The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh

As she mentions in her brief author's note, this is a big story, and hopefully readers will investigate other aspects of it as they grow older. I appreciated the fact that Dalgliesh gave just enough background information to situate her main story - a narrative explaining the significance of the 4th of July - but didn't get bogged down in lots of details about the related subjects of Colonial America's conflict with Britain, the Continental Congress, and the American Revolution, thereby distracting the reader. Of course, younger children with a longer attention span could also benefit from having this read to them. As mentioned, it is text heavy for a picture-book, and could almost be considered an illustrated short story.

Wonderfully written by Dalgliesh and beautifully illustrated by Marie Nonnast, The 4th of July Story makes a lovely introduction, both to the significance of America's Independence Day and to the history of the American Revolution, for beginning readers. The remainder of the narrative describes how the news was carried to the thirteen states, and (briefly) how the war for independence was eventually won. Then, on July 4th, 1776, the representatives voted to adopt the Declaration, and America declared her independence. With language that is simple but expressive, she relates the tale of how the thirteen American colonies came to want independence from Britain, how their representatives met in Philadelphia, and how the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. Children's author, primary school teacher, long-time editor and three-time Newbery Medal Honoree Alice Dalgliesh tells the story of the Fourth of July in this text-heavy work of picture-book history.

The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh