fact, there are more countries in Africa than there are on any other continent! And yet....there are so few African countries featured here. It just seems really strange to me. Africa always feels like an afterthought in these books. It's sad.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not for everyone, this really cool book will appeal to some young students of history as well as those who are fascinated by the flags of various nations. There are more than 100 pages of flags and their history on display here. Some young readers will relish the discussion of how the flags' designs changed over the years as well as why some flags of certain countries so closely resemble others'. All in all, this book provides nifty information about vexillology, the study of flags, and the parts of flags, something I didn't even know before reading this book. Although readers might expect it to be organized alphabetically, it is instead organized by flag elements and design, beginning with crosses and saltires, and concluding with flags containing red, white, and blue colors. And no, we aren't the only nation to claim those colors. Teachers might want to use this book as a preparation for the Olympics so that students can identify the various countries represented during the games. It is clear that the author loves his subject matter, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY educational. The information found here seems to be simple enough for children (I'd say they should be at least in the 5th grade for a full read through; as a reference guide, perhaps 3rd grade) to understand. The history here is fascinating. I love the little color ninjas! I'm not 100% certain, but the book seems impartial to me on many aspects of the "harsher" side of history - slavery, overthrows, dictators, genocides, etc. It does gloss over a lot, for sale of "time" as well as remembering this is a book for children. But it doesn't necessarily assign blame to any side of any conflict. And when it does (apartheid, for example, described as "racial segregation"), it merely says that ended when... [insert history].

Honestly, this is a wonderful reference book for school assignments and general history/political-geography lessons.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars I have loved flags for as long as I can remember. SO this book was an easy sell for me. I enjoyed every page. I loved the history, and the information.
The only thing that could make it a 5 stars for me, is an alphabetical list of flags from all current countries at the end. There are maps at the end, and that was cool, but I would like to look up Lagos and find the flag. Lagos wasn't mentioned in the book but, it would have been a perfect addition to have a complete list!

This might be one I Have to own..and really with Libraries, why would I want it on my private shelf? But I do.. it was that much fun!!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is technically a book for children, but if you're into learning nerdy things about vexillology, well then this might be for you. It was actually really interesting, showing the history of various countries' flags as the stories behind their colors, symbols and even the placement of design features. I believe it represented all the different areas of the world pretty fairly, although many flags are just shown as being part of a group (tribands, flags with animals, flags with suns, pan-african colors, crescent moons, etc).

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reminds me of Sheldon Cooper & Amy Farrah Fowler’s Fun with Flags. I bet they would get a kick out of this. Then again, they might be like me and get annoyed when the book asks a question to make you think, but then never answers it. What is up with that?

I would only recommend this to those who are really interested in flags or who need the info for a report on a country. It actually might be of use during the World Cup or the Olympics.

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars? This was an excellent book for introducing kids to the concepts and traditions of vexillology. I especially liked the organization of the book, which helped draw connections between related flags. Would have been four stars but the editor responsible for layout missed. A number of illustration labels were just not there, notably one describing the elements of the Mongolian flag.

[Susannah Goldstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating, but not set up for easy reference and the reading level is pretty high, which doesn’t correspond with the design, I think. I really liked the glossary at the front, and I did like how it was organized by common elements.

[Lexy Kelleher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent! I love the way that the book was laid out. It was very conducive to actually learning about the national flags and why they are designed the way they are, not just memorizing them. Super educational and super fun to read.

[Xvmichal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wszelkie książki dla dzieci poświęcone tematyce geografii i flagi przypominają mi moją książkę z dzieciństwa i chwilę nad nią spędzone.

Książka ma ciekawe ascetyczne ilustracje, a temat flag przedstawia w naprawdę ciekawy sposób.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me all I ever need to know about vexillology-the study of flags! Not only did I learn about specific countries' flags but also a little of their history and how they came to have the flag they did in 2017 when this book was written.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So useful! Great illustration, clear descriptions.

[Cinematic Frankenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good guide about countries and the history of the flags.
Simple language, good information.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beehive Book Nominee 2020

[Riegs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorably illustrated and great information for a middle grades reader

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool book with fun facts and histories of the flags of so many countries.

[Erin Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the how each country had a picture about each countries flag and also facts about each country and it's flag. A great book for kids (or adults) that are interested in learning about flags.

[Marta Demianiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ile rzeczy można się dowiedzieć z książki dla dzieci! Bardzo ciekawa pozycja.

[Gideon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. They talked about the flags histories while also being funny making the modern day flag.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great explanations and histories behind countries’ flags. The illustrations were simple, bold, and fantastic.

[Cecile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs an index. It took me an entire work session during homeschool to find Iraq's flag. It is beautiful and may be a good gift for a millennial's coffee table.

[Sasha Khoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the illustrations! It is a children's book but as an adult I did learn a lot about the origins,significance and symbolism of the flags around the world. Great read!

[Alexey Gerasimovich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Книга «Все флаги что-то значат» подкупила своим названием. Ну ведь действительно интересно узнать, почему у всех стран такие флаги, какое значение за ними скрывается. Да ещё про историю всех этих цветов и фигур обложка обещала рассказать. Я даже сподобился и купил книгу в бумажном виде, чего давно уже почти не делаю. Но тут выбора не было, в электронном варианте её не существует.

Книга совсем небольшая, всего 112 страниц. Да и на тех текста не так много, а всё больше графики.

Далее: knari.by/2020/03/21/vse-flagi-chto-to...

[Amanda]

This is a cool book! Perfect for the trivia nerd or international aficionado. Not only does this book explain the meaning of the colors and symbols of the current flags, but also describes historical transformations.